Brake Wire
Thinking about running new wire for my Trailer Brakes , just not sure what size wire I should use.? The wire the manufacturer used is very thin.
Forum Discussion
larry cad wrote:Sjm9911 wrote:
I will be the on the oposote side. Etrailor recomended 10/2 wire. Way to big and cumbersome to attache to the way smaller wires in the electric brakes. If i had to do it over 16 guage would be enough. I think my original stuff was that big or smaller.
You cannot use a wire size that is the same as the wire size on the brakes. The trailer wire has to carry enough current (amps) to power all the brakes, not just one. Two trailer wheels takes less amps than a 4 wheel trailer. 6 wheel trailer takes more amps than a 4 wheel, and so on.
Most trailer wire harnesses use #10 wire which is rated at 30 amps.
On each individual electric brake magnet the amperage draw would be 3.0 to 3.2 max amps at 12 to 13 volts on 7-inch brake magnets and 3.2 to 4.0 max amps at 12 to 13 volts on 10 and 12-inch brake magnets.
The max amperage draw for the brake magnets on a single axle trailer (2 brakes) would be 6.3 to 6.8 max amps on a 7-inch brake system and 7.5 to 8.2 max amps on 10 and 12-inch brake system. The amps will be higher if using a tandem axle or triple axle trailer.
I never said to use a wire the same as the brake wires, just that 10 /2 was way overkill. I belive mine was a 18 guage wire run from the factory to the brakes on a dual axel. The magnets had much smaller wires. Maybe because my TT isnt that long or heavy and the brakes were smaller in size?
