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.