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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Battery cables

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Slowpoke

12-29-2006 01:43:14




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I need to replace both battery cables on my '86 F250. And although the original cables are 4ga, I want to go to 2ga as I think the 460 could use the extra juice. I'm not sure if the original positive cable was red, but red no longer seems to be a popular color. All the auto supplys carry about 95% black. Can anyone recommend a paint that I can use to have a red cable? Is black cable the standard these days?

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buickanddeere

12-29-2006 21:32:25




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 Re: Battery cables in reply to Slowpoke, 12-29-2006 01:43:14  
When tieing the (-) to chassis. May as well take it right to one of the bolts holding the starter to the block or bellhousing. Nobody ever used starter cables too large in size. Getting good clamps crimped on the cables is vital. The bolt on clamps are too weak & small.



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buickanddeere

12-29-2006 21:31:58




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 Re: Battery cables in reply to Slowpoke, 12-29-2006 01:43:14  
When tieing the (-) to chassis. May as well take it right to one of the bolts holding the starter to the block or bellhousing. Nobody ever used starter cables too large in size. Getting good clamps crimpe don the cable sis vital. The bolt on clamps are too weak & small.



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Tim Casbolt

12-29-2006 14:23:22




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 Re: Battery cables in reply to Slowpoke, 12-29-2006 01:43:14  
I like 00 weldflex. Costs a little more, but worth it. The red electrical tape sounds like a great way to denote positive.



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Stumpalump

12-29-2006 08:52:07




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 Re: Battery cables in reply to Slowpoke, 12-29-2006 01:43:14  
The cheapo auto parts stores like Advanced Auto sell clear covered high copper content wires for the high amp stereo crowd. They are made real nice and thick with a nice battery terminal. Not really that expensive for what you get.



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kidbob

12-29-2006 07:33:09




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 Re: Battery cables in reply to Slowpoke, 12-29-2006 01:43:14  
OEM always uses the cheapest that will work, bigger is better. Any good parts store or battery store that builds custom cables should have red.



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Slowpoke

12-30-2006 01:55:55




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 Re: Battery cables in reply to kidbob, 12-29-2006 07:33:09  
I called a battery place today for custom cables. $3 per foot and $2 each terminal. But the size is 2/0 cable which I think is about the size of a garden hose!



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Ludwig

12-29-2006 07:20:04




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 Re: Battery cables in reply to Slowpoke, 12-29-2006 01:43:14  
I replaced the cables on my Farmall years ago, the only cables available were black. I just took some red spraypaint and hit the last maybe 6 inches of the cable with it. I greased the inside of the connector first so it wouldn't hold the paint. Worked real well, the cable is still red, its been 5 or 6 years now. If I were to do it again I'd do a second coat but one was sufficient.



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Tnau664

12-29-2006 07:04:15




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 Re: Battery cables in reply to Slowpoke, 12-29-2006 01:43:14  
I was told black was the available color these days also. The pack included a + and - label to be attached to the cable.

Crank on!



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John T

12-29-2006 06:46:08




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 Re: Battery cables in reply to Slowpoke, 12-29-2006 01:43:14  
If theres any REAL battery supply houses near you, they sell about any size shape color of cables a body could need. If I had a truck that absolutely had to start in extremeeeee ee cold climates, Id go ahead n stick a set of 1 or heck even 0 gauge cables on her and use the biggest heaviest highest CCA or Amp/Hr rated battery that would physically fit in the compartment. Its best to drop the needed voltage across the starter where it can provide starting torque instead of dropping voltage across light thin wimpy battery cables.

John T

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Slowpoke

12-29-2006 10:07:36




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 Re: Battery cables in reply to John T, 12-29-2006 06:46:08  
Only gets below freezing a couple of time a year.
I think last night was around 40�.



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MarkB_MI

12-29-2006 05:34:42




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 Re: Battery cables in reply to Slowpoke, 12-29-2006 01:43:14  
Wrap red electrical tape around the first few inches of the cable.

I doubt if going from 4 to 2 gauge will make much difference, though. I did some quick figuring, and if it takes 300 amps to crank your engine, and the cable is 6 feet long, you'll get an extra 0.16 volts to the starter.



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1951RTU

12-29-2006 05:02:25




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 Re: Battery cables in reply to Slowpoke, 12-29-2006 01:43:14  
If you increase the size to 2 ga. you probably won"t see any difference. You will have a bigger pipe for the juice to flow, however the starter will still draw the same as with the 4 ga. If it had 4 gauge from the factory, stick with 4 ga. and make sure you find/paint the red/positive side.



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Wayne H

12-29-2006 05:28:11




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 Re: Battery cables in reply to 1951RTU, 12-29-2006 05:02:25  
Actually, if you go to 2 gauge wire, the resistance of the wire will be cut in half, and the voltage that reaches your starter will be more, and you may notice it will crank faster. But, if the OEM cables were 4 gauge, that is very likely sufficient. I bought a JD B a few years back that would hardly crank, when I took out the automotive style light duty wires and put in the correct heavy wires it cranked like mad.

As for the paint, I would buy red heat shrink and use that!

Wayne

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Slowpoke

12-29-2006 10:02:34




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 Re: Battery cables in reply to Wayne H, 12-29-2006 05:28:11  
I had thought of that, but was concerned that the heat shrink would dry out, harden and crack over a period of time.



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jeffcat

12-29-2006 22:30:07




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 Re: Battery cables in reply to Slowpoke, 12-29-2006 10:02:34  
The good heat shrink comes in like three foot long pieces. Not cheap as something big enough to fit your cable is like $6.oo per length. Use a big old hair dryer to shrink it. Flame is what will make it brittle. You can find it at bigger computer shows and electronic suppys. Buy the American stuff! Jeffcat



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Charles (in GA)

12-29-2006 15:41:05




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 Re: Battery cables in reply to Slowpoke, 12-29-2006 10:02:34  
It won't.

Charles



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