battery cables - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chrismoore701 · 02-23-2023, 08:32 AM

Best place to pick up battery cable wire, want to build my own cables. Also need clamps for the battery. thoughts?

geezer#99 · 02-23-2023, 10:03 AM

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

https://www.wirthco.com/battery-doctor

kipps · 02-23-2023, 10:04 AM

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.

Dead Parrot · 02-23-2023, 12:39 PM

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.

**Corts60** · 02-23-2023, 12:57 PM

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.

chrismoore701 · 02-23-2023, 01:11 PM

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?

87chevy.com · 02-23-2023, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrismoore701

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...
clint

**hatzie** · 02-23-2023, 09:16 PM

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.

**Corts60** · 02-23-2023, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hatzie

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.

chris989 · 02-24-2023, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrismoore701

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

**RodnRudy** · 02-25-2023, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrismoore701

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/

**hatzie** · 02-25-2023, 07:44 PM

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

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bvQ5qMTy_os

wazzabie · 02-27-2023, 01:19 PM

Why not use the stock factory battery cable?

**hatzie** · 02-27-2023, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wazzabie

Why not use the stock factory battery cable?

It's 44 years old and in really rough shape?

They're installing a different engine?

**Hart_Rod** · 03-09-2023, 04:32 PM

Good info!

02-23-2023, 08:32 AM	#1
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,326	battery cables Best place to pick up battery cable wire, want to build my own cables. Also need clamps for the battery. thoughts? __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE

02-23-2023, 10:03 AM	#2
geezer#99 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bowser Posts: 13,732	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

02-23-2023, 10:04 AM	#3
kipps Registered User Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: North-central Virginia Posts: 1,104	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. __________________ 1987 C6P V20 truck, 2010 LMG 5.3, AFM delete, 2010 Camaro exhaust manifolds, 1997 nv4500, 1991 np241c, hydroboost, 2005 14bff axle & driveshaft, drop-n-lock gooseneck, 4.10 gears, stock suspension, rims, and tires. Still a work in progress. Any questions or suggestions are welcome!

02-23-2023, 12:39 PM	#4
Dead Parrot Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 2,611	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.

02-23-2023, 12:57 PM	#5
Corts60 Just here to tinker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Holland, MI Posts: 3,697	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. __________________ 78 C10 SWB Diesel #1 (wrecked)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...1978+silverado 78 C10 SWB Diesel #2 (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=650751 60 GMC Suburban (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=445526 60 GMC 1000 (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=298235 67 GMC 1500 (sold) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=803695 73 Chevy C20(Daily)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=852767 86 Suburban(summer unit) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=810697 88 Suburban 4x4(sold)

02-23-2023, 01:11 PM	#6
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,326	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? __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE

02-23-2023, 09:16 PM	#8
hatzie Moderator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wentworth, NH Posts: 4,977	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. __________________ 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... 1973-1991 GM Light Truck Service, Unit/Overhaul, Wiring Manuals, Parts Books and Some 1968-1999 GM Service Training textbooks in PDF 1988-1998 GMT400 CK service manual project 1988-1993 GMT400 CK parts books. 1967-1972 GM Light, Medium, & Heavy Truck Service Manuals in PDF 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. Last edited by hatzie; 02-23-2023 at 09:23 PM.

02-27-2023, 01:19 PM	#13
wazzabie Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: WA Posts: 378	Re: battery cables Why not use the stock factory battery cable?

03-09-2023, 04:32 PM	#15
Hart_Rod ************* Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 17,858	Re: battery cables Good info! __________________ Rob - https://www.instagram.com/hart_rod_c10 As Iron Sharpens Iron, So One Man Sharpens Another. Proverbs 27:17 FOR SALE: DBW pedal bracket - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=651123 FOR SALE: Hood Brackets http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=679945 1987 Silverado SWB - 34.5K original miles http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=801834 1969 SuperBurb - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=200387 1968 Farm truck - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=358692 1968 SWB - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=551258 1948 Chevy - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=122164&page=3



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