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04-15-2019, 09:53 AM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 501
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Battery Wiring Question
Three years ago, when I did my LS swap, I noticed my battery wires were a little too short. They still connect to everything just fine, they are just a little tighter than I would like.
I am looking to make my own battery cables. What gauge wire should I use to go to the starter? Also is there any type of wire I should use? I was wondering if I could use stereo power wire, or could I get some wire from Home Depot?
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1987 R20 Suburban LQ4/4L80e swap: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=693824 |
04-15-2019, 12:00 PM | #2 | |
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Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Beebe, AR
Posts: 462
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Re: Battery Wiring Question
Quote:
Bubba |
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04-15-2019, 12:31 PM | #3 |
Plays with trucks
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Asheville, NC
Posts: 433
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Re: Battery Wiring Question
I use McMaster-Carr for a lot of these kinds of things.
https://www.mcmaster.com/battery-cable They sell all of the ends, too. Most you can get with solder already applied.
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Gary My Dad's Old Truck 1985 |
04-15-2019, 01:17 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 15
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Re: Battery Wiring Question
Do not use home depot wire. The vibration associated with a vehicles engine is too much for the large strand wire you will find there. I just went to summit for mine.
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04-15-2019, 01:40 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 245
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Re: Battery Wiring Question
I just got a custom set made from these guys. Very good prices and arrived within like 3 days from ordering. The quality is top notch.
https://www.batterycablesusa.com/ |
04-16-2019, 12:23 PM | #6 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 501
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Re: Battery Wiring Question
Thanks guys, I didn't know about those two websites. I will stay away from Home Depot and will order from one of those sites.
Thanks again!
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1987 R20 Suburban LQ4/4L80e swap: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=693824 |
04-16-2019, 08:31 PM | #7 |
Post Whore
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Alabama
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Re: Battery Wiring Question
My local parts store can make cables to whatever length you want....they have the ends and crimp them on...look like factory...
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Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver |
04-17-2019, 08:12 AM | #8 |
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Wentworth, NH
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Re: Battery Wiring Question
Stock battery cables were 2AWG (32mm˛)
A starter in good condition will draw somewhere between 60 & 200 Amps. While 2AWG is not sized for 200A continuous it is or 150amps and it works just fine for the few seconds it takes to spin the starter. Three feet of fine stranded copper in this gauge just doesn't have enough resistance to make a significant difference... The quality of the connector attachments to the cable will make more of a difference in this application than the additional 7mm˛ wire crossection. 1AWG will carry enough current that the field windings in the starter will burn out before the wire gets hot enough to matter. Honestly if the stock 2AWG cables get hot or even just warm you've probably caused damage to the starter by melting the lacquer on the wire of the windings. 1AWG and 1/0 or 2AWG and 2/0 are not the same wire gauge even tho people often confuse the two. 1/0 is another way of writing 0AWG and 2/0 is another way of writing 00AWG, 3/0 is 000AWG, and 4/0 is 0000AWG. The LS doesn't use the big heavy expensive direct drive Delco starter either. Gear reduction starters draw significantly less current than direct drive and they're just plain smaller and lighter. You can use smaller cables and smaller, cheaper, batteries with a lower current draw starter. This is why Chrysler was using them in the 1960's... the 383 in my 69 Polara was gear reduction. My grandfather's 67 pickup and 66 New Yorker had a gear reduction starters as well. It took GM and Ferd another 40 years to grow a brain.
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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...
And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful. Last edited by hatzie; 04-17-2019 at 08:30 AM. |
04-17-2019, 10:07 AM | #9 |
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Yuma Arizona
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Re: Battery Wiring Question
I just learnt something new! Thanks for sharing that info Hatzie.
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