JasonJ -- Battery Cables

[Knightgang]

Jason,<br /><br />Did I understand you correctly that you put the Battery under the center console? Where did you get the extended battery cables, or did you make them from heavy gage wire from the home improvement stores?<br /><br />I have two batteries in my boat, currently located under the splash well. The gas tank is under the floor from about the front of the splash well to the back edge of the console. I thought about moving my batteris to the console to bring a little weight forward. It seems to sit low in the stern, water level is just below the spalsh well drain holes. Think it will help?<br /><br />Knightgang

 

[CCrew]

Re: JasonJ -- Battery Cables

Knightgang, <br />Not Jason, but what you're looking for can be found at most auto parts outlets that deal in performance parts. What you''re looking for is a battery relocation kit. Usually available with cables up to 0/0 and 20-40 feet long. Summit Racing and Jeg's would be a great start.<br /><br />regards,<br />Roger

 

[JasonJ]

Re: JasonJ -- Battery Cables

I went to Napa and got red and black battery cables of the length I needed (they come in different lengths), and bolted the ends to the battery cables from the outboard wiring harness. I really scuffed the surfaces and bolted them together and then wrapped the connections in several layeres of good electrical tape. I then slit short lengths of rubber hose just large enough in diameter, placed them around each connection, and taped them in place. Has worked fine so far.<br /><br />As my boat sits, the water is about three inches from the splashwell drain plug when at rest. I wouldn't worry about how the boat sets at rest, it is how it runs at plane that you should be concentrating your efforts on. Good luck....

 

[Knightgang]

Re: JasonJ -- Battery Cables

Thanks Jason,<br />I will take that into consideration. My boat seems to run okay. I know that in a head wind, at full throttle it will start to fly when trimmed up above half way. But the trim controls it. I have not been off-shore with it yet, but that is why I was concerned with the way it sat at rest.<br /><br />As I use it more, I will experiment with different weight distibutions and see best where theu should go.<br /><br />Thanks<br />Knightgang

 

[tailgunner]

Re: JasonJ -- Battery Cables

My batteries sit under the forward seat of my center console. I have hit some wakes pretty hard off shore (managed to crack my windshield on one). As long as the battry box is secured to the floor, it's fine. <br /><br />I too went down to auto parts store and bought cables of the length I needed. I also bought new connectors and using a pinch tool added those to the cables. The pinch tool is nice in that using a 3lb sledge hammer, the connectors are not coming off.

 

[Bondo]

Re: JasonJ -- Battery Cables

I'm not Jason Either, But I've found a Better Way.........<br /><br />When I need Battery Cables, whether for the Boat, a Truck, or Any Other piece of Equipment.....<br />I use Welding Cable.....<br />The Casing on it will Out Last even the Best Battery Cables.....<br />It's a Must Finer stranded wire.. Much Less Resistence.... More Amps, Where you Need them....<br />The Only Draw-back is it Only comes in 1 color.... Black...<br />It's reasonably Inexpencive,+ Can be bought at Any Welding Shop.......

 

[crab bait]

Re: JasonJ -- Battery Cables

boy,, i'll say one thing... <br /><br />ain't no better then welding cable... <br />it's the poop..!! very fine strands of wire,, an good flexible insulation... an like BONDO says,, it's probly cheaper than store bought battery cable... <br /><br />another good cheap available wire if'n you don't need more than six foot is 'jumper cables... hack-off the ends... bingo you got good wire...

 

[DJ]

Re: JasonJ -- Battery Cables

Ditto on the welding cable.<br /><br />The covering is as tough as nails and it is very high quality wire.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: JasonJ -- Battery Cables

I never even considered welding cable, thats a great idea. I still would have needed to connect it to the Mercury wiring harness where the original terminals are, and usually the connections are what makes problems in an electrical system, so the advantages would have been minimal. I'm not sweatin' it, my system works fine....

 

[Bondo]

Re: JasonJ -- Battery Cables

another good cheap available wire if'n you don't need more than six foot is 'jumper cables... hack-off the ends... bingo you got good wire...

Ayuh,<br />And if you Grabbed My Jumpercables, You'd have 50' of 4/0 Welding Cable in your hands......<br /><br />Amps, Where you Need them......

 

[bubbakat]

Re: JasonJ -- Battery Cables

bondo I am with you on that welding cable. I use that on every piece of equipment I have and have two set of jumper cables made out of them.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: JasonJ -- Battery Cables

All of the battery systems I have seen on military boats are wired with welding cable. I do not know the cable size, but you canNOT twist an 18-inch section of the cable into a knot.

 

[the bogart]

Re: JasonJ -- Battery Cables

you guys are correct on the welding cables. some of the best current wire made the insulation is extreemly durible. i'm an electrician and i would sugest you pay a visit to your local electrical suply house and tell them you would like some noa-lox it's a corosion inhibitor electricians use when making connections with dis-similar metals.(like coper to aluminum) it's kinda like a grease.also ask for a roll of 3m 130c rubber tape to cover your connections with. it is self vulconizing (witch means it willbond to itself when streched) making your splice water tight.

 

[MrBill]

Re: JasonJ -- Battery Cables

Thanks for the tip on the welding wire...I've made my own cables for years but never thought of it. On other wire I tin the ends then crimp on the cable end and use heat shrink to water-proof and reduce corrosion.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: JasonJ -- Battery Cables

I was watching an automotive repair type show this morning (I won't mention the show or the channel, but it has always been a good show) and they were talking about battery cables, and they said welding cable was a big no-no. Any reason why they would say that? Could it just be one of those things to discourage people from looking elswhere than standard automotive aftermarket?

 

[CCrew]

Re: JasonJ -- Battery Cables

"and they said welding cable was a big no-no"<br /><br />I'd speculate (and it's just that!) that welding cable's insulation may not be rated for underhood temperatures. Just a guess though. I've never used it, I use the Moroso stuff with the compression (not crimp) ends and shrink tubing. Most of the cars I build are for show though, and I do it simply because it's cleaner. <br /><br />-Roger

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: JasonJ -- Battery Cables

JasonJ - I've heard someone say not to use them because they have higher resistance than a wire that's not as highly stranded. While it's true that stranded wire at one guage has a higher resistance than solid core at the same guage, the difference is really negligable. And we tend to use grossly oversized conductors anyway. And wire failure is far more likely to be caused by flexing anyway.<br /><br />Frankly, I think this is one of those cases of 'experts.' The same who say not to put a lead acid battery on a concrete floor, or those who natter on about the amps killing you, not the volts... <br /><br />I can't really see the jacketing being a problem underhood (neoprene usually). Afterall, slag doesn't seem to hurt it...

 

[MIKENVAHBEACH]

Re: JasonJ -- Battery Cables

These are all great ideas but when I relocated my batteries I chose the 2 gauge wire frrom the marine store. This wire is tinned, and since I'm running in salt water its a must. Just a thought, is the welding cable tinned?

 

[JasonJ]

Re: JasonJ -- Battery Cables

I doubt welding cable would be tinned, unless there is some spiffy marine grade welding cable out there somewhere.