DIY 2/4 guage battery wiring

steger424 · 07-16-2013, 10:22 PM

Want to make my cables and looking for a place online to but the wire and lugs. Does it have to be welding cables or can I use car audio power wire that is pretty flexible too but cheaper by the foot. Not sure what the amps needs to be on the wire. Looks like most 2/4 guage maxes out at 250-300 amps. Thanks for any help on deciding welding vs car audio wire and where to by wire by the foot online.

black&yellow · 07-17-2013, 01:40 AM

The whole point of upgrading your wiring is to get rid of the weak links and create as little resistance as possible for the best performance. Using the bare minimum amp rating isnt going to do that and will produce heat=bad for electronics. Audio power wire is cheap for a reason.

sportcoupe · 07-17-2013, 04:14 AM

4 gauge cables are good to 500 amps, over that use 2 gauge cables. Anything larger is overkill in a golf cart.

Fine strand audio power cable costs more then welding cable which has fewer strands. Car battery cable has even fewer strands so it's at the bottom of the list. You are fine with either welding cable or audio power cable. Strand count is king.

patgrim00 · 07-17-2013, 05:19 AM

Looking into this as well I just don't see spending 200+ on a set of 2 gauge premade cables

gornoman · 07-17-2013, 05:47 AM

While strand count is very important, the insulation jacket MUST be acid resistant.

steger424 · 07-17-2013, 06:37 AM

OK thanks for the replies. Welding cable it is. Any suggestions on where to buy online and what brand is better (more strands)

Sir Nuke · 07-17-2013, 07:29 AM

since you never mentioned it, for the best result.....you should silver solder the connections over crimping them.

as for the stand count.....for 2/4 ga cables.....look for 400 to 600 count cable that is Water and Acid Resistant Neoprene Jacketed.
.

steger424 · 07-17-2013, 08:44 PM

silver solder huh. not familiar with steps or cost to do so. any good write ups ? Any online vendors for welding cables? I bouht some #2 from a local store and it was $1.55 a ft does that sound about right or should it be closer to $5 a ft? thanks for any help

shaffer88 · 07-17-2013, 09:53 PM

In for the answers

Sir Nuke · 07-17-2013, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steger424

silver solder huh. not familiar with steps or cost to do so. any good write ups ? Any online vendors for welding cables? I bouht some #2 from a local store and it was $1.55 a ft does that sound about right or should it be closer to $5 a ft? thanks for any help

neither am I.....which is why I, and a LOT of others here have had a REAL PRO make their cables. and that Pro is ScottyB, and you can get a set of the best cables available on his website.

http://www.cartsunlimited.net/Batter..._Upgrades.html

07-16-2013, 10:22 PM	#1
steger424 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 10	DIY 2/4 guage battery wiring Want to make my cables and looking for a place online to but the wire and lugs. Does it have to be welding cables or can I use car audio power wire that is pretty flexible too but cheaper by the foot. Not sure what the amps needs to be on the wire. Looks like most 2/4 guage maxes out at 250-300 amps. Thanks for any help on deciding welding vs car audio wire and where to by wire by the foot online.
steger424 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 10

07-17-2013, 01:40 AM	#2
black&yellow Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 30	Re: DIY 2/4 guage battery wiring The whole point of upgrading your wiring is to get rid of the weak links and create as little resistance as possible for the best performance. Using the bare minimum amp rating isnt going to do that and will produce heat=bad for electronics. Audio power wire is cheap for a reason.
black&yellow Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 30

07-17-2013, 04:14 AM	#3
sportcoupe Gone Wild Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 2,760	Re: DIY 2/4 guage battery wiring 4 gauge cables are good to 500 amps, over that use 2 gauge cables. Anything larger is overkill in a golf cart. Fine strand audio power cable costs more then welding cable which has fewer strands. Car battery cable has even fewer strands so it's at the bottom of the list. You are fine with either welding cable or audio power cable. Strand count is king.

07-17-2013, 05:19 AM	#4
patgrim00 Gone Wild Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 174	Looking into this as well I just don't see spending 200+ on a set of 2 gauge premade cables
patgrim00 Gone Wild Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 174

07-17-2013, 05:47 AM	#5
gornoman Stay thirsty my friends! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Suburban Chicago Posts: 24,291	Re: DIY 2/4 guage battery wiring While strand count is very important, the insulation jacket MUST be acid resistant.

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07-17-2013, 06:37 AM	#6
steger424 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 10	Re: DIY 2/4 guage battery wiring OK thanks for the replies. Welding cable it is. Any suggestions on where to buy online and what brand is better (more strands)
steger424 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 10

07-17-2013, 07:29 AM	#7
Sir Nuke Master of All Things Join Date: May 2013 Location: West Columbia, Texas Posts: 17,998	Re: DIY 2/4 guage battery wiring since you never mentioned it, for the best result.....you should silver solder the connections over crimping them. as for the stand count.....for 2/4 ga cables.....look for 400 to 600 count cable that is Water and Acid Resistant Neoprene Jacketed. .

07-17-2013, 08:44 PM	#8
steger424 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 10	Re: DIY 2/4 guage battery wiring silver solder huh. not familiar with steps or cost to do so. any good write ups ? Any online vendors for welding cables? I bouht some #2 from a local store and it was $1.55 a ft does that sound about right or should it be closer to $5 a ft? thanks for any help
steger424 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 10

07-17-2013, 09:53 PM	#9
shaffer88 Gone Wild Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 552	In for the answers
shaffer88 Gone Wild Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 552

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