What Gauge Wire for 12v sockets

[thesaintlyone]

Starting to re-wire after fitting the main Components together and have already fitted 12v power socket points in place. Plan to add a 22" LED Widescreen TV which will be powered off of one of said sockets. other than that just general charging of laptops, Phones, handheld VHF etc

What would be the ideal wire gauge given the aforementioned loads suggested for these sockets

Regards.

 

[sarabande]

It would be unusual to install sockets for a power consumption of more than 15A (based on boat and caravan experience). You can't calculate the wire mm² without knowing the distance from power supply to device and back.


Check here for a calculator for the consumption and length

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=wire+size+calculator+12v&t=ffab&atb=v48-4&ia=web

 

[PaulRainbow]

Post #2 is technically correct, but personally i wouldn't bother too much with the calcs for this job. The intended uses of the sockets is pretty much immaterial, IMO, because no matter what you think you'll use them for, you inevitably end up using them for other things, a work light, a 12v vacuum etc.

2.5mm cable will be OK for fairly long runs of cable (on the OPs boat) and would be OK with relatively heavy loads. If it's calculated that a socket close to the supply will only be used for charging a phone, 0.5mm cable would be OK. That socket is then useless of you want to plug the 12v vacuum in though.

I'd just wire the lot with 2.5mm cable and be sure i could use the sockets for anything i might want to plug into them.

Edit : Nice, simple calculator here http://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/cable-sizing-selection.html

 

[DickieT]

Post #2 is technically correct, but personally i wouldn't bother too much with the calcs for this job. The intended uses of the sockets is pretty much immaterial, IMO, because no matter what you think you'll use them for, you inevitably end up using them for other things, a work light, a 12v vacuum etc.

2.5mm cable will be OK for fairly long runs of cable (on the OPs boat) and would be OK with relatively heavy loads. If it's calculated that a socket close to the supply will only be used for charging a phone, 0.5mm cable would be OK. That socket is then useless of you want to plug the 12v vacuum in though.

I'd just wire the lot with 2.5mm cable and be sure i could use the sockets for anything i might want to plug into them.

Edit : Nice, simple calculator here http://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/cable-sizing-selection.html

+1. Exactly what I would do. 1.00mm CSA for known, predictable loads like lights etc. Even 0.75 nowadays for LED lighting, possibly not much lighter - more for mechanical robustness than anything. But 2.5 good choice for sockets for reasons you have given.
Richard

 

[JumbleDuck]

Starting to re-wire after fitting the main Components together and have already fitted 12v power socket points in place. Plan to add a 22" LED Widescreen TV which will be powered off of one of said sockets. other than that just general charging of laptops, Phones, handheld VHF etc

What would be the ideal wire gauge given the aforementioned loads suggested for these sockets

I would wire and fuse them for the maximum rated load of the sockets, which I think is 8A. I would also wire the 12 TV in properly, rather than introduce an unnecessary plug and socket into its supply..

 

[PaulRainbow]

I would wire and fuse them for the maximum rated load of the sockets, which I think is 8A. I would also wire the 12 TV in properly, rather than introduce an unnecessary plug and socket into its supply..

Yes, + 1 for that.