Date:         Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:27:01 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Wire size question.
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I have a spotlight on the roof of my van and like to use it, when safe, to
light far down the road or along the shoulders. Sometimes for setting up
camp after we're stopped.   Right now, I am only using it for short periods
because it's wired into my interior celing light circuit, which I am
assuming isn't adequate for a prolonged big draw accessory like that
spotlight...20amps, maybe.  The light came with a short supply wire that is
quite small gauge...Maybe #8...Which seems small to me, but I am an
electrical dunce.  Right now I've simply run a wire from my over the drivers
door interior light across the top of the windshield to the
spotlight..Works, but I worry about the draw and I want it on my secondary
battery rather than the starting batt.
  So, I am planning on taking a wire from my Aux battery (under the drivers
seat) fuse block (inside the undersink cabinet) up to the spotlight.  I
would like to be correct with the wiring.  The run will be about 6-8' from
the fuse block up to the pigtail that comes right out of the light.  I plan
on crimping the supply line with a butt splice.  My question(s) are:  What
size wire should I run up to the light and won't that small wire pigtail
that came on the Unity spotlight get hot if I use it?  When you take a big
wire for a long run then hook into a short smaller wire does the small wire
become the hot spot in the whole run?  Not sure I am asking this right, but
it's the best I can do with the electrical knowledge I have..
  thanks, Don Hanson