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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: May 2016 Posts: 83 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2016 Posts: 83 | Man, I feel so stupid. I'm on here 2-3 times a week with simple questions I can't find the answer for, and you guys answer it in a very short time. I'm wiring my tail lights. The original wiring was all "bubba'd" up. What gauge wire should I use for my tail lights and brake lights? Also, can I wire the extra tail light (right side) in parallel with the left side with no overloading the wire? Thanks again fellas, you've saved me so much time!!!! -Lee | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,751 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,751 | 6 volts or 12? Tail lights on a 12V system work well with 18 Ga. wire. For 6V I'd go up a size or two, probably 16 Ga. or possibly 14. I've always had a habit of using one wire gauge above minimum for all circuits, as there's very little cost difference on the initial installation, and "voltage drop is forever"! Be sure to use fuses capable of protecting the wire, not nece3ssarily the end item in the circuit. For instance, 18 Ga. wire needs a 7A. fuse max, 16 can carry 12 A. safely, 14 gets a 15 A. or maybe 20, and 12 Ga. can handle 25 amps or a little more. As the wire gauge number gets smaller, the diameter of the wire and its current capacity increases.
If you're going to wire two tail lights and maybe a license plate wire from the same conductor headed toward the rear, use a 14 Ga. wire. It can carry 3 or 4 tail light sized bulbs easily. use a 10 or 15A. fuse.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
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| | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,384 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,384 | 16ga for tail lights and 14ga for brake. That will handle both lights. | | | | | Joined: May 2016 Posts: 83 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2016 Posts: 83 | | | | | | Joined: May 2016 Posts: 83 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2016 Posts: 83 | 6 volts or 12? Tail lights on a 12V system work well with 18 Ga. wire. For 6V I'd go up a size or two, probably 16 Ga. or possibly 14. I've always had a habit of using one wire gauge above minimum for all circuits, as there's very little cost difference on the initial installation, and "voltage drop is forever"! Be sure to use fuses capable of protecting the wire, not nece3ssarily the end item in the circuit. For instance, 18 Ga. wire needs a 7A. fuse max, 16 can carry 12 A. safely, 14 gets a 15 A. or maybe 20, and 12 Ga. can handle 25 amps or a little more. As the wire gauge number gets smaller, the diameter of the wire and its current capacity increases.
If you're going to wire two tail lights and maybe a license plate wire from the same conductor headed toward the rear, use a 14 Ga. wire. It can carry 3 or 4 tail light sized bulbs easily. use a 10 or 15A. fuse.
Jerry
Awesome! Thanks, Jerry! | | |
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