Wire diameter to use for my light

Masure · Apr 1, 2013

Hi,

I'm building a custom light with Cree XM-L drived at 1A. My longest wire will be less than 10cm. According to the charts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge#cite_note-8) and this calculator (http://circuitcalculator.com/wordpress/?p=75/), I could use 30AWG.

Would you say this is ok ? I don't have much space to wire my light and 30 AWG would be great. But I don't want to use something that is not safe.

Best regards

AnAppleSnail · Apr 1, 2013

Isn't 30 AWG kinda small to work with? I like to work with 22 minimum myself. Anyway, I find that picking nice wire with durable, thin insulation is more of a space saver than trying to whittle my wire size down a few gauges.

Electically, I get around 0.004 ohms per hot cm, which means (V=IR,) Voltage drop of 0.004v, or about 0.1% voltage loss from each cm of wire. If you have 10cm total, you lose 1% power (Either less output from the driver, or more sucked from the battery).

Masure · Apr 1, 2013

If I'd have to say if 30 AWG is enough at the first look, I'd have said it's not

. I looked for wire sizing on the internets and found 30 AWG is the minimum. I can use a thicker wire and don't want to under or over estimate my needs. That's why I'm asking for help in that choice.

I think I'll take something like 26AWG to be comfortable.

arek98 · Apr 1, 2013

I'm not using anything less than 24AWG for power, even for less than 1A. Trying to go 22 or 20 if possible, usually hookup vias on driver are a limit.

To save space do as AnAppleSnail suggested. Get good quality wire in thin insulation. Teflon preferably (helps with soldering too because it does not shrink). Teflon-kepton insulation will be even thinner but it is little stiffer.

Wire diameter to use for my light

Masure

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AnAppleSnail

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Masure

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arek98

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