Difference between positive and negative flow in wires

AI Thread Summary
Running 12 volts DC at 1 amp over 250 feet with a 12-gauge positive wire and a 20-gauge negative wire will not affect the current capacity of the larger positive wire. However, the smaller 20-gauge ground wire will create a bottleneck due to its higher resistance, limiting the overall current flow in the circuit. The current in the entire circuit is determined by the wire with the highest resistance. Therefore, using a smaller gauge for the ground wire can lead to inefficiencies. Proper wire sizing is crucial for optimal performance in electrical circuits.
John1397
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Does anyone know if I run 12 volts dc at 1 amp power for a distance of 250 feet and one wire is 12 gauge used for positive and other negative wire is 20 gauge will the smaller ground wire affect what the positive wire can carry?

John
 
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It won't affect what the larger wire is able to carry but the smaller wire will be the bottleneck. It wouldn't matter how large the bottle gets if the neck is small. The neck is what prevents the ketchup from running. Understand?
 
The current in the whole circuit will be determined by the overall resistance
 

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