Wire Size

[Gunter Meyer]

Are there technical reasons why one should not use OVERSIZED electricalwires. For example, will electrons from a 12V battery get lost in a 3 foot4 gauge wire?

 

[Dave]

weight

The larger the wire the lower the resistance.In a metal the bond between the atoms is described as an "electron cloud" where all the electrons are being shared making the transmission on energy very easy, in other words you add energy at one end and it is like pressurizing a hose already filled with water. So electrons will not get "lost" but using wires a lot bigger than needed will cost a lot more and add a lot more weight to your vessel.dave

 

[Gord May]

As Dave said, the only minor drawbacks to larger wire sizes are cost & weight. Obviously, 3 feet of wire (no matter how large) will not add much of either.There are many important safety, reliability, & performance reasons to use larger wire sizes.See "Ohm's Law & You", in the March/April 2003 (issue 29) of "GOOD OLD BOAT" magazine. A version of this article will soon be posted at "CRUISERSFORUM" (www.cruisersforum.com)Regards,Gord