Multi-strand wire question.. Help with my install!!

localhero800

localhero800

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May 22, 2010
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Southeast Missouri
I have 2 10" sections of Multi-strand wire(9 wire.. 8 14g and 1 8g) aka lightbar wire... I goin to add a few new gadgets to my truck, and i was wondering if this would work. Ive done lots of Vehicle wiring, but ive always wondered this..


If i put all 8 of the 14g wires together ( max amp for 14g=17 so 17x8=136amps??? )


Does that work?? I have the following..


1. Code 3 dashlaser(highspeed)


2. Whelen 75 watt strobe pack


3. sho-me random headlight flasher


4. Code 3 Masercom( controling all lights and siren)


5. CB radio


6. Icom Ic-f320 Vhf radio( direct to battery)
 
what are you planning on using the cable for?


I have an appx 18 ga 14-18 count cable going from the front of my vehicle to the rear with a splice area near the driver's kick panel. Makes for easy adding of items, or changing things around. I hate running wire, especially loose wire that ends up falling all over as you're trying to get the mouldings back on.


Honestly, in this case, I'd use one cable to go from the back of the Mastercom to a distribution area, since working on the back of those MCs is a royal PITA. Make connections/changes where you can work on it, probably whereever your PS is mounted. Running the cable elsewhere to lights might be a waste, except you might run one to the engine compartment. Use 6 of the 14 ga for your 2 front corner strobes, 2 for the speaker, and the 8 ga to go back to the distribution point.
 
ok.. well i already have the strobe wires ran, i iwas just wondering how many amps i should pull with the 8 wires if they are all together.. i guess, since its for a lightbar, it should pull at least 50a ??


I have 2 power wires ran to a Dist. box, one was already there, and i added a 6g wire for lighing.. but i can conceal all my wires very well, so i was going to run that one multi-strand, so at least it will all be together,,,
 
Well, if you've already got all your wires run, I'd just leave it as it. One 8 ga should be more than sufficient for the equipment you have listed.
 
ok.. then i have another question... Mx7000 with 5 rotators, 2 intersections, 2 27watt flashers, what kind of amps will that pull... can i run a second 6 gauge for the slide switch to run the mx7000
 
The MX7000 should be ballpark 40 amps as described. Presume 5 amps per rotator/sweeper (which is actually just a little bit high) and 2 amps for the flashers (if they flash simultaneously, double it).
 
Thanks.. i tought it was ~5a a rotator.. so in saying that, a 5 foot run of 6g should do five with 40 amps.. if i'm reading the chart right... lol i took pics of the re-install if the siren and old radio.. i think im going to do a install thread..
 
An MX7000 should have a multi-conductor cable already.


Off the top of my head, the ground wire in that cable is 8 AWG, the two red wires for two rotators each are 12 AWG, and the rest of the wires for the other functions are 14 AWG.


I don't think that the slide switch on your Mastercom can handle a 40 amp load from your MX7000, plus other equipment. If you really want to run the whole lightbar from one switch, wire it up using a continuous duty solenoid and run just the trigger wire to the Mastercom.
 
Ok. Be sure to split the load up between the positions of the slide switch.


Maybe position 1 for the two outside rotators, position 2 for the next two rotators, and position 3 for the center rotator and sweepers.
 
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