What guage wire

Aaron D. IL
Aaron D. IL Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Hey guys I'm re-wiring my stepdown. The diagram says wire sizes like "16" but does that mean 16 gage wire ? or is it more like "number 16 wire" which is in reality a different gage size? Because the old wire I'm looking at doesn't look like 16 gage wire. I know they're lighting tiny bulbs but 6V systems are fatter right?

So what are the corresponding actual gage sizes of wire ? I want to be correct when ordering.

Comments

  • Kdancy
    Kdancy Senior Contributor
    Yes, I would like to know as well as I have a stepdown as a future project. Isn't the wire bigger because it is steel core and not copper?
  • GrimGreaser
    GrimGreaser Senior Contributor
    edited June 2011
    I believe, correct me if I'm wrong, that the 6V system pulls more amps all-around and required the heavier gauge wire. Having re-wired mine 12V, I can say the kit I got was mostly 14 gauge with 12 and 10 for the high power circuits. The 6V wires I pulled out, the best I can remember, seemed a gauge or two bigger than what I put in.
  • ski4life65
    ski4life65 Expert Adviser
    I just finished making a wiring harness for my 52. I used wire from the Brillman Co. It is cotton braided (over pvc) that looks original. After getting a quote from a couple harness companies, I decided to make my own. I am into the project for less than $250 which included wire, correct style terminals, solder, shrink tubing, and the non adhesive tape to wrap it all up. I started to hook everything up a couple of days ago. I went with whatever the shop manual said for wire size assuming it meant gauge.....I am converting to 12 volt, so I should be in good shape. The stuff I bought seemed about the same gauge as what I removed.

    http://brillman.com/store/cotton-braid-primary-wire-c-23_43_48.html
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Number 16 and 16 gauge wire are essentially the same. Some may look larger or smaller than other samples, but the current-carrying capacity is the same. Most of the wiring on an original 6v Hudson is 16 ga. Exceptions include the main feeder into the "cockpit" from the starter solenoid or voltage regulator (depending on the vintage of the car). Note that a device intended for 12v systems will usually draw a bit over half the current as its 6v counterpart. When you put a voltage-dropping resistor in a circuit to allow a 6v item to operate with a 12v supply, the current in that circuit is the same as on 6v.
  • mars55
    mars55 Senior Contributor
    For those who want to calculate the wire size, these web sites have calculators.

    http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

    http://www.stealth316.com/2-wire-resistance.htm
  • Aaron D. IL
    Aaron D. IL Senior Contributor
    I am keeping this particular car 6V it's a 1950 P and I'm doing the job myself. Just don't want to get the wrong wire type in it.
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