Cable Upgrade Expectations?

Lochlin

Ok, I really don't need this information as I am going to be doing this work anyway. The curiosity is getting the better of me, though, and I know that some of you dudes are genius with the battery /cable / expected run-time stuff.

I have an '03 48v DS with a PQ Bandit in it. It is lifted with 22 inch tires. Everything else is stock. It currently runs around 22-24 mph. I am completely fine with that and am not really looking for any more speed but if it comes so be it.

It's never been painted so I am prepping it now. I figured while I have the body off I might as well replace the 6g cable with 2g.

Can anyone give me a bit of knowledge about the expected speed increase (if any) the cable upgrade will bring and, more importantly, whether or not the beefier cables will increase run time? Again, the run time is of far more interest to me than speed. Like I said, I am doing the cables no matter what. I am just curious as to what to expect.

BGW

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mrgolf

It will be hard to tell the difference. Difference in temperature wind etc. it will likely help both but hard to measure, be sure you run the main negative through the OBC. You may have to use a stud for that part.

Aflyer

Lochlin,

These are great questions. I am looking forward to the answers also.

And will bigger wires, meaning more juice to the bandit have any effect on torque?

Aflyer

Sergio

The impact will be different depending on the conditions of your existing cables.

Assuming the original 6 gauge cables are in good shape, there will be no noticeable difference.

30 feet of 6 gauge has a resistance of 0.012 ohms.

When the cart is using 100 amps, that will create a loss of 1.2v

30 feet of 2 gauge has a resistance of 0.005 ohms.

When the cart is using 100 amps, that will create a loss of 0.5v

If the original cables are in bad shape, new cables (regardless of gauge) will provide a big impact in efficiency.

TahoeDawgZ71

Imagine the wires are PVC pipe and electricity is water. The controller is a pump. A 225-250 amp factory controller can only "pump" so much water. Increasing the size of the pipe doesn't make a difference unless you get a bigger "pump". It still pumps the same amount of water through the larger pipe as it did through the small ones. It's the same exact concept with wiring. 6 gauge wires are plenty adequate for a factory cart with factory electronics. Cables are a necessary upgrade when you increase the amp draw by upgrading components. Cables do not provide any performance gains at all on a stock cart, unless you're replacing bad cables. If you upgrade the controller without upgrading the wires, expensive components are going to get hot and burn up. Same concept again. If you add a larger water pump but leave small pipes, the pump will burn up because it's restricted.

scottyb

Wait. Imagine the cables as a highway and the amps are little cars zooming down the road when they come to a Construction Zone with a lane closure... Everybody's supposed to slow down but not you - you're gonna get a ticket.

TahoeDawgZ71

That's a good one too.

scottyb

That analogy helps when people ask why they have to change ALL the cables?

TahoeDawgZ71

Yep. Bottleneck.