Size of wire for a 12 volt run.
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David_Kb7uns
Veteran Member
Powerwerx has a lot of good stuff and good pricing. The Bussman version is quite a bit cheaper if you do not need marine grade, have these on my Jeep for the radio power feed along with 4ga wire going to the aux battery pack with smart relay isolator.
Resettable Circuit Breaker Cooper Bussmann
David Kb7uns
OP
chevy
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Steve, I will be running a ground wire from the battery to the rear of the truck.
David, I first looked at the breaker you linked to, but I also want a switch on the line. The one I linked to is a switch/breaker.
David, I first looked at the breaker you linked to, but I also want a switch on the line. The one I linked to is a switch/breaker.
The Fred
Veteran Member
DO NOT USE A CIRCUIIT BREAKER. I test many and most 30 amp breakers won't open the circuit until way over 60 amps.
What kind of truck? Why do this the hard way? Why not utilize the power already there for the camper plug or 7 way plug at the rear. If it's a Chevy most likely the wire for the power circuit simply needs a fuse installed or eye terminal bolted up to the fuse panel under the hood. 6 gauge wire to the rear is ridiculously large and 12 should be plenty.
Post the VIN or make to make it easier.
Regards. Fred
What kind of truck? Why do this the hard way? Why not utilize the power already there for the camper plug or 7 way plug at the rear. If it's a Chevy most likely the wire for the power circuit simply needs a fuse installed or eye terminal bolted up to the fuse panel under the hood. 6 gauge wire to the rear is ridiculously large and 12 should be plenty.
Post the VIN or make to make it easier.
Regards. Fred
David_Kb7uns
Veteran Member
12ga will be too small
The Fred
Veteran Member
Maybe for a 7.5 horse air compressor, he's blowing up his air bags not sandblasting. 12 Gauge will handle 40 amps DC easily.
Fred
murphy1244
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I agree with Fred. How many amps are you running threw the starter wire? What gauge is it?
The Fred
Veteran Member
MOST starters draw 200 amps cranking, depending on load, temp.
GM uses 12 gauge for their windows and seats respectively, THOSE circuit breakers are rated at 30 amps and don't pop until well over 60 some I tested over 90. Last year I fixed a Silverado window circuit that fried the complete body harness after a short under the driver's seat grounded the wire. I bought a new breaker from GM and tested it before installing it. 90 amps before it tripped.
Circuit breakers are junk and shouldn't be used. Fuse the circuit as close to the power source (battery +) as you can. A 30 amp fuse is more than enough.
Regards, Fred
GM uses 12 gauge for their windows and seats respectively, THOSE circuit breakers are rated at 30 amps and don't pop until well over 60 some I tested over 90. Last year I fixed a Silverado window circuit that fried the complete body harness after a short under the driver's seat grounded the wire. I bought a new breaker from GM and tested it before installing it. 90 amps before it tripped.
Circuit breakers are junk and shouldn't be used. Fuse the circuit as close to the power source (battery +) as you can. A 30 amp fuse is more than enough.
Regards, Fred
David_Kb7uns
Veteran Member
And those figures are not for max amps with a large voltage drop. For 5% voltage loss and 12ga it is less then 4 feet run.
David_Kb7uns
Veteran Member
The Bussman and the generic knockoffs all can be used as a on off switch, push button trips off and lever resets and closes. Use them on my Ham radio vehicle install to feed the radios and 150AH battery pack in the back of my jEEP. I use both fuses and circuit breakers.
David Kb7uns
