Trailer wire size

[rickm]

Gentlemen I'm making my own plug for my trailer and I'm having a problem finding 6-strand/16 gauge wire. I got some 14 gauge but it's to big to fit in the pins. I see that sprinkler wire is 6-strand/18 gauge and I wonder if 18 gauge is large enough ? The wire on my 5-pronge plug fits in very easily but I don't have anything for measuring wire gauge. Can I use 18 gauge wire ? Thanks Rick

 

[NancysToy]

14 gauge is the standard for medium-duty trailer cables. It is too bad it won't work for you. I couldn't find any #16, either, except in flat-four cable. With the small load on a trailer, without 12V power or electric brake wiring, I would expect 18 gauge would work. I would not use it for power or brakes, just lighting. If you have LED lighting, or convert your trailer to LEDs, so much the better. This assumes your trailer isn't lit up like a Christmas tree, and has a minimum of extra clearance lights. The other alternative is to buy some individual #16 and make up your own cable. BTW, if your wiring is very long, you may want to check for voltage drop at the back of your trailer if you use 18 gauge. You will lose voltage under load in a long run.

 

[Marker]

http://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Deka/DW02359.html The only wire I could find single conductor 16 gauage .You could put single wires together into a flexible black conduit to make them neat and keep them together. You could also go to your local Hardware store and buy different colors of THHN (nylon covered over pvc outer jacket)( oil and gasoline resistant)16 gauge wire and then put them into a flexible conduit to keep them together Just an idea

 

[rickm]

Scotty,Marker here is something to think about.The 14 gauge has 19 strands and if I pull 6 aside and use the other 13 it fits into the plug perfectly. Also the wire on the 5 prong that I have fits in the pin but very loosely. I'm thinking the 13 strand is the way to go ? ?

 

[NancysToy]

I do not usually recommend cutting some of the strands out of the larger wire. It creates a weak spot, and often results in the wire breaking at the connector, in time. The method will also not completely eliminate the extra resistance the smaller wire causes. It will reduce it, but the smallest portion will always be a limiting factor, in this case the connectors and connection. The larger wire will not overheat if the load is heavier, but the connector may do so. On the other hand, it is probably less restrictive than the #18 wire. I would probably try to buy several lengths of #16 THWN stranded or #16 primary wire, and make my own cable, but your method will work. Just be aware of the potential problems. A strain relief on the main part of the cable could eliminate breakage problems.

 

[Marker]

I do not usually recommend cutting some of the strands out of the larger wire. It creates a weak spot, and often results in the wire breaking at the connector, in time. The method will also not completely eliminate the extra resistance the smaller wire causes. It will reduce it, but the smallest portion will always be a limiting factor, in this case the connectors and connection. The larger wire will not overheat if the load is heavier, but the connector may do so. On the other hand, it is probably less restrictive than the #18 wire. I would probably try to buy several lengths of #16 THWN stranded or #16 primary wire, and make my own cable, but your method will work. Just be aware of the potential problems. A strain relief on the main part of the cable could eliminate breakage problems.

I agree with Nancy's Toy . I would not cut out strands on wire as the wire is designed for that many strands ,you may run into problems down the road . Cutting out strands changes the durability of the wire. I work for a major wire and cable manufacturer and all strands in the cable and wire must be accounted for or the cable and wire is garbage.