Wire gauge question

[Offroad'Bent]

I'm trying to make a backup 15V, 10 AA battery set for a 3X Cree R2 light.
I have some 8AA battery holders from Batteryspace, and was thinking of adding 2AA holders in series, but I'm not sure if the pre-wired leads are heavy enough gauge.

Does anyone know if 26AWG leads would be enough to run 3 Cree R2s at 1000- 1200mA?

(I hope this isn't considered cross-posting from the bicycle CPF list)

 

[The Dane]

Should be ok!
AWG 23 is rated for 4.5A

 

[Offroad'Bent]

Should be ok!
AWG 23 is rated for 4.5A

Thanks! Does anyone have the rating for AWG 26? I think it's 1/2 of AWG 23, no?

 

[LukeA]

26AWG solid copper wire can carry 2.2A over short lengths.

 

[Offroad'Bent]

26AWG solid copper wire can carry 2.2A over short lengths.

Does voltage matter? 2.2A @ 14.8v?
Thanks for your patience.

"Dammit Jim, I'm a Doctor, not an Electrician!"

 

[jeffosborne]

Factors to consider here are: the length of the wire, AND how much voltage drop you can tolerate, AND how much current you are drawing! With your 15 volt supply, and your 3 LED's at maybe 10.5 volts, you have several volts that can drop over your wire with no problem. I use 50-60' of 24 gauge wire for 3 white Rebel LED's at 400ma, and the voltage drop across the wire is about 2 volts, FYI. Jeff O.