Correct Wire for small 12v truck camper loads?

[Dave in AZ]

Looking to get clarification on what wire to use for 12v loads, <= 10 Amps, in a popup truck camper. Can I use copper clad aluminum (it's almost all I can find). Trying to fit 3 or 4 circuit runs along camper walls, so smaller is better where able. In past I didn't worry much, but having read all Will's stuff, might as well be sure new truck wiring is perfect.p

Maximum distance is 12ft, so 24ft length. This would be for:
LED lights , 55w, 5A.
2 small fan computer 48w, 4A
USB sockets 56w, 5A
All these are non-critical where 10% drop wouldn't really matter, I think? It seems 16awg would be ok for these up to 50ft?

Diesel heater, 120w 12A-- will run 10awg on 15A fuse for this to ensure good voltage.
12v electric blanket, 120w 10A. Will run 10awg to this.

DC amperage charts show:
5A: 16awg 0-15ft 3% voltage drop, 50ft 10% drop.
5A: 14awg 20 ft 3% voltage drop, <65ft 10% drop.

10A: 16awg 0-6ft 3% voltage drop, <20ft 10% drop.
10A: 14awg 0-10ft 3% voltage drop, <30ft 10% drop

20A:14awg 0-6ft 3% voltage drop, <20ft 10% drop.

Will stresses copper, but it is very hard to find pure copper in 14 awg and 16awg. His links are actually Copper Clad Aluminum when you select off the 10awg down to 14 or 16awg.

Does it really matter for these small loads? Or is CCA ok for these? Does 10% voltage drop from 12.8 matter for LED, usb, or fan?

 

[justinm001]

Led lights will flicker and be dimmer if voltage drops which can be annoying if somewhere you're routinely using but not for cabinets and such.

Doesn't really matter for lower gauge and low amperage though. Lots of led strip lights use 22 or 24 gauge wiring.

 

[scrubjaysnest]

Just got 200 feet of 12Awg marine wire from Amazon. It's tinned copper not cca.

 

[0truck0]

None of your loads DC are worth a worry. The diesel heater will use amps when heating up the glow plug, mine is less than 8 amps, but after that it is only the fan that pulls power at about 3 amps max.
I cannot argue with Will, but I think for your needs today that aluminum wire is more than ample enough.
Have you looked at Romex? I have never had a hard time finding copper wire. When you hear of network ethernet wire then that is common to be copper clad aluminum, but Romex should be copper.

 

[richard cabesa]

Try West Marine

Flat Duplex Wire by the Foot | West Marine

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Stranded tinned copper

I wouldn’t use Romex in an environment that would see vibration.. it can work harden and fail

 

[0truck0]

The entire RV world of builders say to use solid wire, not braided. I used to use braided wire for same reason. Vibrations are imaginary in this situation. It is a good thought, but not realistic.