Help with battery wiring please

[Ramp_Digger]

Hi. We have a truck camper with a two aux batteries in the camper battery box. It has a 4 gauge charging wire about 8 feet long from the truck alternator. I am planning to move the batteries to a new location and will need to extend the length of the charge and ground wires about 3 feet. My question is what would be the best method to make a good connection to extend the wires with minimal resistance thru the splice. Would it be better to replace the entire wire and make it one piece and possibaly up grade to a larger wire at the same time? I am thinking eleven feet for 4 gauge wire may be pushing the limit on voltage drop.
Thanks for your help R.

[wa8yxm]

IT would indeed be better, for multiple reasons, to replace teh entire wire with a new one. of the needed length.

If you choose to extend I'd use a battery bolt through the existing lug (Cleaned) and/or weld the two lugs together (in addition to the bolt) then heavily insulate. but the best way is a longer wire .

[theoldwizard1]

MrWizard wrote:
i favor "split bolts", tighten up real good, wrap with GE self vulcanizing silicone tape



you can find them at home depot in the electrical dept
or the local electrical supply house

Nothing wrong with old school ! Double wrap with the splicing tape with the turns going in opposite directions.

[Bobbo]

Go to this website GenuineDealz and buy some wire that is the proper length so you don't have any splices. You can get it with the proper connectors professionally crimped on and heat shrink tubing around them for protection.

[tenbear]

Personally I don't like to have any more connections than necessary so I would replace the wire. #4 will work fine but if you are replacing the wire why not use a larger wire. Is the actual wire length 11' or do you have 11' there and 11' return, total of 22'?

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[Ski_Pro_3]

MrWizard wrote:
i favor "split bolts", tighten up real good, wrap with GE self vulcanizing silicone tape



you can find them at home depot in the electrical dept
or the local electrical supply house

This is what the electric company uses to tie your house drop to the main line out at the street. Add some anti-oxidant to the wires before using some sort of self-vulcanizing tape, then wrap that in a friction tape.

[MrWizard]

i favor "split bolts", tighten up real good, wrap with GE self vulcanizing silicone tape



you can find them at home depot in the electrical dept
or the local electrical supply house

[Lwiddis]

Shouldn’t 4 gauge wire handle 15 amps for 30 feet? What does the chart you consulted say? Did you look?

[time2roll]

I would pull new wire. 11' of #4 is fine unless you have a 1000+ watt inverter.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2PC-CERAMIC-HIGH-TEMP-2-POLE-80-AMP-TERMINAL-BLOCK-STRIP-CP-02P-80A/4015090...



Two amperages given for same unit. Lower amperage rating is for >400 volts. These work good