![]() ![]() ![]() Now lets say that you are using a smaller gauge cable for that same length and your voltage drop is 10%. If your circuit needs 100 amps of current, the battery cable will be absorbing 2 amps (24 watts) of current because of it's resistance, leaving 98 amps available. At the source, or battery, you will read 12 volts using a voltage meter, but at the other end of the cable your voltmeter will only read 11.76 volts (12 volts -2%). Why is voltage drop important? Let's say that your length of battery cable is connected to a 12 volt battery and has a voltage drop of 2%, which is considered adequate for almost all electrical systems. This voltage drop is influenced by the diameter of the copper conductors inside the cable, or the gauge size, and the total length of the cable - The longer the battery cable is, the higher the voltage drop will be, and the larger the diameter, or gauge (AWG) of the battery cable, the less the voltage drop will be. Voltage drop is simply the voltage seen at one end of the cable minus the voltage seen at the other end of the cable. The length is important because as electricity flows through a battery cable, there is an resistance to the flow of that electricity which will generate heat in your battery cable and manifest itself in the form of what is called a voltage drop at the end of the cable. The second thing to consider when selecting the correct size battery cable is the length of cable you need. If a device says it uses 120 watts, then 120 watts / 12 volts = 10 amps. In this case, simply divide the number for watts by your system's voltage to get the amperage requirements. Sometimes, devices might be rated in watts instead of amps. Add up the current requirements of all your devices and this will be your maximum amperage needed. For example, a light bulb might use 1/2 an amp of current, while an inverter might use 100 amps of current. Each of your electrical devices will require a specific number of amps to operate. Current is measured in units called amps. When figuring out the length you need, you will add together the lengths of both the positive and negative cables to get your total length.įirst let's talk about the importance of current when selecting your battery cable. When selecting the correct size of a battery cable to power your electrical system or project, a few factors need to be considered.You should know what is the maximum amount of current your system will need, how long the cables need to be, and the cost of larger cables versus smaller cables. ![]()
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