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Old 02-23-2023, 08:32 AM   #1
chrismoore701
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battery cables

Best place to pick up battery cable wire, want to build my own cables. Also need clamps for the battery. thoughts?
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Old 02-23-2023, 10:03 AM   #2
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Re: battery cables

I went to the ‘Battery Doctor once for new cables and crimped ends.
Like on this link.


https://www.wirthco.com/battery-doctor
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Old 02-23-2023, 10:04 AM   #3
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Re: battery cables

Here locally, Federated Auto Parts and NAPA both have the ability to crimp eyelets onto cable. The crimp is a better quality connection than I can do on my own with solder. You'll walk into the store, and tell them the gauge of wire, the size of hole needed in the eyelets, and the overall length. They'll call you a day later to say it's done.

The eyelets obviously can fasten directly to a starter lug. The best way to connect an eyelet cable to a battery is to use a screw-top group-31 battery. The second best way, is to use a lead post to threaded post adapter.

If you are soldering your own eyelets, you can also make your own eyelets using two inches of copper water pipe. Smash one end in a vice, and drill a hole.

If you're buying cable in bulk, consider buying welding cable instead. It is more flexible, conducts better, and has a more abrasion-resistant sheath.
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Old 02-23-2023, 12:39 PM   #4
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Re: battery cables

If your goal is a near exact length battery cable, buy a good quality cable longer then needed and have the proper end put on as suggested above. A lot of the DIY battery ends look bad and don't last long. If you need a double ended battery cable, an electric golf cart place may have a solution.
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Old 02-23-2023, 12:57 PM   #5
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Re: battery cables

West Marine. Use Ancor brand marine battery cable. Tinned stranded copper. Best battery cable wires in my opinion. They have the lugs there as well, but you’ll need the tool to crimp the lugs. I always make all me own cables this way.
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Old 02-23-2023, 01:11 PM   #6
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Re: battery cables

I was planning to get some 1/0 cable. and solder in the terminals. Just heat the terminal fill with solder and stick the cable in. concerns?
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Old 02-23-2023, 08:43 PM   #7
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Re: battery cables

Quote:
Originally Posted by chrismoore701 View Post
I was planning to get some 1/0 cable. and solder in the terminals. Just heat the terminal fill with solder and stick the cable in. concerns?
if youve done it before, go for it. If you havnt soldered ends before, I'd recommend a small investment and buying a 40$ hydraulic china crimper and buy quality cable ends for the cable. then cove the crimp and cable with adhesive lined heat shrink.. also cheap from amazon. I use oreilly welding cable for my battery cables. think I use 2 gauge maybe 1... pretty sure the starter diagram called for 2 gauge...
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Old 02-23-2023, 09:16 PM   #8
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Re: battery cables

SGT is Poly-vinyl Chloride (PVC) jacketed battery cable that gets stiff and brittle in as little as 12 months. Your local NAPA, O'Riley etc will likely stock this along with the GPT PVC primary wire. There's better stuff for the job.

Welding cable will not have the thermal, petroleum, and ozone resistance needed. Don't use that either.

You want Crosslink Polyethylene XLPE jacketed automotive battery cable called SGX or SGT.
It's available in 0000 (4/0) to 4 American Wire Gauge. 4AWG is just fine for automotive starters. I'm not sure what you'd use 4/0 for. My 1980 CAT loader only has 1/0 battery cable. The monster starter in that is roughly 5x the size of the 28MT cranking my 6.5L diesel.
SGX is a thicker jacket than SGT similar to the difference between SXL & SXT 12-20ga XLPE wire. I go with More's law on jacket thickness... More's better. XLPE wire jacket remains flexible for decades and has the proper thermal, petroleum, and ozone resistance.
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Last edited by hatzie; 02-23-2023 at 09:23 PM.
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Old 02-23-2023, 09:44 PM   #9
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Re: battery cables

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Originally Posted by hatzie View Post
It's available in 0000 (4/0) to 4 American Wire Gauge. 4AWG is just fine for automotive starters. I'm not sure what you'd use 4/0 for.
We use 4/0 cable all the time in the marine world for high amperage battery banks. Most large marine diesels use 2/0 or 1/0.

The marine wire is rated to 105c, oil and fuel resistant, and tinned for better corrosion protection.

OP: please don’t just solder the connection. Give it a proper crimp and heat shrink as mentioned above.
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Old 02-24-2023, 01:27 PM   #10
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Re: battery cables

Quote:
Originally Posted by chrismoore701 View Post
Best place to pick up battery cable wire, want to build my own cables. Also need clamps for the battery. thoughts?

I use del city for parts

EXCELENE WELDING CABLE made in USA
https://www.amazon.com/EXCELENE-WELD...ct_top?ie=UTF8

or Tempcp made in USA
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


https://www.delcity.net/store/Batter...&-Accessories/

https://www.amazon.com/EXCELENE-WELD...071GCJTNQ?th=1
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Old 02-25-2023, 05:36 PM   #11
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Re: battery cables

Quote:
Originally Posted by chrismoore701 View Post
Best place to pick up battery cable wire, want to build my own cables. Also need clamps for the battery. thoughts?
These folks have everything you need.
https://www.batterycablesusa.com/
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Old 02-25-2023, 07:44 PM   #12
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Re: battery cables

Allied Wire and Cable.
https://www.awcwire.com/automotive-w...cable/sgx-wire

Del City
https://www.delcity.net/store/SGX-Ba...Cable/p_819272

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1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD
1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD
1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD
1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD
1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD
1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD
2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500
2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263
2009 Impala SS LS4 V8


RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials...Please include at least the year and model in your threads. It'll be easier to answer your questions.
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Old 02-27-2023, 01:19 PM   #13
wazzabie
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Re: battery cables

Why not use the stock factory battery cable?
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Old 02-27-2023, 07:22 PM   #14
hatzie
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Re: battery cables

Quote:
Originally Posted by wazzabie View Post
Why not use the stock factory battery cable?
It's 44 years old and in really rough shape?

They're installing a different engine?
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1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD
1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD
1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD
1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD
1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD
1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD
2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500
2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263
2009 Impala SS LS4 V8


RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials...Please include at least the year and model in your threads. It'll be easier to answer your questions.
And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful.
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Old 03-09-2023, 04:32 PM   #15
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Re: battery cables

Good info!
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