Ratings, Codes & Wire Gauges

SAE Lighting
SAE Backup Alarms
SAE Strobes
Wire Gauges
INTERNATIONAL IP (Ingress Protection)

 

SAE LIGHTING IDENTIFICATION CODES & STANDARDS

 

A Reflex reflectors
A2 Wide angle reflex reflectors
C Motorcycle auxiliary front lamps
D Motorcycle and motor-driven cycle turn signal lamps
E Side turn signal lamps – vehicles 12 m or more in length
E2 Side turn signal lamps – vehicles less than 12 m in length
F Front fog lamps
F2 Fog tail lamps
G Truck cargo lamps
H Sealed beam headlamps
HG Discharge forward lighting headlamps
HH Sealed beam headlamp housings
HR Replaceable bulb headlamps
I Turn signal lamps
I3 Turn signal lamps spaced from 75 mm to less than 100 mm from headlamp
I4 Turn signal lamps spaced from 60 mm to less than 75 mm from headlamp
I5 Turn signal lamps spaced less than 60 mm from headlamp
I6 Rear mounted turn signal lamps and front mounted turn signal lamps mounted 100 mm or more from the headlamp, for use on vehicles 2032 mm or more in overall width
I7 Front mounted turn signal lamps mounted less than 100 mm from the headlamp, for use on vehicles 2032 mm or more in overall width
K Front cornering lamps
K2 Rear cornering lamps
L License plate lamps
M Motorcycle and motor-driven cycle headlamps – motorcycle type
N Motorcycle and motor-driven cycle headlamps – motor-driven cycle type
O Spot lamps
P Parking lamps
P2 Clearance, side marker and identification lamps
P3 Clearance, side marker and identification lamps for use on vehicles 2032 mm or more in overall width
PC Combination clearance and side marker lamps
PC2 Combination clearance and side marker lamps for vehicles 2032 mm or more in overall width
Q Turn signal operating units‚ Class A
QB Turn signal operating units‚ Class B
QC Vehicular hazard warning signal operating unit
R Backup lamps
S Stop lamps
S2 Stop lamps for use on vehicles 2032 mm or more in overall width
T Tail lamps (rear position lamps)
T2 Tail lamps (rear position lamps) for use on vehicles 2032 mm or more in overall width
U Supplemental high-mounted stop and turn lamps
U2 Supplemental high-mounted stop and turn lamps for use on vehicles 2032 mm or more in overall width
U3 Center high-mounted stop lamps for passenger cars, light trucks and MPVs
W Warning lamps for emergency, maintenance and service vehicles
W2 Warning lamps for school buses
W3 360-degree emergency warning lamps
W4 Emergency warning devices
W5-1 360-degree gaseous discharge lamps‚ Class 1
W5-2 360-degree gaseous discharge lamps‚ Class 2
W5-3 360-degree gaseous discharge lamps‚ Class 3
Y Driving lamps
Y2 Daytime running lamps
Z Auxiliary low beam lamps
J590 Turn signal flashers
J595 Directional Flashing Optical Warning Devices for Authorized Emergency, Maintenance, and Service Vehicles
J845 Omnidirectional Optical Warning Devices for Authorized Emergency, Maintenance, and Service Vehicles
J914 Side Turn Signal Lamps for Vehicles Less than 12 m in Length
J945 Vehicular Hazard Warning Flashers – Canceled July 1999
J1054 Warning Lamp Alternating Flashers
J1318 Gaseous Discharge Warning Lamp For Authorized Emergency,Maintenance, And Service Vehicles
J1690 Vehicular Hazard Warning Flashers
J2039 Side Turn Signal Lamps for Vehicles 12 m or More in Length

SAE PC RATING EXPLAINED

Traditional clearance and side marker lights

A traditional side marker is mounted to the side of the vehicle and is required to produce an angle of light 45° towards the front and rear of the vehicle. A traditional clearance light is mounted to the front of the vehicle or trailer and is required to produce an angle of light 45° to the left of and right of center.

PC-Rated lights

A PC-rated lamp combines the clearance and side marker functions into one when mounted at a 45° angle at the front corner of the vehicle or trailer. It is required to produce light 90° to the left of and right of the light’s center line. PC-Rated lights save you money by combining two lights into one.

SAE CLASS RATINGS – BACK-UP ALARMS

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has developed performance standards for electric back-up alarms that are intended for use on heavy construction machinery. This chart shows the decibel level established for each of six classes defined in SAE Standard J944. The sound level tolerance for each class is +/- 4 dB(A). Alarms conforming to SAE J944 must also meet additional criteria relating to sound frequency, temperature range and resistance to rain, vibration and corrosion.

