I am wiring a second battery and i was wondering where is the best place or cheapest place to get low gauge battery cable. I would prefer something local, but if it is cheap enough i can order them online.

8/10/2010 12:30:02 PM

Why a second battery?

8/10/2010 1:10:07 PM

you buildin a COT

8/10/2010 1:19:37 PM

It is for a van. Plan on having stereo, tv, inverter and other 12V camping accessories attached to deep cycle battery so that i can run them when the car is not running without draining the starting battery. I already have the battery, an isolator, and space to mount the second battery under the hood.

what is a COT?

8/10/2010 1:28:04 PM

COT is a race car. i think an optima could handle all that

8/10/2010 1:33:20 PM

ahhh, the only acronym i could come up with was car of tomorrow and i didnt see the connection.

anyways, an optima probably could handle all of it, but I already have everything except the battery cables (all were free or really cheaply obtained). Installing an optima would still not solve the issue of completely draining the starter battery. I also use the second deep cycle battery to run the trolling motor on my boat, so the second battery will allow me to pull up to the lake and grab the charged battery from under the hood and take off. I have all of the logistics taken care of other than the battery cables. I know they will not be cheap, but i figured i may be able to get some made at an shop for cheaper than i can buy them from any of the big box stores.

8/10/2010 1:42:07 PM

Do you have an old set of jumper cables? Voila.

It may even be cheaper to buy a set of jumper cables rather than buying the wire separately.

8/10/2010 1:43:20 PM

That is what i was thinking about. The jumper cables i have now are 8 ga, so they are a bit too small. I have been looking out for some decent 2 ga jumper cables for a decent price.

8/10/2010 1:48:11 PM

where are you locating the second battery?

i wouldn't recommend putting a non-dry cell battery inside the passenger compartment

8/10/2010 3:01:30 PM

the second battery will be located under the hood, mounted above the drives side wheel well. The starting battery is located on the passenger side wheel well, and the alternator is on the passenger side of the engine. I already have the battery tray, battery and isolator mounted. I have all of the logistics worked out other than where to find the cables.

after checking some charts online it looks like i can get away with 6ga, but i would prefer 4ga

I just havent found anywhere that carries this wire by the foot other than home depot or lowes, and they are super high on prices

8/10/2010 3:50:27 PM

loop road has it, off of 70 in Garner

8/10/2010 3:58:02 PM

Any Carquest store will have it...or they can get it. Try the store on Millbrook Road for sure.

Just about any truck parts place will have it. Try Cardinal International or Fleetpride.

8/10/2010 4:17:01 PM

thanks zx, i will check with them. Found out autozone will do it for 1.88 a foot and i would have to crimp myself.

8/10/2010 4:47:05 PM

walmart jumpers are like $9/12 foot. they have the cable too but it's pretty high gauge

8/10/2010 8:55:00 PM

are the wires gonna show anywhere or is everything gonna be tucked. it looks like you got got stuff for cheap/free, but didnt know if you wanted to do the monster cable way

8/10/2010 10:01:16 PM

all the battery stuff will be under the hood and just routed along the firewall, dont really care what it looks like. The rest (lines to amp, second fusebox, and inverter) will run through the firewall and be covered by interior panels. They are all of lower gauge and i have a good supply of that wiring.

8/11/2010 9:34:59 AM

forget jumper cables

there are battery cables right next to the jumper cables at wal-mart with the right terminals already

8/11/2010 5:41:26 PM

alternatively, you can get welding cable by the foot from welding supply place down south saunders

8/11/2010 6:15:24 PM

welding cables at harbor freight.

8/12/2010 9:50:38 AM

Excellent, thank you guys for all the suggestions. I will be getting it wired up this weekend as soon as I have some free time

8/12/2010 9:52:19 AM