Battery jumper cables and terminolgy of CCA
How bad did I mess up? Was at Harbor Freight picking up some 6 ton jackstands and saw what I thought was OK deal on jumper cables. Picked up 16 feet 6 gauge "heavy duty steel clamps, cooper jaws, cc...
Forum Discussion
MrWizard wrote:
"Skin effect" As it is called is a, special situation with extremely high voltage
nope, skin effect is a function of frequency, NOT voltage, and it applies at any frequency above DC. Just a matter of degree. As mentioned earlier, at 60Hz, don't really have to take it into account until conductor diameter is about 3/4". It IS something that power companies care about with HV transmission lines, not because of the voltage, but because of the cable diameter needed for the current the lines carry.
while the above post has a quote about skin effect being an "odd" effect, it really isn't that "odd" at all. It's very predictable and follows all the "rules" of electromagnetics that govern how current flows.
But, in most cases, working around AC power sources, audio, etc. it's not something that you need to take into account.
Back to the OP. Just remember, you get what you pay for. While I will admit to shopping at harbor freight, and there are things I get, use and like, one must be careful.
They aren't the only ones selling copper clad aluminum jumper cables. figure a CCA jumper cable is the same as at least 2 sizes smaller copper. For example, 12 ga Al. has about the same resistance as 14ga copper. or 12 ga aluminum has about 50% more resistance than 12 ga copper.
