What size electrical cable for LED Nav Lights?

[ChrisJHC]

Looking to rewire my Nav Lights.
What size electrical cable do most people use?

[JoeRobertJr]

What you need is a wire sizing chart, like you can find in this article:
Choose the Correct Wire Size

The article explains some of the other factors one should consider, too.

[Bowdrie]

Originally Posted by ChrisJHC

Looking to rewire my Nav Lights.
What size electrical cable do most people use?

With incandescent bulbs we size by total length of run and amps required, the tables generally plotted for either ~3% or ~10% voltage drop.
LEDs use so little current that the determining factor often becomes mainly one of just voltage drop in the wire itself.
If you size as though you were using incandescent bulbs, you'll won't go wrong.
Larger than necessary wiring always = no harm, no foul.

[wholybee]

LED lights are generally low enough current, the deciding factor is making sure the wires are large enough for the physical strain. For the 0.2A the lights use 18AWG is probably enough. But ABYC recommends a minimum size of 16AWG. I would probably use 12AWG.

Now, that isn't really the correct answer, but it would work because the current draw of most LEDs is so low. For almost any other load, follow the recommendations in the boatus article JoeRobertJr posted.

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by wholybee

LED lights are generally low enough current, the deciding factor is making sure the wires are large enough for the physical strain. For the 0.2A the lights use 18AWG is probably enough. But ABYC recommends a minimum size of 16AWG. I would probably use 12AWG.

Now, that isn't really the correct answer, but it would work because the current draw of most LEDs is so low. For almost any other load, follow the recommendations in the boatus article JoeRobertJr posted.

ABYC specs a minimum of 16 AWG normally, but they do allow 18 AWG as long as it's sheathed. So if it's 18/2 duplex cable, that's fine. And in many cases that will be adequate for LED nav lights.

[ChrisJHC]

Thanks all!