Thread: Remote battery cables: buy kit or build from scratch?

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Check your local metal scrap yard. They'll sell you wire priced by the pound and you'll save big bucks over new. No guarantee they'll have exactly what you need, but it might be worth a look.

Originally Posted by firebird77clone

Check your local metal scrap yard. They'll sell you wire priced by the pound and you'll save big bucks over new. No guarantee they'll have exactly what you need, but it might be worth a look.

There are places where saving a few bucks by using salvage is OK, but insulated cable for battery connections is not one I'd feel comfortable with. Like Matthyj says, welding cable has lots of little strands of copper and is very flexible, making it much, much easier to work with. It also has insulation that's generally rated for 600 volts, and is thermoset as opposed to thermoplastic, more resistant to abrasion. I'd recommend that you do it with new, top quality cable and know that it's right.

Recently, I finished the Wiring on my Car, and I was in an conundrum on this issue also-luckily, I bought this Book before I started and learned a bunch (actually, I bought one & two of three):

CE Auto Electric Supply - Wiring Books

Anyway, the Author started his own Auto Electric Supply (he is extremely knowledgeable in Auto Electrics), and the Products are top of the line:

CE Auto Electric Supply - Individual Components

As the Author used to work for Rockford Fosgate, he offers (and uses) a lot of components from the Audio world, and they work extremely well in Hot Rods-for instance, just look at the Power Distribution Blocks:

CE Auto Electric Supply - Power Distribution Products

Or, The Battery Terminals:

CE Auto Electric Supply - Aftermarket Battery Terminals and Adapters

Or, the Circuit Breakers:

CE Auto Electric Supply - Circuit Breakers

The Battery Cables are tinned (Coast Guard approved), and offer 4700 strands in a 1/0:

http://www.ceautoelectricsupply.com/batterycable.html

I am using these for my Battery Cables:

http://www.ceautoelectricsupply.com/...kerkit_med.JPG

Top quality stuff, and I've used it all over my Car (and would highly recommend them)-heck, if you have a problem, just email Tony-he's really a nice guy, owns a blown Olds, and is willing to help-