Honda ST1100 Section > Electrics & Electronics - Volts, Amps and Fuses ST1100

Which wires to use?

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DaleAP:
In the process of the alternator upgrade, and the one thing that has me stumped is the wire size that should be used for the new sub-harness.

Following a great how-to from the U.S. forums and one guy made his own harness using 10 and 18 guage wires (diagram attached).
Looking through the stores around me though and they all come with mm measurements (both outer and MM2), as well as amp ratings.

Anyone able to tell me what I should be using? Given the alternator is 40 amp, and I have a fuse for 50amp, should the thicker wire be at least 50amp rated? Although that seems thicker than the 10 guage that the U.S. guy used.

cravenhaven:
You would get a voltage drop of approx 0.3V at 40A with 10awg wire. I think I would aim to use something like 6mm wire for that, but even then it only reduces the voltage drop by a third.

DaleAP:

--- Quote from: cravenhaven on March 20, 2022, 02:06:12 PM ---You would get a voltage drop of approx 0.3V at 40A with 10awg wire. I think I would aim to use something like 6mm wire for that, but even then it only reduces the voltage drop by a third.

--- End quote ---

When you say 6mm, is that the internal wire diameter (without the insulation)?

Gadget:

--- Quote from: DaleAP on March 20, 2022, 02:27:19 PM ---
--- Quote from: cravenhaven on March 20, 2022, 02:06:12 PM ---You would get a voltage drop of approx 0.3V at 40A with 10awg wire. I think I would aim to use something like 6mm wire for that, but even then it only reduces the voltage drop by a third.

--- End quote ---

When you say 6mm, is that the internal wire diameter (without the insulation)?

--- End quote ---

6 mm^2 wire is the cross-sectional area of the wire.

That means if you cut the wire, and look at the end there is 6 mm squared area of the metal conductor exposed.

https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/wire-square-mm-diameter-d_1874.html


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cravenhaven:
Yep, you have to be a bit careful about wire sizes. Automotive wire is marketed by what size hole the cable will go through, so is a linear measure that includes the insulation.
I meant 6mm^2 wire as the cross sectional area of the actual conductor.

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