buying wire

Query

GENERAL MOTORS and COPPER CLAD ALUMINUM battery cables. The tin coating GOES AWAY. I have successfully soldered CCA which would improve durability. I have a set of unsoldered COPPER cables in my trunk which I criminally neglected to solder when they were new. They will remain useless until I undo all the damage and solder the 4-gage to the cable strands + run an 8 gauge shunt from clamp gripper across to the other pad gripper (the copper pads with teeth).

Silicone is flexible but easy to cut and tear.

Hypalon (neoprene) makes a good battery cable insulation as does EDPN

Lowes jumper cables
They are copper clad aluminum. Not the best choice for semi-permanent wiring methods.
Insulation is thermal plastic. Not good if wire starts to heat up.

burningman wrote:
I found an even cheaper way to get 2-gauge wire at Lowe’s.
They sell a set of 16 foot 2-gauge jumper cables for $25.
I’ve now bought three sets. I cut the clamps off, separate the two wires and I’ve got 32 feet of 2-gauge for 78¢ a foot.

Those cables likely use CCA wire, which is close to 4 gauge copper wire resistance-wise. Another consideration is if they're rated as SAE vs. AWG. SAE wire of the same gauge is smaller, not profoundly so, in the 5% to 10% ballpark. I personally think CCA wire in jumper cables is mainly a marketing gimmick, but I do have to admit it weighs less and costs less for the same conductivity.

I found an even cheaper way to get 2-gauge wire at Lowe’s.
They sell a set of 16 foot 2-gauge jumper cables for $25.
I’ve now bought three sets. I cut the clamps off, separate the two wires and I’ve got 32 feet of 2-gauge for 78¢ a foot.

Genuinedealz will cut to order. You can specify 3ft long cable #8 and 10ft #4, with or without lugs. Very convenient.

High number multi-strand wire is more flexible.
Normally it is smaller as the conductors are more compact.
Smaller size wire can carry more amps.

In no particular order- many (most?) of these are distributors, so quantity orders are the norm- i.e. no cut lengths. Many will cut to order though.

Waytek Wire
Dell City
Polar Wire Products
Skycraft Surplus

I should add that Skycraft has diesel locomotive cable (DLO), far better than welding cable- sizes from #10 to 646 AWG (6 sizes larger than 4/0 (!) ), with #4 being $1.28/ft, 60 foot min though :(
Skycraft DLO Cable

Try http://www.genuinedealz.com/.

Quality product, and they can install lugs/terminals for a modest fee, with shrink tubing and all.

enblethen wrote:
I would not use standard building wire for DC systems like thhn posted from Lowes.
Some car stereo stores have good selection of wire.

do you have a particular reason?

Mitigating Factor Reality Check Moment



New Joisey might be reasonable

Rancho Cucamonga may be a horse of a different color.