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Posted: 9/3/2016 10:45:29 PM EDT
I am going to be making a set of jumper cables out of welding cable 15 to 20 feet long. Help me decide if I want 1/0 or 2/0 cable 99 percent of the time it will be for 12 volt cars and pick-ups
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Nobody ever wished their cables were either thinner or shorter.
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At only 15-20', 1/0 or 2/0 really is likely overkill (and a lot of unnecessary weight). I made a couple 20' sets out of #2 cable, and its worked fine for my needs (diesel trucks, tractors, and regular gas vehicles).
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Lol, you don't want anything with a /0 in the size, especially at 15-20 feet in length. #2 AWG will handle anything that needs to be done on 12 or 24v systems down to sub-zero temps.
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Good terminal clamps are probably more important than wire size. JMHO
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I have a set that I made years ago using 2/0, about 15ft long. They work really well, I have jumped 3/4 ton cargo vans with a Neon with no trouble (and that battery with very dead batteries, not just needing a little boost). I actually used them to Jump off a Towncar that had no battery at all in it, and it started right up.
No waiting, rarely even need a high idle. |
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I bought this and I'm very happy with the product.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00LIB7O68/ref=pd_aw_fbt_328_img_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=4T03CXDVZTXJ62WC8RAP |
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Why stop at 350 when I have some 500 mcm laying around hell it only weighs 2 pounds per foot View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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350MCM welding cable is the only answer. Why stop at 350 when I have some 500 mcm laying around hell it only weighs 2 pounds per foot Meh I work in substations I could round up some million if you'd like. ![]() |
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I bought this and I'm very happy with the product. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00LIB7O68/ref=pd_aw_fbt_328_img_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=4T03CXDVZTXJ62WC8RAP View Quote Add two pairs of Deka or Standard Motor Products heavy duty parrot's beak clamps and this will do anything you need to do. When you attach the terminals, crimp (and not with a half-assed crimper), then solder. Edited for punctuation. Fuck auto-correct. |
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I agree. Even my Warn 12k lb winch only requires #2 cables, and it draws a decent amount of current. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Good terminal clamps are probably more important than wire size. JMHO I agree. Even my Warn 12k lb winch only requires #2 cables, and it draws a decent amount of current. because it has a short duty cycle |
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When I was in High School I jumped a car with speaker wire 18ga
It got hot I should have used bigger wire ![]() |
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Look at how thick the cables are that go from the battery to the starter motor, any bigger than that and it's a waste of cable.
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Meh I work in substations I could round up some million if you'd like. ![]() View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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350MCM welding cable is the only answer. Why stop at 350 when I have some 500 mcm laying around hell it only weighs 2 pounds per foot Meh I work in substations I could round up some million if you'd like. ![]() Get a work out whilst jumping off a stranded motorist. ![]() |
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cousin worked at Miller Elec. a few years back, made me a set using welding cable.
Another benefit of welding cable is it is much more flexible. |
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cousin worked at Miller Elec. a few years back, made me a set using welding cable.
Another benefit of welding cable is it is much more flexible. |
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Let us know when your clamp contact exceeds your wire diameter.
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Jumper cables are old school now with all the little battery jump packs that kick ass and charge your phone too.
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I have a homemade set that are, hell, I don't know what gauge.
Each wire is about as big around as a garden hose. They are not light. They were probably made in the 1960s and still work, not gonna carry them around in the back of my truck though. |
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I have two 20' sets of jumper cables. One is a Craftsman and one is from Eastwood and they are both 2 gauge.
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One more vote for #2, although those 500 MCM cables would be impressive if they were stored in a Yeti cooler.
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Hot damn, welding cable is expensive. Get a cheapie set of HF jumper cables and just keep your battery charged and cables clean.
