Nitroracer
Nitroracer Dork
3/31/10 11:04 p.m.

I have accumulated some heavy gauge wire that was previously used to run amplifiers from my last two vehicles. While bass is great and all, the four door speakers tend to fill my ears just fine. I am going to assume that typical amp wire (in those flashy colors) is 4 gauge. I assume because I have two car lengths of the stuff sitting in a basement 150 miles away from me.

Would it be wise to use this for relocating a battery to the trunk on my old fairlane? I have the right length, ends, and such. Need a box. I am running a newer style gear reduction starter and a 3G 130amp alt, all tied to a carb fed 351 Windsor.

VanillaSky
VanillaSky Reader
3/31/10 11:06 p.m.

IMO, 4 gauge isn't big enough, not for that long of a run. I feel safer with a 0 gauge.

Then again, I've been known to overkill in the electrical department before.

stuart in mn
stuart in mn SuperDork
3/31/10 11:45 p.m.

The OEM cables are probably 2 or 4 gauge, but they're only a foot or two long. For a cable that ran all the way to the trunk I'd go with something considerably heavier than that.

edit: that's a '68, right? I had a '69 Torino GT notchback when I was in college; it was a great car but it eventually rusted to death.

foxtrapper
foxtrapper SuperDork
4/1/10 5:23 a.m.

I can't think of a single reason to bother relocating the battery to the trunk in a boat like that. If you're thinking there will be some benefit with regards to weight distribution and handling, it will be nil, undetectably nil.

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
4/1/10 9:43 a.m.

no need for 0 guage... 2 or 4 guage will work just fine. I work with theatrical lighting all the time. we only use 0 guage when dealing with 400amp circuts... and that is a continous 400 amp circut with a run between 50 and 100 feet in length

Adrian_Thompson
Adrian_Thompson HalfDork
4/1/10 11:36 a.m.

Was I the only one who was surprised when this thread turned out to be car related?

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
4/1/10 11:38 a.m.

4 gauge isn't heavy enough but a very cheap solution that is - welding cable. Tractor Supply is your friend.

amg_rx7
amg_rx7 Reader
4/1/10 12:03 p.m.

You want a minimum of 2 gauge. That is what BMW and Mini uses. I got my cable from Summit.

spin_out
spin_out New Reader
4/1/10 12:04 p.m.

Nice Fairlane. I have a '67 two door hard top. Lime Green baby. Don't move the battery. It's a 4 door street car.

AngryCorvair
AngryCorvair GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
4/1/10 5:05 p.m.

with a gear-reduction starter, 4-gauge is fine. if you've got enough of it, run two lengths in parallel for extra complexity. always best to use what you already own, young challenger.

Marty!
Marty! HalfDork
4/1/10 5:39 p.m.

http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

This site has a pretty good calculator for voltage drop for wire size/length/amperage. I would think that 4 awg wire would be pretty high in resistance in a run that long (14 ft or so) and get hot pretty quick.

Seems like were all split on this one.........

93gsxturbo
93gsxturbo Reader
4/1/10 10:41 p.m.

My Galant VR4 started just fine using 4 gauge wire.

914Driver
914Driver SuperDork
4/2/10 6:54 a.m.

When I did the BatVan I found some zero guage at a metal scrap yard. I bought it for the price of the copper. It looked like this but with flexible black insulation.

NAPA sells the connectors that get it to your battery.

Dan

mrwillie
mrwillie Reader
4/2/10 1:55 p.m.

How do you crimp cables as thick as 4ga? Would you just solder the ends on or something?

wbjones
wbjones HalfDork
4/2/10 2:52 p.m.

yes...solder....

lots of liquid flux and a torch.. if the flux flames up just blow it out , won't hurt anything

Knurled
Knurled GRM+ Memberand Reader
4/2/10 3:58 p.m.

I once made a forming tool and used a 20-ton press.

Vise-Grips worked equally as well.

SupraWes
SupraWes Dork
4/2/10 4:56 p.m.

Holy heater hoses batman! Cold much?

Nitroracer
Nitroracer Dork
4/2/10 7:21 p.m.

So while possible, it sounds like I would be better off just leaving the battery alone and get on with finishing the multitude of other projects on the car rather than adding another one to the list.

Or I could buy some subs, amps, obnoxious chrome wheels and DONK it. I mean the cable is a good start, right?!

The car is a 68' Fairlane 500 Sedan, the 69' had slightly different tail lights and grille. The 69' would have also be available with a 351 from ford but I'm not too much worried about originality here, more of a fun cruiser.

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