best size battery wire

[71dusterjon]

i'm wanting to relocate my battery and i know there are kits out there but i'm trying to price it out if i build my own. So what is the smallest acceptable size? i know i can go bigger but just wondering what's the smallest.

 

[5_0_BAIT]

Well it depends on length. The farther you go the less the amps you get, thus requiring larger wire. I would say a good high strand 4 gauge would suffice if you have a RC.

 

[71dusterjon]

ok. all i'm thinking about doing is mounting the battery in the bed of the truck next to the cab so that its out of the way of debri from the tire and easy to get to. I have some 4 gauge laying around but wasn't sure if it would be ok.

 

[Smokey]

i would just get some welding wire, the rubber sheath is much thicker and stronger, and it wont get hot on the high amp draw, a 4 gauge would be alittle small for that lenth of run with 150+ amp draw

 

[OSO]

I would Fuse or use a breaker on the battery line when you relocate it and 4ga at a minimum.

 

[FastRam]

#4AWG wire (copper) is good for about 130A DC. However, insulation type, voltage drop (from battery to load and back to battery) and temperature impact current carrying capability. I'm not sure what the total load or demand is for a stock truck with the battery located in the stock position but a larger cable size may be required, depending on where the battery is relocated to. You may want to consider a kit, which includes all the necessary parts and perhaps modify the kit to fit your specific application.

 

[includemeout]

http://www.emarineinc.com/products/alternators/cables.html

Battery Cable Size
(As a function of current and length)
Mimimum cable size to use (AWG) System
Voltage Amps < 5 Ft 5-10 Ft 10-15 Ft 15-20 Ft 20-25 Ft 25-30 Ft
12 Volt 0-60 8 WAG 4 AWG 2 AWG 2 AWG 1 AWG 0 AWG
12 Volt 60-100 6 AWG 4 AWG 1 AWG 0 AWG 0 AWG 2/0 AWG
12 Volt 100-150 4 AWG 2 AWG 0 AWG 2/0 AWG 2/0 AWG 3/0 AWG
12 Volt 150-190 4 AWG 1 AWG 2/0 AWG 3/0 AWG 4/0 AWG 4/0 AWG
12 Volt 190-250 2 AWG 0 AWG 2/0 AWG 4/0 AWG 4/0 AWG 4/0 AWG
12 Volt 250-300 0 AWG 2/0 AWG 3/0 AWG 4/0 AWG 4/0 AWG 4/0 AWG
24 Volt 0-30 14 AWG 14 AWG 10 AWG 8 AWG 8 AWG 6 AWG
24 Volt 30-50 12 AWG 10 AWG 8 AWG 6 AWG 6 AWG 4 AWG
24 Volt 50-75 10 AWG 8 AWG 6 AWG 4 AWG 4 AWG 2 AWG
24 Volt 75-100 6 AWG 6 AWG 4 AWG 4 AWG 2 AWG 1 AWG
24 Volt 100-125 4 AWG 4 AWG 4 AWG 2 AWG 2 AWG 1 AWG
24 Volt 125-150 2 AWG 2 AWG 1 AWG 1 AWG 0 AWG 0 AWG


Notes 1. Cable length must include both positive and negative cables.
2: Maximum acceptable voltage drop = 0.5 volts in a 12 volt system or 1.0 volts in a 24 volt system with ambient temperature surrounding cables is 1500F or less.


http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

 

[71dusterjon]

i've seen those charts but haven't found any info on how many amps our trucks pull.

 

[includemeout]

i've seen those charts but haven't found any info on how many amps our trucks pull.

The battery cranking draw test is 150-280 amps on an SRT-10

8f -58 page 1339 of 05 service manuel

You gonna need some big wire

 

[yellowfever#154]

When I relocated mine I used 2/0 from the battery to a 4 way junction at about the front of the drivers door approx. Then from the junction I used 4 ga. one to the alt, one to the fuse panel, and another to the starter, leaving a spare for future stuff. It worked out really well, I used this stuff:

http://connectionaudison.com/products/cables/mp_10s.htm

 

[Smokey]

The battery cranking draw test is 150-280 amps on an SRT-10

8f -58 page 1339 of 05 service manuel

You gonna need some big wire

Thats what she said...

 

[includemeout]

Thats what she said...

Lol, but wifey ain't complained yet

 

[includemeout]

http://www.elecdirect.com/Data/ProductPDFs/37.pdf

I am sure these guys can set ya up with the proper info and /or wire/ cable.

Give them a call , can't hurt