Battery Cable Gage
 

I am trying to wire up the 31 coupe I purchased with no electrical wiring installed. It was converted to 12 volt and I want to place a cutout in the ground line. I bought a couple of 2.0 gage cables but they seem to be too large and inflexible. What gage cables should I get for my 12 volt system from battery to ground and battery to positive?

Re: Battery Cable Gage
 

not sure exactly but I found the hard way 6v systems require much larger cable than 12, i tried to replace the negative (positive ground car) on my 49 plymouth with a typical starter to battery cable from the parts store. I didn't make it 20ft before it lit a fire in the engine compartment which i put out with my shirt which melted the horn wire to the frame. It sat there blairing while i RAN for my wrench to unhook the battery.

Re: Battery Cable Gage
 

6v should be 1 or 0 gauge while you can get by by on 12v with 4 gauge, but, 2 gauge is preferable.
When it comes to wiring, I'm probably old school. I like the 'more bigger the more better' theory.

Re: Battery Cable Gage
 

Hey Buddy,
6 volt systems require twice as many amps as 12 volt systems.
A six volt system is much less forgiving of poor connections (ground)
than 12 volt systems. Some Model A's have been converted to 12 volts only to mask a problem. Remember voltage is constant and amperage/electrons flow. The electrons don't flow through the wire as they flow around it. Is everything else ok?
What Patrick L said.
Chet

Re: Battery Cable Gage
 

Well said, it's better to have a little extra wire.
Chet

Re: Battery Cable Gage
 

I purchased 2 gage but the holes on the lugs are much larger than the terminal posts on the starter and starter relay and on the foot push type start button I acquired. In addition, none of the cable grommets I have are sized for the 2 gage wire diameter, I believe the 4 gage cables which have the correct lug hole openings on a 12 volt car without lots of extra electrical features like power windows, radios etc would be fine. Just looking for someone to tell me NO NO NO and why.

Re: Battery Cable Gage
 

You could go to your friendly local welding supply store and get both the cable and ends you want.

Re: Battery Cable Gage
 

The major inrush current draw is going to be your starter. The power windows , radio etc wont be enough to matter a lot.
I like to use welding cable, with the correct copper crimp -on ends. The fine-stranded wire is able to carry more current and is much more flexible. Of course if you are worried about appearance, its not stock-appearing, but its much better performance -wise.
Good Luck:)

Re: Battery Cable Gage
 

The lugs found in store bought are usually made to fit a wide variety of cable studs. Much like hardware store flat washers 5/16 will usually fit 3/8 and if you are wanting a neat and quality job then you could get the cable and lugs and fabricate your own custom cables. A propane torch and some rosin core solder and you have it.

Chet

Re: Battery Cable Gage
 

They have nice flexible cable with little resistance.