Calculating wire size and voltage drop
I'm in the process of adding a second battery bank. The bank is two 6v GC2 @220 AH. I've finally nailed down some exacting measurements and have totalled the two runs from the bank to the distribution...
Forum Discussion
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS
Verify the gauge by getting the circular mil spec for that gauge. Too many errors re: SAE versus AWG. Someone claims they are selling "2 gauge wire" ask for the circular mil area of the conductor. If they refuse, drop the phone receiver back on the hook. AWG is about 4% larger, and is GUARANTEED to be a certain circular mil value. SAE is made in "Xhualung Province" and is guaranteed to have at least some copper and plastic in the product.
You are correct that AWG is larger than SAE, and can be so up to 10%. SAE also specifies the wire cross section.
But, SAE stands for Society of Automotive Engineers, and AWG stands for American Wire Gauge. Wire made to either of these standards can be made anywhere in the world. The insulation is a topic on its own, and can have many different descriptors. Don't just assume that SAE is bad and AWG is good. Nothing is guaranteed. You have to know the standard and the manufacturer, but made in North America or Europe is usually good. Elsewhere is ???