Class Sound Level
A 112 dB(A)
B 107 dB(A)
C 97 dB(A)
D 87 dB(A)
E 77 dB(A)
F Other

SAE CLASS RATINGS – STROBES

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has developed performance standards for strobe/warning lights. This chart shows the three classes defined in various SAE standards and their intended use. Each class is defined by specific photometric criteria for flash brightness and distribution that are too complex and numerous to be listed here. Strobes conforming to SAE standards must also meet additional criteria relating to housing durability, temperature range and resistance to rain, vibration and corrosion.

Class Intended Function
1 Emergency Response
2 Warning
3 Identification

American Wire Gauge (AWG) is the standard measurement of wire sizes in the US. The higher the gauge number, the thinner the conductor.
Heavier gauge wire is required as either amperage or wire length increases. Overloaded wiring can negatively affect reliability and safety due to excessive voltage drop and heat. Wires thinner than 18 AWG are not recommended for vehicular use.

 

The tables below provide general guidelines for choosing wire. Remember that common ground wires must be adequate to carry the total amperage on the circuit, even if separate hot wires are used.

The data included here only illustrates general wiring principles. Variables such as the exact type of wiring used and the type of devices connected will effect the actual performance of any circuit. Always verify proper operation after installation.

 

Wire Gauge Specification

Gauge (AWG) Diameter (inch) Diameter (mm) Cross Section (mm2)
0 0.46 11.68 107.16
0 0.4096 10.4 84.97
0 0.3648 9.27 67.4
0 0.3249 8.25 53.46
1 0.2893 7.35 42.39
2 0.2576 6.54 33.61
3 0.2294 5.83 26.65
4 0.2043 5.19 21.14
5 0.1819 4.62 16.76
6 0.162 4.11 13.29
7 0.1443 3.67 10.55
8 0.1285 3.26 8.36
9 0.1144 2.91 6.63
10 0.1019 2.59 5.26
11 0.0907 2.3 4.17
12 0.0808 2.05 3.31
13 0.072 1.83 2.63
14 0.0641 1.63 2.08
15 0.0571 1.45 1.65
16 0.0508 1.29 1.31
17 0.0453 1.15 1.04
18 0.0403 1.02 0.82
20 0.032 0.81 0.52
22 0.0254 0.65 0.33
24 0.0201 0.51 0.2

 

Wire Gauge Required for 3% Voltage Drop at 12 Volts

Total Circuit Amps
Circuit Length 1 5 10 20 30 40 50
10’ 18 16 14 12 10 8 8
20’ 16 14 12 8 6 6 4
30’ 16 12 10 6 4 4 2
40’ 16 12 8 6 4 2 2
50’ 16 10 8 4 2 2 1
60’ 16 10 6 4 2 1 0
80’ 14 8 6 2 1 0 0
100’ 14 6 4 2 0 0 0
120’ 14 6 4 1 0 0 0

 

Wire Gauge Required for 10% Voltage Drop at 12 Volts

Total Circuit Amps
Circuit Length 1 5 10 20 30 40 50
10’ 24 18 18 16 14 14 12
20’ 22 18 16 14 12 10 10
30’ 20 18 16 12 10 8 8
40’ 20 16 14 10 8 8 6
50’ 18 16 12 10 6 6 2
60’ 18 16 12 8 4 4 2
80’ 16 10 8 4 2 2 1
100’ 16 8 6 4 2 1 0
120’ 14 8 6 2 1 0 0

INTERNATIONAL IP (Ingress Protection) RATING

1st Digit Protection Level Against Solid Ingress 2nd Digit Protection Level Against Liquid Ingress
0 Non-protected (or not rated) 0 Non-protected (or not rated)
1 > 50 mm gap for entry 1 Vertically dripping water
2 > 12 mm gap for entry 2 Dripping water tilted at 15 degrees
3 > 2.5 mm gap for entry 3 Spraying water at an angle of 60 degrees
4 > 1.0 mm gap for entry 4 Splashing water at any direction
5 Dust resistant 5 Jets of water from any direction
6 Dust tight 6 Heavy seas or powerful jets of water
6K Powerful water jets with increased pressure
7 Harmful ingress of water when immersed to 1 meter for 30 min.
8 Continuous immersion in water
9K Powerful high temperature water jets

 

Example: IP67 = [6] dust tight + [7] immersible up to 1 meter for 30 minutes

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