Battery cable question

[Mike CA]

on my '44 H, the battery cables look... Well, they don't look tip top. I don't know what gauge they are. I'm going to reroute the wiring with a new VR. Take out the solenoid, and put some original switches in the loop to hopefully solve the no life with a fresh battey issue.

If I replace the battery cables, for a 6v system I've read to get 00 gauge. But will such a gauge work if I switch over to a 12v system? Is there a gauge I could use for both?

 

[Andrew Z]

Mike you will have no problem with the 12 volt on the OO cables that will have a great connection!! As for the gauge iv used all the gauges that were 6v for the 12 volt systems. I belive that this is due to there amp. gauges and they measure amps and not voltage. Sooo i think your good to go!!

Andrew

 

[John T]

Mike, heres the Real Deal.

WHEN YOU CONVERT TO 12 VOLTS THERES TYPICALLY LESS NOT MORE CURRENT DRAW i.e. it dont hurt to have bigger cables n even smaller can get you by.

Its NOT gonna hurt if your battery cables are a lil too big, but can indeed if too small. I recommend use of at least 0 better yet 00 gauge battery n starter n ground cables on 6 volt systems to lessen cable voltage drop n cuz at that lower voltage youre gonna get high current draw from a starter. On 12 volt theres typically less starter current draw so one can drop down a size or two like 1 or 0 butttttttt its sure NOT gonna hurt if you have larger cables. NO problem for 0 or 00 on a 12 volt system provided they can physically fit where needed, although one sees a lot of 1 (or even 2) gauge around, I still prefer at least 1 or bigger myslef at 12 volts.

Even at 12 volt I still like big heavy honkin batteries like 900 to 1100 CCA and I use the felt washers under the battery posts plus spray with that red battery terminal coating stuff. I dont like grounds to any thin wimpy or rusty sheet metal but prefer a good to frame bolt elsewhere. Clean tight shiny bright conections at alllll battery n starter n switch/solenoid n ground connections is a MUST.

John T

 

[old]

Mike 00 cables are big about as big as your biggest finger. They carry higher amps with less line loose then do the smaller cables. Now will they work on 12 volts yep they would be over kill but they will also last longer and provide more cranking amps to the starter for better faster starts and also will forgive a weak battery better then the common #2 cables sold now days for cars and trucks.
Hobby farm

 

[CNKS]

You will probably have trouble finding 0 or 00 gauge, I don't think anyone stocks them in the boonies where I live. I don't think it gets very cold where you live, that is what requires the most amperage. If not, 2 gauge will be fine. I think most 12 volt systems have 6. My 6 volt Super A still at least one of the 6 gauge on it that were there when I purchased it -- It starts easily in warm weather, forget it when it gets cold. Most battery/cable problems are caused by lack of use. If you start it occasionally and keep the connections clean you will have fewer problems. 12 volt allows you to get by with less maintenance than a 6 volt system requires. Large cables allows you to get by with less maintenance on a 6 volt system, so you are kind of working around the problem, i.e. maintenance -- I don't like to do it either.

 

[HENRY E NC]

Mike, if you are using a starter button like the original, you don't need a solenoid in the system. The starter button acts as the solenoid. I have OO cables on my 6 volt A and have positive grounded to the frame. Works like a charm since I had the starter fixed. As John said, battery cables cant be too big for any application. Henry

 

[El Toro]

You may be able to find some good used welding cables. They make fine battery cables. Be sure to use soldered spades then shine them up on a wire buffing wheel. Hal

 

[neblinc]

Here ya go Mike.

http://www.custombatterycables.com/

Randy

 

[Anonymous-0]

basic ohm's law, double the volts and 1/2 the amp's.
That is one of the main reasons that tractors changed from 6 to 12 volts systems and many of the larger diesel's use 24 volt starting systems

 

[Nat 2]

Ohm's law is double the volts, DOUBLE the Amps if you use the same 6V starter. You get FOUR times as much power going to the starter. That's why a 12V conversion spins the tractor over so much better.

Mike, thicker cables are ALWAYS better. It doesn't matter what voltage you use. Thicker cables offer less resistance to the flow of electricity.

 

[Anonymous-0]

You should be able to get 1ga from NAPA keep it original as there was no solenoid just a sw with large button going to the post on the starter from the sw this casble would have an eye on both ends the one from the batt to the sw would have one end for the battery and other end going to the other post on the sw. If you have trouble getting the starter sw go to CAR QUEST as they have them. Our dealer has them in stock. You sure dont need 12v in CALIF as warm as it is there. MY Bthat i plow snow with starts at even below zero with a 123hi dome engine.

 

[Andy Motteberg]

You should use 2 or 1 gauge cables.

 

[Carl Grover]

I=E/R ohms's law, so one can see if you increase the voltage and the resistance stays the same the current goes up as is a simple division problem in this case.

 

[Andy Martin]

The good news is that the starter is a motor and not a resistor. If it was a resistor like a light bulb, amps would double and the motor would soon burn out, like the guys who have never tried 12v on a 6v starter think.

In reality, it is a motor, and they only draw enough amps to get the job done. So you put a 12v battery on a 6v starter and it only needs half the amps to put out the same hp if it were turning the engine at the same speed. It will turn faster, and that takes more hp, but it doesn't turn so fast that the amps go up. Since the wires and motor are designed for much higher amperage they are oversized and last a long time.

Now, try to start a 12v tractor on 6v. Amps go through the roof, everything gets hot, and if you've got enough battery to deliver the amps you wind up letting the smoke out. As everyone with experience in these electric things knows, once you let the smoke out it is near impossible to get it back in, you just have to buy new stuff with the smoke already in it.

Now, let's talk about why a DC motor turns the same way with positive or negative ground...

 

[Carl Grover]

They will burn out on 12 volts quicker than 6 volts-try running a motor wired for 220 volts on 440 volts- it will draw so many amps it will just trip out the overload. saying the starter will draw just the amps it needs doesn't hold true when you up the volts.

 

[Mike CA]

Here ya go Mike.

http://www.custombatterycables.com/

Randy

Have you ordered from him Randy? I like the idea of colored insulation. I'm not sure what length I'll need, as I haven't set it up for the new starter button yet.

What is 1/0, 2/0, 3/0 etc? I see 2ga, but no 1ga.

 

[John M]

12v/6v DC, to 220v/440v AC. Never saw a starter that required that much voltage, not one that needed that many batteries!!!!! I have starters that were 6v on 12 volt for 20 years or better and not one failure.

 

[dave guest]

Agree with Nat2 one hundred percent. BTDT and book-learning.

 

[Carl Grover]

Not saying they fail if used correctly but they can if cranked on too long but that can be done with 6 volts, the 440-220 volt was to explain about the higher voltage and more amps. You increase the speed of a dc motor with a voltage increase.

 

[neblinc]

Not yet Mike but will order cables from him when I get to that point.

Randy