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Thread: Help me choose battery cable

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    Question Help me choose battery cable


    I am making a custom battery setup to run the tm and Lowrance. Starting at my single 12v battery I will run 6ft of 8 gauge cable/wire. The end of the 8 ga. will be a pos and neg junction block. I can then attach the tm & Lowrance cables to the junction block. The purpose for the setup is to be able to switch back and forth between side pulling arrangement and a standard transom arrangement. I see my wiring choices as this: 1) 2 lengths of separate wires. 2) Use jumper cables and remove the clamps and cut to size. 3) Home depot sells by the foot but 4 single strands that I would twist together. 8/4 600-Volt CU Black Flexible Portable Power SOOW Cord. Please give me your opinions.

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    when I need lengths of large gauge, I buy jumper cables & cut ends off; usually cheaper...

    guess you could just flop the cable fore/aft

    easy
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    Best suggestion is go to your local home improvement store and purchase the length of 8 gauge wire you need. It will handle anything you want to run through it without any significant power loss.

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    Quote Originally Posted by RobAnderson View Post
    Best suggestion is go to your local home improvement store and purchase the length of 8 gauge wire you need. It will handle anything you want to run through it without any significant power loss.

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    You need fine strand with as many wires as possible for DC voltage. That 4-6-8 strand is for a/c and does not carry D/C like you need. One of the best is quality stereo power cable in the size you need. Not really cheap but will give you the best performance. The clear coating if exposed to a lot of sun will turn black on you is only draw back. You could also get marine grade tinned wire which again isn’t that cheap but for the length not a bank breaker and worth it in the long run.if you google it you will find some places that will cut it to length and install connectors of your choice on ends.
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    Sent you a PM

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    I have always used power wires from my days of screwing around with car audio. It's very fine, flexible, and often tinned OFC.

    Check out Knukonceptz.com, they sell by the foot, many car audio shops do as well. They have 8 AWG for 25c a foot.

    I buy most terminals from eBay, as they are quite expensive locally.

    Jumper cables work but I've often found the cable to be pretty lackluster.
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