http://www.harborfreight.com/16-ft-6-Gauge-Heavy-Duty-Booster-Cables-60396.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiODMxMDk1NjUiLCJza3UiOiI2MDM5NiIsImlzIjoiMTcuODgiLCJwcm9kdWN0X2lk%0D%0AIjoiOTE4MSJ9%0D%0A&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=4315b&utm_source=1022&cid=mEmail_s1022_c4315b16' / 6g heavy duty jumper cables at Harbor Freight...On sale fopr $17.88 with coupon. Works out to $.56 a foot

"Copper coated aluminum cables" hence the 'low cost'

That's great if you want copper coated aluminum!from website:Copper coated aluminum cablesIf it's too good to be true....That said, I went to our local wholesale cable supplier and recently got some real #4 copper welding cable for 2.40 a meter.

Rbertalotto wrote:http://www.harborfreight.com/16-ft-6-Gauge-Heavy-Duty-Booster-Cables-60396.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiODMxMDk1NjUiLCJza3UiOiI2MDM5NiIsImlzIjoiMTcuODgiLCJwcm9kdWN0X2lk%0D%0AIjoiOTE4MSJ9%0D%0A&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=4315b&utm_source=1022&cid=mEmail_s1022_c4315b16' / 6g heavy duty jumper cables at Harbor Freight...On sale fopr $17.88 with coupon. Works out to $.56 a footAbsolute garbage.They ARE nothing more than ALUMINUM wire with a very SMALL copper coating applied to the surface. The copper content is so small it does nothing for the resistance of the aluminum..For those who feel the copper helps with "skin effect", that is bogus argument and does not apply to DC (DIRECT CURRENT) voltages.. Skin effect also does not apply for low frequency AC 1Hz-low VHF, only once you get into VHF/UHF and higher RF frequencies does skin effect apply..The copper is only there to reduce oxidation of the aluminum wire and nothing more..6ga of aluminum is the equivalent to about 10 ga all copper wire in resistance..

oops! I missed that small point...https://sewelldirect.com/learning-center/cca-factsAlthough CCA is finding favor in high frequency applications, it is still not advisable in low frequency (AC/DC power systems) unless weight becomes a serious issue...IE, Power transmission lines, which many times are pure aluminum.

The minefieldLook for #8 fontCCA (copper clad aluminum)OFC (oxygen free copper) This is regular copper wire.It gets worse.CCA copper clad aluminum is supposed to meet a coating thickness (microns) standard.Yes this is exaggeration but I swear the Chinese try their damndest to clad 100,000 ft of aluminum with an ounce of copper. Damned near rub it off with a thumb.To them, 14.2 (copper) gauge wire is 12-gauge so solly if it's a little wrong. But check aluminum wire and it's right on the mark.The 48 SMD LEDS I purchased a while back have a monstrous 30 gauge pair of single strand feeder wires. Human hair. I can only imagine the corporate boardroom knife fights deciding just how tiny to take the wire conductor.The USA FTC should be abolished saving many billions of dollars a year. They do do anything anyway. Phony UL certification. Ya don't certify a ten amp DC power supply that has 24 (almost) gauge output wires.

6GA wire for 56 cents a foot! | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

bigfootford
Nomad II
Oct 25, 2015
When I need wire for rv electric 12 vdc I go to a local Solar Supply business. They will have the colors you need and the gauge.

Also many auto parts have cable to make any length you want. Not sure what their biggest ga is. Got 2ga for a friends new converter install a couple of years ago.

Jim
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Oct 25, 2015
Skycraft also has LOCOMOTIVE wire. Ultra-flexible, tinned 3,000 volt rated caviar grade wire. Makes Genuinedealz and Ancor wire look like poor relatives. But it's only sold by long lengths. Quicksilver is 100% wired with surplus wire from the Space Shuttles Discovery and Endeavor re-fit. Superb wire but way too stiff compared to neoprene. Teflon, Tefzel, and Kynar. The twin 17-gauge Kynar (shielded) is gold clad. Those auctions at Plant 42 ruined me for life. I purchased new wire for FIFTY CENTS a pound. Waaaaaah!
MrWizard
Moderator
Oct 24, 2015
http://www.genuinedealz.com/jumper-cables-booster-cable-set-2-awg-20ft
NinerBikes
Explorer
Oct 24, 2015
Good thread, thanks for the link, smkettner.
time2roll
Nomad
Oct 24, 2015
I get my provisions here:

http://www.genuinedealz.com/marine-wire

Sometimes it is OK to pay a little more to get the proper wire.

I would never cobble some jump cables into my RV wiring system to save a few $$.

BTW those from Harbor Freight are not even good jump cables...
Try these: http://www.genuinedealz.com/jumper-cables-2-awg-20ft
hbski
Explorer
Oct 24, 2015
Gdetrailer wrote:
.....A "ebay" store?

:E

A hodge podge of highly questionable items even more so that Harbor Freight.......

yes AN ebay store. stuff is also ALL REAL copper and MADE IN THE USA and ships from Michigan.

The cables I received from them were as advertised, made in the USA, flexible stranded copper excelene welding cable rated to 105 degrees Celsius.

The store you linked is only slightly more organized than the ACDC store and while I didn't look around too much I don't see much if any made in the USA stuff. Not to mention one Item I tried to check indicated it was drop shipped from the manufacturer, so why does sticks & bricks matter in that instance.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Oct 22, 2015
It's been that way since I started buying cable. Welding supply stores. Many, also offer unplated decent quality lugs dirt cheap as well. Beware of neoprene wire sheath (insulation) It sacrifices cut-resistance for flexibility. But for the price a little protection (black nylon spiral-wrap) is the hot setup.
GordonThree
Explorer
Oct 22, 2015
When I wired my inverter, I was shocked at the price my local welding shop wanted for #0000 (4-ought) welding cable, pure copper no cca... it was under $2/foot - I was ready to pay a lot more.
Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Oct 22, 2015
hbski wrote:
fairly decent prices and service here:

ACDCELECTRICPARTS

A "ebay" store?

:E

A hodge podge of highly questionable items even more so that Harbor Freight..

Try a REAL STICKS AND BRICKS STORE FRONT..

SKY CRAFT SURPLUS

Were you can buy 6 ga REAL ALL COPPER EXTRA FLEX UL RATED STAGE WIRE

For a mere $.93 PER FOOT!

They also have many more cable ga sizes too boot..
hbski
Explorer
Oct 22, 2015
fairly decent prices and service here:

ACDCELECTRICPARTS