Club Cobra Gas - N Exhaust  

Go Back   Club Cobra > Cobra Talk Areas > ALL COBRA TALK

Keith Craft Racing
Nevada Classics
MMG Superformance
Main Menu
Module Jump:
Nevada Classics
Nevada Classics
Keith Craft Racing
MMG Superformance
Advertise at CC
Banner Ad Rates
MMG Superformance
MMG Superformance
March 2024
S M T W T F S
          1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31            
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 01-16-2012, 07:33 AM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Perth, WA
Cobra Make, Engine: Gforce with 6ltr chev eng
Posts: 2
Not Ranked     
Question Battery Cable

Has anyone worked out what the correct size battery cable would be?
I have been told bigger is best, but that's not always true I understand that the larger cable has a less likly chance of voltage drop but how far can you go before it's overkill?
From what I have found I think I would need to be using something around ether 2 B&S up to 00 B&S? ( big difference??) the engine is a 6ltr Chev and the Battery will be put in the boot with a cable length of aprox 3.5mtrs.
What would max amperage of the cable need to be?
Do I need to use automotive cable or could industrial cable be used?

Thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 01-16-2012, 08:01 AM
Tommy's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Dadeville, AL
Cobra Make, Engine: Sold my EM.
Posts: 2,432
Not Ranked     
Default

Based on an online voltage drop calculator, and an assumed 300 amp draw from your starter, size 0 cable would yield about a half volt drop along the length of the cable. Smaller size 2 cable would increase the drop to more than three volts. .. I mounted my battery in the trunk and found the most affordable cable in size 0 was welding cable. I don't see why any well insulated cable of sufficient size with enough flexibility to be routed the way you want to do it would not work.
__________________
Tommy
Cheetah tribute completed 2021 (TommysCars.Weebly.com)
Previously owned EM Cobra
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." - Hanlon's Razor
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 01-16-2012, 08:43 AM
Karl Bebout's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Mesa, AZ
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #2119 289FIA
Posts: 5,380
Not Ranked     
Default

I, too, use the "0" welding cable, from the battery, "in the boot" and it has worked out just fine. If you weren't so far away, I'd hook you up, for cheap, with my left over cable. I had to buy a 25' length and used barely half of it.
__________________
Karlos
"In the Land of the Pigs, The Butcher is King"

Last edited by Karl Bebout; 01-16-2012 at 08:45 AM..
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 01-16-2012, 11:11 AM
philminotti's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Orange, CT
Cobra Make, Engine: KMP 736 Street, Pond 482, FAST XFI EFI
Posts: 339
Not Ranked     
Default

I used #1 welding cable. Obviously it can carry the current, but it is too thick and inflexible...very unwieldy. Use 0.
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 01-16-2012, 01:39 PM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: May 2009
Cobra Make, Engine: LoneStar 427 SC, "Red Venom", 351W B/S 400 HP, TKO 600 .64 OD
Posts: 145
Not Ranked     
Default

Go to a welding supply store and look at the various sizes and flexibilities. I used 2 AWG cable for the battery to the starter and 4 AWG cable for the alternator back to the battery. If you think it's too bulky, I know a website where you can order some copper-clad aluminum cable which is super flexible but very costly.
__________________
Randy
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 01-16-2012, 10:01 PM
bobcowan's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Cobra Make, Engine: Backdraft, supercharged Coyote
Posts: 2,430
Not Ranked     
Default

Lie everything else, there are plusses and minuses to using welding cable. Size for size, it carries the same volts as battery cable.

Welding cable is designed to be flexible; that is obtained by using finer wires and a differant covering. But, in a high vibration environment, the finer wires can break.

The covering is also differant. It's pretty tough stuff and should resist heat and chemicals just as well. But when it burns it can release toxic fumes - that's why it's not DoT approved. I'm not sure that's a big deal.

Life's full of trade offs.
__________________
.boB "Iron Man"
NASA Rocky Mountain TTU #42
www.RacingtheExocet.com
BDR #1642 - Supercharged Coyote, 6 speed Auto
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 01-18-2012, 06:21 AM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Perth, WA
Cobra Make, Engine: Gforce with 6ltr chev eng
Posts: 2
Not Ranked     
Default

Hi, Thanks to all for the advice I think I have found some cable that is around the "O" B&S mark and for around $12 pr mtr about half the cost the auto leckys want and way cheaper than the welding cable @ $175 for a 5mtr length.
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 01-18-2012, 07:31 AM
mdross1's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Windham,, Me
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 1,590
Not Ranked     
Default

Welding cable is the best for many reasons,first and foremost is it's current carrying capacity,then it's flexibilty.You can get cable solder cable ends at parts stores plus the colored shrink wraps to finish them off.It's a great look done right.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:59 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
The representations expressed are the representations and opinions of the clubcobra.com forum members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and viewpoints of the site owners, moderators, Shelby American, any other replica manufacturer, Ford Motor Company. This website has been planned and developed by clubcobra.com and its forum members and should not be construed as being endorsed by Ford Motor Company, or Shelby American or any other manufacturer unless expressly noted by that entity. "Cobra" and the Cobra logo are registered trademarks for Ford Motor Co., Inc. clubcobra.com forum members agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyrighted material is owned by you. Although we do not and cannot review the messages posted and are not responsible for the content of any of these messages, we reserve the right to delete any message for any reason whatsoever. You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages, and you agree to indemnify and hold us harmless with respect to any claim based upon transmission of your message(s). Thank you for visiting clubcobra.com. For full policy documentation refer to the following link: CC Policy
Links monetized by VigLink