Watt gauge wire

[steplift20]

I'm running a bilge pump,bow light ans anchor light ,what gauge wire should I use? It's a lake fresh water boat.
Thanks

[phatdaddy]

Depends on amp draw and length of run.

Blue Seas has a good calculator on their site. U punch in the amps or watts and the length of run and it tells u the gauge. Length of run is a total of positive and negative wire

[steplift20]

I don't know what the watt or amp draw is. It's only a bilge pump. I was thinking 14 awg should be good but would 16 awg do? It's less expensive too.

[Destroyer]

It should say on the box or on a label on the side what the amp draw is for the pump. If the lights are LED the draw is almost nothing. If they are incandescent 16 gauge is fine.

.

[phatdaddy]

Whatever wire u get, make sure it is tinned.

I just changed my bow and stern lights to LED and the total amp draw is around 1.25

[steplift20]

Tinned,for salt water Absolutly
Fresh water. Does it really matter?

[phatdaddy]

Depends on how long you re keeping the boat or how many times want to do it.

Plus, how much wire we talking about. 30 or 40 ft

[steplift20]

Good answer