The answer is...yes and no.
Cutting the strands does, of course, reduce the size of the wire. But
reducing the size of a large wire right at the connector...or anywhere else
along its length for that matter...reduces its current carrying capability
somewhat, but does not reduce it to the capability of a wire of the smaller
size for its entire length. I know this sounds confusing; let me try an
analogy.
It is much like a six lane highway that has two lanes blocked. If the
blockage is for a relatively short distance, the road can still carry quite
a bit more traffic than a four lane highway, since traffic only slows down
in the vicinity of the blocked lanes. This is the idea behind the
recommendation to cut strands off of the wire where it enters the terminal;
there will still be less voltage drop than there would be with a wire sized
to fit the terminal run the entire length. Make sense? If not, it is only
because I failed to explain it adequately.
Hope this helps...typing on a laptop is hard work!
Still trying to get my GMC...for now I'm just a lurker.
Travis
www.kdav.com
- -----Original Message-----
From: 9675.0203
To: GMC Mail
Date: Monday, February 15, 1999 12:13 AM
Subject: Re: GMC: TrueCharge 40Re:
>
>Quoted in posting:
>"They say to cut off enough strands of any larger wire so
>that it will fit in the
>connector."
>
>Will an electrically educated person answer as to whether
>cutting off strands in effect reduces the gauge of the
>wire???? If so how much?
>
>HR in Indy
>77PB
>9675.0203
>
