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Old Aug 21, 2005 | 09:48 AM
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Question 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?
 
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Old Aug 21, 2005 | 10:01 AM
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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.
 
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Old Aug 21, 2005 | 01:50 PM
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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.
 
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Old Aug 21, 2005 | 02:45 PM
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you can buy welding cable by the foot and make them as long as you want. Greg
 
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Old Aug 21, 2005 | 02:49 PM
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One of those big battery switches would allow two cables and make a nice safety disconnect, too.
-Smoky
 
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Old Aug 22, 2005 | 09:40 AM
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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.
 
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Old Aug 23, 2005 | 08:32 PM
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quit screwing arround and buy new, the right length
 
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Old Aug 23, 2005 | 08:41 PM
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Originally Posted by SmokyOlFord
One of those big battery switches would allow two cables and make a nice safety disconnect, too.
-Smoky
I agree. Battery switch and cable. OR, new longer cable. Done deal.
 
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Old Aug 23, 2005 | 08:49 PM
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Originally Posted by BoomerPower
I need to splice my battery cables together to make them longer for my Taurus derby car. ?
Demolition derby car??? So I assume you dont want to spend anything on it
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!
 
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Old Aug 23, 2005 | 11:37 PM
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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.
 
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Old Aug 30, 2005 | 08:20 PM
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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.
 
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Old Aug 30, 2005 | 08:28 PM
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well you can get a 72'' cable at walmart for 3.27 pretty cheap.
 
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Old Aug 31, 2005 | 06:26 AM
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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
 
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