Custom LED Circuit - Wire Gauge?

[Adam Richards]

Originally Posted by jhill0914

I would like to run the 18AWG wire to my breadboard and use much smaller wires on the board itself, but I don't want to have that rejected by the inspector at the competition. I'm sure this issue has been dealt with before by other teams, can anyone provide some insight into this?

This should be acceptable to inspectors. At the FL regional last year, we dealt with a few custom circuits, and as long as the initial wire was 18g, we weren't too concerned, as long as it followed all of the other custom circuit rules. Just be prepared to explain the circuit to the inspectors and the judges, as they will likely take an interest.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Jeffrey,
I should have answered this earlier. The 20 amp breaker rule requires that you use #18 to feed your custom circuit. However, you may add a smaller fuse to the custom circuit if you feel it is appropriate.

F. Custom circuits and sensors powered via the cRIO-FRC or the Digital Sidecar are protected by the breaker on the circuit(s) supplying those devices. Power feeds to all other custom circuits must be protected with a dedicated 20-amp circuit breaker on the PD Board.

In addition to the required branch power circuit breakers, smaller value fuses or breakers may be incorporated into custom circuits for additional protection.
No one expects that wiring on a custom circuit board be #18. Common electrical practice would suggest that a 1 amp fuse would protect anything on the board that is wired with smaller gauge wire. LEDs for instance are rarely wired with #18 gauge wire.