New Wires: Stay or Ghey? VOTE!

[Kevan]

So, I'm running some power cable for the inverter that's about to be installed (don't worry- DIY article coming on that too).
The cable that I got from the car audio place [pictured] is...well, pretty bling-y:

See what I mean?

I've tested it the last couple of days and though it may work for a show vehicle that gets driven 11 miles a year, I don't think it'll be able to handle the engine bay temps of a daily driver.

One of the members here has been cool enough to hook me up with some nice heavy-duty jacket cable that's on it's way.

The question is:
- Go bling and make P-diddy jealous?
- Lose the bling, but keep the power cable all red?
- Skip the red cable altogether and just do black with red heatshrink on the connector ends?

Your vote counts, so get in there and help me make the call!

 

[Roz]

HIDE it!!!

Edit, I think that came off as d!ck. . .

I've used to love the colored split loom and things, but in the past couple of years, simple is best (IMO). I vote for using black wiring and only having a red at the connectors.

I look forward to the inverter DIY write-up! :rock:

 

[ntw0rk]

It is kinda bright! Doesn't really fit in with the rest of the engine compartment.

 

[Django]

Kevan,

If this is the beginning of a visual engine makeover. I'd say "looks good"...

Otherwise, I wouldn't care one way or the other....

D

 

[Nowwhat]

So, I'm running some power cable for the inverter that's about to be installed (don't worry- DIY article coming on that too).
The cable that I got from the car audio place [pictured] is...well, pretty bling-y:

See what I mean?

I've tested it the last couple of days and though it may work for a show vehicle that gets driven 11 miles a year, I don't think it'll be able to handle the engine bay temps of a daily driver.

One of the members here has been cool enough to hook me up with some nice heavy-duty jacket cable that's on it's way.

The question is:
- Go bling and make P-diddy jealous?
- Lose the bling, but keep the power cable all red?
- Skip the red cable altogether and just do black with red heatshrink on the connector ends?

Your vote counts, so get in there and help me make the call!

does that cable power the neon lights under the frame or is it for power spinners on the wheels...?.....

 

[JTS VENOM PERFORMANCE]

Kevin ..................uh..............................

Ok that is monster cable you have there and the way you have it ran it will take the engine heat fine, you shouldnt have any problems, I have it on my rig running to my invertor, right by the 5 inch exhaust and it hasnt had any issues.

As for the color, hell bout time you added a lil bling, leave it , and while your at it run by Jegs and pick up some push on red hose, and do some more, ya lazy bum

and third..........an invertor? you really need to go back to work bro
but we are waiting with baited breath on the microwave installation in DIY:rock:

 

[Dave T(BADVENM)]

Keep it black, keep the focus of the viewers attention on the motor.

 

[BurntRubber]

:dito:

Keep it black, keep the focus of the viewers attention on the motor.

 

[Kevan]

When we had an ice storm here a few years ago (just before X-mas), I was the hero of the neighborhood because I had a power inverter in my Durango. When WalMart doesn't have power and you do....well....you know it's a rough situation.

I also use the inverter on my long road trips. It works great for charging laptops and cell phones (the cig. charger for my cell phone takes for-f-ing-ever)...and of course, guitar amps!

Microwave? Not a bad idea.

The cable shown is 4 AWG.
If I go with non-bling, it will be slightly smaller (6 AWG or 8 AWG).

 

[eddie102870]

with that small a inverter youll still be fine, we put 1500w inverters in our trucks with cable smaller than that

 

[Cablefed]

If you don't groom your wires under the hood with loom you run the risk of the wire rubbing against something and causing a short. Bling or not its a saftey issue. Sorry, I've seen installs in daily drivers and have seen heat and vibration take its toll on the wire under the hood and make the plastic coating around the wire to become soft and have a greater chance of rubbing against something and shorting out. In the cab is cool since you don't have the heat factor. I've seen cars catch fire due to poor installation under the hood. Using loom is a saftey precaution especially in something that does have alot of vibration and heat. My 2 cents.

 

[Cablefed]

One more note. Yes, use heat shrink on all your connections to reduce any moisture getting into the copper.

 

[Kevan]

Thanks Cablefed.
This power cable is not moving. At all. There is little-to-no chance of the cable being notched or the jacket worn away with how I have it routed. The main battery cable will short before this thing does. Also, I'm using the existing 'protective tunnel' that came with the truck. The most heat-prone section of the cable will be protected by that.
The heat issue does concern me, esp. with as much as our engines put out. That's why I'm a little worried about the uber-bling cable. Looks great, but that jacket gets real soft, real quick. The 'regular red' and 'basic black' cables will have a much stronger, thicker, and more durable jacket.

And for the record, I'm a heat shrink nut. All of my connections have heat shrink on them (when possible).
Even the bling would get red heat shrink on the connection ends.

 

[AWDisuzu]

wow! a 4 awg cable for an inverter? that must be some inverter! did you get a 10,000 watt inverter?

 

[AWDisuzu]

of course, he does have a nice big fuse next to the battery to prevent this!

If you don't groom your wires under the hood with loom you run the risk of the wire rubbing against something and causing a short. Bling or not its a saftey issue. Sorry, I've seen installs in daily drivers and have seen heat and vibration take its toll on the wire under the hood and make the plastic coating around the wire to become soft and have a greater chance of rubbing against something and shorting out. In the cab is cool since you don't have the heat factor. I've seen cars catch fire due to poor installation under the hood. Using loom is a saftey precaution especially in something that does have alot of vibration and heat. My 2 cents.

 

[JTS VENOM PERFORMANCE]

Hey Kevin , dont know if you are interested or not BUT, at the T/A truck stops they had the cobra (I thin) 3000 watt invertor on sale for like $179, but whats great is it has a digital readout and can hold a high constant wattage.
the one I use can run the frdge, a microwave, power the laptop, and not even strain it, in case ya interested, it works killer

 

[JimTeTe]

Hey Kevan
I like the Black and Red cables, or all Black ..... Way overkill on the awg. I think ........ Something smaller would clean it up some .....
My-2

PM ya Monday .... on options available ....

 

[Kevan]

wow! a 4 awg cable for an inverter? that must be some inverter! did you get a 10,000 watt inverter?

No. It's a 1000W Vector.
Most likely the 4 AWG will become a 6 AWG or 8 AWG cable.

of course, he does have a nice big fuse next to the battery to prevent this!

80A

Hey Kevin , dont know if you are interested or not BUT, at the T/A truck stops they had the cobra (I thin) 3000 watt invertor on sale for like $179, but whats great is it has a digital readout and can hold a high constant wattage.
the one I use can run the frdge, a microwave, power the laptop, and not even strain it, in case ya interested, it works killer

Cool!
Does it fit underneath the pass. seat of an SRT-10?
Cobra CPI 2550 Power Inverter
I didn't think so.

BTW- that Cobra looks like it's a re-badged Vector. They have the same LED graphs and faces/shape.

Hey Kevan
I like the Black and Red cables, or all Black ..... Way overkill on the awg. I think ........ Something smaller would clean it up some .....
My-2

PM ya Monday .... on options available ....

Thanks Jim!
Yeah...the more I look under the hood, the more I like the 8 AWG.

 

[SRT-11]

kinda sticks out...