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| How can I build my own battery cables? https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12410 |
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| Author: | '74 Sport [ Mon Mar 28, 2005 8:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | How can I build my own battery cables? |
I've been looking in vain for large gauge wire with the red sheath to build my own positive battery cable. Anyone know a good source? Jerry |
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| Author: | Pierre [ Mon Mar 28, 2005 8:49 pm ] |
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www.delcity.net You can also buy generic pre-built cables in several different lengths at your general auto store and cut to size, may be easier/cheaper that way. |
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| Author: | SlantSixDan [ Mon Mar 28, 2005 8:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: How can I build my own battery cables? |
Quote: I've been looking in vain for large gauge wire with the red sheath to build my own positive battery cable. Anyone know a good source?
All the major wire/cable companies have what you're after. Belden/PowerPath, Carol, Standard, etc. Red or black, 6, 4, 2, 1, 0 or 2/0 gauge. Get ready to open your wallet, though, 'cause it comes in reels way longer than you need!
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| Author: | steponmebbbboom [ Mon Mar 28, 2005 9:01 pm ] |
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Well I know that my work does sell lengths over the counter by the foot, not sure of the price, but I would check some of the heavy equipment/auto electric/heavy truck/turf equipment/farm equipment dealers and ask them. You havent had any luck with the regular auto parts stores? Surprising... |
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| Author: | '74 Sport [ Mon Mar 28, 2005 10:08 pm ] |
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The typical auto parts stores do have pre-made cables. I just have a wild hair to maybe make my own, if I can find the goods. Jerry |
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| Author: | steponmebbbboom [ Tue Mar 29, 2005 4:12 am ] |
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Yeah, I dont much like the quality of the pre made ones either. Soldering your own terminals does take some practice to get it right, as it is easy to fry the insulation and/or wick too much solder up the cable so it's stiff at the end. You might want to buy some extra cable and terminals. They should still stock bulk cable. 
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| Author: | GTS225 [ Tue Mar 29, 2005 6:43 pm ] |
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Is there a particular reason you HAVE to have red? Lots of drag racers use plain old welder cable when they put the battery in the trunk. I suggest you use welding cable of your choice, round up some red shrink tube or tape, and give it a go. Roger |
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| Author: | '74 Sport [ Tue Mar 29, 2005 7:28 pm ] |
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I don't guess it HAS to be red..... got any yellow??  Jerry |
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| Author: | steponmebbbboom [ Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:20 pm ] |
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well the $25,000 question is what did it have originally. Red does look nifty and I like it but I believe it was originally black, and it was something crazy thin like 2 gauge and if you want to go for a 100 pt resto then you should spray the first 4 or 5 inches of the ground cable with engine enamel as it was painted all at once at the factory. Welding cable is really good for installations where there is a lot of flexing desired, there are very thin strands in welding cable and it flops around loose as a goose, but for the Dart I would prefer the original style cable as it tends to stay where you put it, and in this case the danger of the cable chafing against something and the insulation rubbing through is actually greater than the strands cracking from fatigue. |
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| Author: | '74 Sport [ Tue Mar 29, 2005 9:39 pm ] |
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No, it is certainly not a concourse resto we are going for. Afterall, it is getting a "Viper Race Yellow" paint job. I just thought, after all the effort and attention to detail that has gone into this project, it's cables need to be replaced to help set it off. The red cable in it now is so dingy and nasty, it would be a crime to put it back in. The red would really stand out, but the more I think about it, almost everything we put back in the engine bay has been cleaned and painted black. There isn't much color, other than the Chrysler blue engine and yellow Accel plug wires. Black multi-strand welder cable might be just the way to go. What gauge would you suggest, and should it be the same for both cables? Jerry |
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| Author: | Craig [ Tue Mar 29, 2005 9:51 pm ] |
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All my Valiants and Dodge trucks came from the factory with 6 gauge battery cables. |
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| Author: | GTS225 [ Wed Mar 30, 2005 3:20 am ] |
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If you put the battery up front, I'd say go with about 2 guage. If it's going out back, though, go with 1/0.....that's a fair distance, and the chance of voltage drop is too big in a DC circuit. Yes, use the same size for both....the current that goes out from the positive has to return on the negative. I won't say it'll be cheap, but you WILL get all your needed voltage. Roger |
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| Author: | steponmebbbboom [ Wed Mar 30, 2005 4:11 am ] |
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  6 gauge! Are you sure? Bolt-on battery terminals wouldn't even compress 6 gauge.
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