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Gauging wire
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 5:01 pm
by Drunkn Munky
I need to order some cable for the main battery supply to connect to this

I guess the same gauge cable as this will do but theres no size markings on it, do you just measure the OD is or is it the wire i need to measure?
Re: Gauging wire
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 5:29 pm
by Neosophist
You need to work out how many amps the wire is going to carry.
http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm
You have ampacity charts like that.
That chart is a little on the cautious size and i doubt you'll be using 1000ft of cable
I wouldn't go on measuring the actual cable as some cables are fat but have little wire in them as they are mainly insulation.
Re: Gauging wire
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 7:02 pm
by Drunkn Munky
Ok so my fuse box has 45A in it + the 30A main fuse = 75A. If i went for 100A to be on the safe side then thats 6 gauge yeah?
Where can i get some of the fancy silicone covered stuff like whats already connected to that battery?
Re: Gauging wire
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 7:50 pm
by skinnydog0_0
No you would want the highest amp rating, they dont add like that. I would use 45A cable
How come you have a 45A fuse the main fuse is a 30A so i would have thought that this should be teh max circuit capacity?
Re: Gauging wire
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 7:54 pm
by thunderace
10mm2 (square) cable should be plenty. That's about the norm on a 2.0l diesel cage.

Re: Gauging wire
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 7:55 pm
by Drunkn Munky
No i meant a total of 45A in the fusebox.
Is this cable ok, the 110A one?, im basically just replacing the cable from the solinoid to the battery + and the earth to battery - cables
http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/V ... ycable.php
Re: Gauging wire
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:02 pm
by skinnydog0_0
I think 110A might be a bit overkill, as a car generally produces around 70A max, i think the bike wouldn't produce more than this. But it is better to be safe i guess

Re: Gauging wire
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:20 pm
by Drunkn Munky
Whats the smallest i can get away with then, i dont want massive bulky cables running to the front of the bike where im mounting the battery.
Re: Gauging wire
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:37 pm
by skinnydog0_0
I think the cable at the top of the list is fine, i thought it would be thicker than it is. It isn't too thick to be honest.
Re: Gauging wire
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:27 pm
by STYLER
im just going to buy some 2.5m+ long jump leads and cut off what cable i need and ill still have some leads after. It can be just as cheap as buying seperate cables. I think the OEM starter/negative battery cables are 6ish mm thick!
You could email Durbahn.