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
Vintage465 wrote:
12/2 jacketed brake wire is the proper conductor. I would not go less.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/352212792104?hash=item520184b328:g:USEAAOxyAs9SRbIh
$5.99 per 10ft plus $4.99 shipping, $11 for 10ft??
$1 per ft..
That is an insane price!
You can buy that same jacketed wire in the same 12 Ga at Amazon for $.79 per ft..
But 12ga is not an upgrade and if one is going to go through the hassle of changing the wire, one might as well go big and upgrade further.
Additionally, you do not need to use that plastic jacketed wire, an improvement and better wire is Neoprene jacketed "SJ" rated wire which uses a heavy neoprene rubber outside jacket and the inside wires also are jacketed in neoprene rubber. That advantage of SJ type cord is the wire strands are very fine and allows the cord to flex very easy.
Standard jacketed RV brake wire on the other hand uses large strands which are far less flexible and much more brittle and prone to breakage.
The more flexible SJ cord will hold up better in areas that the wire must flex a lot, like where they touch the axles!
Can get 2 wire 10ga SJ cord for around $1.15 per ft maybe a bit lower if you search around a bit.
Not everything must have "RV" on it to use, heck even 12Ga speaker wire or zip (lamp) cord can be used in a pinch..
Not every must be sourced from Ebay either, much better places that sell much better quality and prices.
