The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Correct Gauge for 6V heater, Radio

I am currently working on replacing the wiring harness on my 51 1/2ton. The previous owner added a 6V heater & I want to add a radio as well. I'm using a classic parts of america harness that has no additional circuits for the heater or radio. The heater add on is a rats nest of wires that were all aftermarket. I plan to tie both the heater and radio into the original ignition using my own wire and inline fuses. What is the correct gauge size for this type of application? I realize that adjustments need to be for the fact that it's a 6V heater, and I don't want to overheat the wire by using something that is the wrong gauge. Thanks in advance for the help.
-cale
51 chevy 1/2 ton
owensboro KY

I think the original gauge was 12. Also, the installation instructions for the radio called for hooking the radio up to the non-switched side of the ignition switch. I would imagine this is because the switch was not rated to take the current of the heater and the radio at the same time.

I thought you took radio power before the switch so you can listen to the mighty radio while waiting for the ferry! Well, for a while. If you get in line to early, you better be parked on a hill.

The Advance-Design GM accessory radios received their power from a fused line connected to one of the ammeter posts (see figure 62 and instruction 14).

If I connect the radio to one of the ammeter posts will I be able to listen to the radio with the ignition off? I didn't mention that I want to be able to use the radio with the ignition off at a local drive in movie theater that broadcasts the sound via FM radio.

If you have a modern radio with FM, it won't draw much current compared to the old tube and chassis originals. I've never seen a 6 volt FM, but I've never looked for one either. If you want originality, I recently saw an old drive in movie speaker with an FM radio built in it at a car show.