How to choose the correct wire gauge & size of a wire

[jeydheep]

Main Question or Discussion Point

I Suppose, need to choose a correct wire gauge for a lighting circuit, how to calculate it. Input load 12V Battery, load (two 100 W bulb), .Please clarify.

 

[schip666!]

I googled: wire gauge current limit
and found: http://www.cablesandconnectors.com/wiregauge.html

To figure out the current (amps) divide the wattage by the voltage: 200W/12V = 16.66A

Does that help?

 

[Carl Pugh]

I would recommend that you Google "national electric code ampacity of wires".

 

[sophiecentaur]

btw, you need to choose the gauge of wire for just over, rather than just under the current it needs to carry. (It needs to be said)