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because it has a short duty cycle View Quote How long do you expect to be jumping off a car battery? I can't imagine its longer than a typical winch pull.... Hot damn, welding cable is expensive. View Quote Check with your local welding supply store (especially if they rent stick machines). A lot of times they will have damaged leads they have taken off machines, and you can usually get them cheap. I picked up around 35-40' of cable recently for less than $1/foot, just make sure you check the jacket well for breaks or cuts. |
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Mine are Anaconda black 1/0 welding cable with 500 amp parrot clamps, 35 feet long. They're heavy, but I can make sweet electron love to tandem axle dumptrucks from the back, and there is virtually no charge time. Clamp on and go.
I can also hit the long bed duallys from behind in parking lots and around obstacles without trying to park right on top of them. I soldered and shrink tubed the copper lugs, then I soldered the lugs to the clamps. |
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Look at how thick the cables are that go from the battery to the starter motor, any bigger than that and it's a waste of cable. View Quote Yeah right try that some time there is nothing worst than trying to jump off a car with a undersized cables. The difference is that the starter is a short distance away and only needs power for a very short amount of time. Jumping of a dead battery may require several minutes passing enough current to get the dead car going. |
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Hot damn, welding cable is expensive. Get a cheapie set of HF jumper cables and just keep your battery charged and cables clean. View Quote I was looking at this cable that is 15 feet long and comes with a red and black. http://www.ebay.com/itm/30-EXCELENE-1-0-AWG-WELDING-BATTERY-CABLE-15-RED-15-BLACK-600V-MADE-IN-USA-/291811379245?hash=item43f150482d:g:GvQAAOSwEjFXe9Xm |
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I've got a set of the energizer cables that are about 26' long with the quick connector mounted under my front plate.
they are 1 gauge and built like a tank |
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Quoted: I was looking at this cable that is 15 feet long and comes with a red and black. http://www.ebay.com/itm/30-EXCELENE-1-0-AWG-WELDING-BATTERY-CABLE-15-RED-15-BLACK-600V-MADE-IN-USA-/291811379245?hash=item43f150482d:g:GvQAAOSwEjFXe9Xm View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Hot damn, welding cable is expensive. Get a cheapie set of HF jumper cables and just keep your battery charged and cables clean. I was looking at this cable that is 15 feet long and comes with a red and black. http://www.ebay.com/itm/30-EXCELENE-1-0-AWG-WELDING-BATTERY-CABLE-15-RED-15-BLACK-600V-MADE-IN-USA-/291811379245?hash=item43f150482d:g:GvQAAOSwEjFXe9Xm |
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Insulation that stays flexible when cold is just as important as wire size. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Hot damn, welding cable is expensive. Get a cheapie set of HF jumper cables and just keep your battery charged and cables clean. I was looking at this cable that is 15 feet long and comes with a red and black. http://www.ebay.com/itm/30-EXCELENE-1-0-AWG-WELDING-BATTERY-CABLE-15-RED-15-BLACK-600V-MADE-IN-USA-/291811379245?hash=item43f150482d:g:GvQAAOSwEjFXe9Xm Which is why you want a rubber jacket, not vinyl. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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I also like the quick connect type booster cable set ups I have seen on fleet vehicles, two vehicles equipped with those would allow you to jump one off without ever raising a hood.
I have thought hard about putting those on the vehicles my family uses most, and keeping a second quick connect to regular clamp cable for vehicles other vehicles. |
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Fucker jumper cables. I use a jump pack. I have 3 of these around the shop.
You get battery voltage before and after the truck/boat whatever is running as well. |
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they should be as big as the slave cables the military uses.... ( weigh about 50+ lbs )
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My truck and my truck shop uses these:
https://www.lawsonproducts.com/lawson/Jumper-Cables-20-Length/10107.lp |
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Good terminal clamps are probably more important than wire size. JMHO I agree. Even my Warn 12k lb winch only requires #2 cables, and it draws a decent amount of current. because it has a short duty cycle ![]() You don't off-road do you? If it takes 3 seconds to jump a car you're doing it wrong. If it takes 5 minutes to winch your Jeep you didn't really need it. I use a set of #4 jumper cables. They work fine. You connect the charging vehicle to the vehicle with the dead battery and wait. The fresh battery and charging system charges the dead one. When actually going to start the dead vehicle most of the power comes from it's own battery and some from the donor battery via the cables. |
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