FirehawkSS

iTrader: (2)

Does anyone know how relays are rated for voltage and amps and whatever else they do. I have a relay that used to be run for a 15amp circuit .8gage wire. I am now running a 20amp 1gage wire through it. Will I burn up the relay or can it handle the potential of 5 extra amps? Anyone know?

Relay: 12177235 DOO

30 86
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85 87a 87
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BigBadLou

iTrader: (3)

I take it you already got your answer on LS1tech but just to give you more info:

A standard automotive 12V relay (like this one: http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=330-073) is rated at 40A for the NO contacts and 30A for the NC contacts.

So if your relay looks like the one in the link, you'll be fine with a 20A circuit.

However, for 20 amps, I wouldn't use 18awg or 16awg (like you stated on ls1tech), I'd upgrade to 12awg.

Hope this helps.
Lou

FirehawkSS

iTrader: (2)

Still fishing for the best answer and ls1tech has helped but I haven't fully gotten what I'm looking for. Thanks for the info though. Why do you think I should step up all the way to a 12 gage? 16 gage does seem kinda low for 20amps but that is what the car has from the factory. I've never had a remote hatch release on my 3rd gen so I really haven't had any experience with it melting wires or blowing fuses. This may all be a worthless question but with wiring I don't like to take chances.

BigBadLou

iTrader: (3)

I'm not sure, which answer are you still missing?
For 20 amps and the distance you need to run the wire to the trunk, 12awg is the best. You could get away with 16awg just because the current through the wire is not continuous so it's not gonna melt it but another issue would be the voltage drop. If your battery is already low and you try to open the hatch but the 16gage wire causes another 3V drop, will the hatch even pop? It might work or it might not. The decision is of course up to you, we cannot force you to do what we tell you.

You are right, some of the stock wires in our cars are way too undersized for the current that they carry but hey, that's cheapo GM we're talking about. You want to do it right? You gotta use the correct awg.
Why do you think are headlights are so dim? Because some idiot GM accountant wanted to save $0.50 on wires per car and that's what he accomplished and got a promotion for it. And we're stuck with 60W lightbulbs emitting 40W of light. If yup upgrade your headlight wiring, you'll feel like you're driving with your high-beams on all the time. Thank you, GM!

Lou

FirehawkSS

iTrader: (2)

i guess you're right. I sometimes forget about big business management and the money inspired decisions that they make. Inferior products especially 20 years down the road. Thanks again.

BigBadLou

iTrader: (3)

Didn't mean to make you feel down, sorry.
But hey, at least they give us something to do - improve inferior products to make them better!

Lou