Questions about heavy gauge wire (battery & jumper cable stuff)

[TomGolden]

Bill, good info about using the right flux and properly cleaning the connector and wire. I have seen wires that were soldered corroding and didn't know what was going on.



HillCountryKid, If I had access to a heavy duty crimper such as you describe, I would go that route, but since I don't... it is either going to be soldering or hand crimping using tools available from places like Wrangler NorthWest or WeyTech or similar tools.



I'll have to check NAPA as well.



Great info all, keep it Cummin(s)

 

[HillCountrykid]

Tom, just ship them to me and I'll crimp them for ya'. I won't even charge you.

 

[Ladders]

Tom,

When you ck with NAPA , see if they can crimp them. Some of them have invested in crimp tools for hyd & wire. Just another thought.



SOTSU!!

\\BF//

 

[illflem]

My local welding shop sells cable and connectors for a good price and will also crimp them. Might want to check with one near you.

 

[zjones]

Check any car audio shop, they'll have very high ($$$) quality cable. The cable I used for my amps (Streetwires) was 1/0 gauge. The strands where very fine and soft, the cut ends looked solid. (100% oxygen free silver plated copper) It was rated for 200+ amps, 14. 4v at a 22ft length.

 

[TomGolden]

Wow, thanks for all the suggestions guys!



I think I will check with a local welding shop when I have the chance, NAPA as well.



HillCountry, I surely do appreciate the kind offer. Might just take ya up on it

 

[HillCountrykid]

Tom, if you decide to send them to me, just let me know ahead of time so I can have all the stuff at the job site.

 

[Paychk]

For those that feel soldering is the better choice, but are concerned about flux corrosion. I would recommend this product, it was what we used in the USAF and it is approved by NASA and aerospace agencies as safe for aircraft applications. This stuff when used properly, becomes inert when the soldering operation is complete and is water soluble if there is any left on the surface.



http://www.ccis.com/home/hn/page3.htm



I don't know if this is the only source but it was the first that came up on Google.



http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=supersafe+30



BTW the name of the product is



"Superior No. 30 Supersafe Solder Flux"

 

[Loren]

Another source for both battery and welding cables plus the connectors you need for the ends is McMaster-Carr. They are located here:

http://www.mcmaster.com/



The page with solder-on battery connectors is catalog page 767. Just enter that number into the search box and check "Find".



I ordered a foot of cable (I think the welding cable is probably better than the battery cable) plus some solder-on fittings and am very happy with the result. Anyone who has done plumbing soldering will have no trouble with attaching the lugs/terminal ends onto the cable.



McMaster-Carr's solder-on connectors come with a dab of solder and flux in the fitting. All you do is heat the fitting until the solder melts and insert the cable. Don't try to insert the cable and heat the whole thing (like I did the first time), because you can't get the cable all the way into the connector until the solder melts.



If you insist on crimp-on fittings, they sell those too. And if you have an extra $190 in your pocket, they'll sell you the crimping tool. It's expensive, but from my experience the tool will be top quality.



McMaster-Carr's service is absolutely FIRST RATE. I entered my last order on-line at 4:30 p. m. on a Thursday. My order was on my porch Friday before noon. I live in southeastern Indiana. The order came from Cleveland.



They don't tell you what the shipping charges will be when you place your order, but they are very reasonable. McMaster-Carr doesn't seem to pad their prices by adding to the shipping charges.



By the way, they also sell lots of other neat stuff.



Loren

 

[TomGolden]

Loren - I am familiar with McMaster-Carr. I ordered some 1 1/8" nuts from them a few months back for the military surplus "nipple rings" I added to my DOR front bumper. I didn't realize they would have electrical items as well, so will definitely check them out.



HillCountry - You bet! If I do decide to go the crimp route, I would certainly do you the courtesy of forewarning you



Paychk - Thanks, I'll check into this solder as well.



I think I'll try soldering first, as I have a reasonable confidence that I can do that successfully myself, and if I find out that I just can't, then crimping it will [obviously] be.



Again, thanks all for the great info.

 

[GWHaley]

Tom, if you need quality stuff in a hurry, go check out Fastenal. They are like Lawson Products or Bowman, except they have stores. The closest one to you is in Rancho Cordova, 3319 Fitzgerald Rd. , ste. 12 in Rancho Cordova (near White Rock Rd. and Sunrise). 916-635-7821. I've used them alot in the past and they are good.



I just checked their website and can't seem to find cabling products. I'd call them, each store may have some different things and may have what you need. They definetly have all the hardware you might ever need.

 

[TomGolden]

Gordon - Thanks for the suggestion. I might drop by and check them out.



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In order to get possibly more visibility on the specific question of which solder to use, I started a new thread https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=79192 Asking about exactly what solder composition would be best to use for this.



Thanks yet again everyone.