Splicing Battery Cables
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Splicing Battery Cables
I need to splice my battery cables together to make them longer for my Taurus derby car. They allow you to take your battery and mount it on the floor inside on the passenger side so I need to splice my cables together with a longer cable to run the cables inside. What is the best way to splice them together?
Posting Guru
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From: Oregon
I'm not a big fan of bolt together or soldered splices for battery cables. If you have a battery distributor somewhere near you, they can crimp the big gauge wire really cheaply, or just have them build you a custom cable. They would know the lightest gauge wire you could get away with to keep the weight down on your car.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Staten Island, NY
Just a thought but way, way back in my street racing days, we moved the battery to the trunk in a marine battery box and used welding cable for the run to the engine compartment. Welding cable is generally made with more and finer strands and thus is more flexible, it comes in a number of sizes and they make insulated, bolt together, splices for it.
FTE Legend
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: NY and VA
It is only for a short time, just use a regular cable clamp and lots of insulating tape. On the crown vics, we just drill a hole in the firewall near the starter and use the origonal cable from the solinoid.
Posting Guru
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From: alaska
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Logistics Pro
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From: Southern MD
Originally Posted by SmokyOlFord
One of those big battery switches would allow two cables and make a nice safety disconnect, too.
-Smoky
-Smoky
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Brett Foote
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From: Ontario, canada
Originally Posted by BoomerPower
I need to splice my battery cables together to make them longer for my Taurus derby car. ?
Lots of electrical tape... hockey tape..masking tape.. shoe laces...
Poke around the electrical aisle at your favorite hardware store.. you may find something cheap that'll work.
How about using(borrowing) a set of booster cables for the event? You may be able to take the clamps off of the ends and put them back when your done.
cobbling a car together is half the fun of a demo derby!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Oregon
Oh! Is this demo derby? Just go to the wrecking yard and grab a bunch of old cables. If you have a top mount lead terminal, just take the bolt out, stick the one hole lug in and rebolt. If it's side mount, take the bolt out and drill it out for a 3/8" or 1/2" nut, bolt and washer, (whatever you have handy). Then tape everything up - quick and easy...
Make sure you have a good box well strapped down for your battery, it being in the car with you. I had a friend take an acid bath in a car wreck once. He wasn't that good looking to begin with, but man - that was bad.
Make sure you have a good box well strapped down for your battery, it being in the car with you. I had a friend take an acid bath in a car wreck once. He wasn't that good looking to begin with, but man - that was bad.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
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Use old GM battery cables cables, bolt them together, long enough to get them to the trunk. Please do not put the battery in with you. Can you relocate the radiator to underneath? Also don't forget to disconnect the air bags. Duct tape a foam rubber pillow to the drivers door, and put a thin one in your lap, take the covers off the pillows first.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 202
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From: southern Md
Well if you want to connect them on the cheap use a piece of 1/2 in copper or smaller insert ends and beat with a hammer if you want extra protection solder with a torch and cover with Electric tape......this is in true derby fashion and will gain style points!!
Glenn
Glenn
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