DC Current Wiring Size / Length Chart
DC Wiring Chart
The chart is calculated on no more than 2% voltage drop across the wire distance.
The distance is twice your length. If you are running a 2’ cable then your distance for the chart is 4’. This accounts for the round trip distance of the run.
Maximum length of wire |
2’ |
4’ |
6’ |
8’ |
10’ |
12’ |
14’ |
16’ |
20’ |
24’ |
28’ |
Amps | |||||||||||
3 Volt System | |||||||||||
1 amps or less | 22 ga | 22 ga | 20 ga | 18 ga | 18 ga | 16 ga | 16 ga | 14 ga | 14 ga | 14 ga | 12 ga |
3 amps or less | 20 ga | 16 ga | 14 ga | 14 ga | 12 ga | 12 ga | |||||
5 amps | 18 ga | 14 ga | 12 ga | 12 ga | 10 ga | 10 ga | 10 ga | 10 ga | 8 ga | 8 ga | 6 ga |
10 amps | 14 ga | 12 ga | 10 ga | 8 ga | |||||||
6 Volt System | |||||||||||
Up to 5 amps | 20 ga | 18 ga | 16 ga | 14 ga | 14 ga | 12 ga | 12 ga | 12 ga | 10 ga | 10 ga | |
10 amps | 16 ga | 14 ga | 12 ga | 12 ga | 10 ga | 10 ga | 8 ga | ||||
15 amps | 16 ga | 12 ga | 10 ga | 10 ga | 8 ga | ||||||
12 Volt System | |||||||||||
Up to 5 amps | 22 ga | 20 ga | 18 ga | 16 ga | 16 ga | 16 ga | 14 ga | 14 ga | 12 ga | 12 ga | 12 ga |
10 amps | 18 ga | 16 ga | 16 ga | 14 ga | 14 ga | 12 ga | 12 ga | 12 ga | 10 ga | 10 ga | 8 ga |
15 amps | 18 ga | 16 ga | 14 ga | 12 ga | 12 ga | 10 ga | 10 ga | 10 ga | 8 ga | 8 ga | |
24 Volt System | |||||||||||
Up to 5 amps | 22 ga | 22 ga | 22 ga | 20 ga | 20 ga | 18 ga | 18 ga | 16 ga | 16 ga | 16 ga | 14 ga |
10 amps | 22 ga | 20 ga | 18 ga | 18 ga | 16 ga | 16 ga | 14 ga | 14 ga | 14 ga | 12 ga | 12 ga |
15 amps | 20 ga | 18 ga | 16 ga | 16 ga | 14 ga | 14 ga | 12 ga | 12 ga | 12 ga | 10 ga | 10 ga |
This chart was not prepared by an electrical engineer. The chart is conservative but teams should use this only as a general guide.
http://tech.txdi.org/dcwiringchart
It is always OK to use a larger wire size. The only consideration when using larger wire is the difficulty in handling the wire.