Wire Gauge Recommendation When Installing MaxxFan Deluxe Roof Vent Fan

Updated 03/30/2020 | Published 07/31/2019

Products Featured in This Question

MaxxFan Deluxe Roof Vent w/ 12V Fan - Manual Lift - 4 Speed - Smoke

(1405)

$236.21

10 Gauge Wire - Blue Primary - Per Foot

(107)

$1.65

Question:

I am wiring my maxxfan using Anderson Powerpole connectors to plug into a Goal Zero solar generator. What gauge wiring should I use and would it be best to use 15, 30 or 45 amp connectors?

asked by: Hallie D

Expert Reply:

The MaxxFan Deluxe Roof Vent w/ 12V Fan # MA00-06401K only draws 5 amps so you don't need to go crazy with the wiring gauge but I would still recommend 10 gauge like part # 10-1-1 (sold by foot) as it's heavier than you'd ever need and will give you peace of mind knowing the wiring would never be an issue in that regard.

15 amp connectors would easily work.

expert reply by: Jameson C

Mike

3/28/2020

Assuming copper CU, and not copper clad aluminum CCA, 10 awg seems like very much of an overkill even 10 AWG CCA is probably overkill. 10 AWG CU has a resistance of 1 ohm / 1000 it does vary a bit with temperature and stranded will be a bit higher, and so with a hypothetical round trip circuit length of 32 feet device 16 feet from battery, you would only see a voltage of 0.16 volts 5A * 32/1000 ohms 1.3 . For 14 AWG CU those numbers are 2.5 ohms per 1000 and 0.4 volt 3.35. The other consideration for wire sizing is heat, but 14 AWG CU in a 5 amp circuit will only generate 0.06 watts per foot 1/1000 of a typical 100 watt light bulb 5A^2 * 2.5/1000 ohms. For reference, the National Electrical Code allows 14 AWG in 15 amp circuits in buildings in most cases.

Chris R.

3/30/2020

I agree with everything you pointed out here. Using 10 gauge wiring is overkill - it won't hurt anything - but it's more than necessary. Going with 14 gauge would likely work without any issues. I think Jameson just wanted to provide the best solution without risk of any problems, especially since he wasn't sure of wire length, power source, etc.