Jay64
100 kW
I read that I should use 4ga wire for a higher power bike. However, most battery pack builds I have read about have 10ga wires coming out of them. When would someone use 4ga wire? would I crimp all the 10ga into one 4ga?
wire size?
- Thread starter Jay64
- Start date
safe
1 GW
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2006
- Messages
- 5,681
The more power you run the more important that the wires are thick so as to reduce resistence.
Think of all the talk about motor resistance... can you imagine how silly it would be to spend big $$$ for a high efficiency motor only to use 16 gauge wires with it? Doing something like that would raise the overall resistance of the system.
There are calculators around to calculate length of wire verses resistance, but to get a quick answer I think that 10 gauge is about right. (I'm pretty sure it's 10 gauge) Going any thicker helps, but it's diminishing returns.
I know for a fact that 16 gauge is too thin... my old wiring harness had a short bit of 16 gauge and it used to heat up after every ride and waste power. Once replaced it never heats up and is more efficient.
So the short answer is "Use 10 gauge"
(unless you are building an electric motorcycle which draws over 100 amps... in that case you should go to 4 gauge)
Think of all the talk about motor resistance... can you imagine how silly it would be to spend big $$$ for a high efficiency motor only to use 16 gauge wires with it? Doing something like that would raise the overall resistance of the system.
There are calculators around to calculate length of wire verses resistance, but to get a quick answer I think that 10 gauge is about right. (I'm pretty sure it's 10 gauge) Going any thicker helps, but it's diminishing returns.
I know for a fact that 16 gauge is too thin... my old wiring harness had a short bit of 16 gauge and it used to heat up after every ride and waste power. Once replaced it never heats up and is more efficient.
So the short answer is "Use 10 gauge"(unless you are building an electric motorcycle which draws over 100 amps... in that case you should go to 4 gauge)
Drunkskunk
100 GW
safe said:
He is and he should.
Actualy 6 guage should be fine for what you're building. but if/when you upgrade, you'll need 4.
TylerDurden
100 GW
Sorry if I repeat myself, but you can double the 6 when you upgrade... it is sometimes easier to manage two smaller lines.
Link
1 MW
TylerDurden said:Sorry if I repeat myself, but you can double the 6 when you upgrade... it is sometimes easier to manage two smaller lines.
That would actually be better than 4ga currentwise. Doubling up two wires makes it the equivalent of a single strand of wire 3 gauges lower than the original, so two 6ga wires would be the same as a single 3ga.
Doctorbass
100 GW
Also... pay attention to the quality of wire you buy!!!
Some 6 gauge have same cooper amount than 10 gauge!! they gave the same overal diameter but theu have more insulation than cooper!!
ex: car audio wire like pyramid or jensen are poor... but phoenix gold and tsumani are great! :wink:
You better have chance to get great quality wire if they are industrial grade!.. like General Electric...
also.. some China made extension cord was rated 15A but the wire inside was only 20 gauge.. that caused many fire !
Doc
use this site to help: http://www.bcae1.com/wire.htm
me i'm using a pair of 10 AWG for eacdh run and that is equal than a 7 Awg wire and still no prob with 75A I limit
Some 6 gauge have same cooper amount than 10 gauge!! they gave the same overal diameter but theu have more insulation than cooper!!
ex: car audio wire like pyramid or jensen are poor... but phoenix gold and tsumani are great! :wink:
You better have chance to get great quality wire if they are industrial grade!.. like General Electric...
also.. some China made extension cord was rated 15A but the wire inside was only 20 gauge.. that caused many fire !
Doc
use this site to help: http://www.bcae1.com/wire.htm
me i'm using a pair of 10 AWG for eacdh run and that is equal than a 7 Awg wire and still no prob with 75A I limit
Jay64
100 kW
Yes, I do plan on going 100a +. Ok, so if I decide to go with either 6ga or 4 ga, how would I transition from 10ga coming off the cells to 4ga or 6ga?