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Splicing 18 gauge to 10 gague

basicGlad

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I bought this online
Jeep Gladiator Splicing 18 gauge to 10 gague 20200712_210002


Red is going to go to aux switch 4.
Black is going to go to
Jeep Gladiator Splicing 18 gauge to 10 gague 20200712_210525


I've been trying to find the answer online but I'm only finding results on building codes where you don't do it because 12 gague is higher amps so some one down the road might only look at the end and see 12 gague and not know it starts as an 18 gague.

I can physically do it, I know how to join 10 to 18 with
Jeep Gladiator Splicing 18 gauge to 10 gague 15946651874953617788433408865283

Or by twisting the wires together and then heat shrink wrapping them


But for grounding this toy horn.... Am I going to be fine? Or is it a fire hazard? Will the bigger gague wire down the line cause it to not make a ground?
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Mr._Bill

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The wire size used should match the maximum draw of the device being connected. If the factory wire on the device being connected is 18 gauge, there is no need for 10 gauge wire between it and the AUX Switch wire.
 

whiteglad

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However, you should use a heavier gauge than 18 for a long run to minimize voltage drop. I'd probably use 14 or 16, whichever I had on the shelf. If concerned about ground quality, you can get spools of wire with two conductors, like home lamp cord, but made for auto use. I had a lot in 12 gauge left on a 100 foot roll so used it for my backup lights. I ran the ground wire to the body terminal next to the auxiliary switch wires at the battery. I had bought the spool on Amazon for my trailer connection wiring on my JK.
 

jimbom

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Will the bigger gague wire down the line cause it to not make a ground?
Are you worried that the bigger wire (12 Ga.) between the device (18 Ga.) and the chassis will be more resistance than a longer 18 Ga. wire? If so, you have that backwards. Ultimately the chassis becomes the conductor -- the path to the battery's negative terminal -- and the chassis is, in essence, a HUGE wire.

Finding a place to make solid connection to the chassis near to the device is the best place to ground it rather than running a long wire back to the auxilary bundle or the battery.
 
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basicGlad

basicGlad

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Thanks for the advice. Seems like it'll be fine doing this.

I was worried about any fire hazards but seems like it would only be if I was using a smaller wire (like 22 gague) for the hot
 

Factoid

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General rule: size the wire to the load and the fuse to the wire. As long as the smaller wire current carrying capability is greater than the fuse that protects it, you are fine. If the fuse is larger, the wire becomes the fuse! Not a good outcome.

So, if the fuse serving your circuit can handle more current than that 18 gauge wire, the wire will fry if the device shorts out.
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