Gauge

Hey guys first off i would like to say that the new forum rocks if i haven't already. So my question is all about wire gauge. there is a lot of information out there about what gauge wire you should use to make your stator and for my 12v stator i plan on using 14 awg magnet wire. Then what? i have seen extension cords used down the tower for ametek turbines but never for alternator turbines. what do you guys usually run down the tower of your generators? Do you stay with the magnet wire of move on to something a bit more robust? I am not planning on putting the rectifier on top of the tower so there will be three wires running down the tower.
the other sub-question i have is about the battery. I am only planning on running 1 battery for my generator (at least for now) with the charge controller i will use the negative wire from the rectifier goes right to the negative terminal of the battery. What gauge do you guys use to get from the rectifier to the battery?

Thanks
~DK :D