I have access to a steady supply of 8d batteries that are rotated regularly from a commercial stand-by generator...my 87 needs batteries and my cable connecting both has seen better days....batteries about 90$ each and tack on another 150$ for the custom positive cable.......I got to thinking while I was in Home Depot loooking at wiring for my new garage...anyway I can by 2/0 copper cable that is gas and oil resistant for 3.00 a foot...If I run 2 batteries in my tool box behind the cab,connect them both to a battery switch and then run the 2/0 cable through the box and the bed,along the frame up to the solenoid would that be too much lenth on that size cable with regards to amperage? The 8d 's put out about 1500 amps, would that overload the trucks electrical system?I guess I could just switch between the two batteries and ues one to start. Would I have any charging issues? I use the tool box very seldom so I could make it pretty safe.I think I could do this for 50$ and have a kick *** start.. ....or set the whole truck ablaze.....

 

the cable from home depot is no good it is not flexible you need to buy welding cable from a welding supplier and some truck parts suppliers have even larger cable , i,m not familiar with the batteries you describe but if they are 12.0 they will work

 

The electric cable you saw at Home Depot would be fine for the amperage, but you would need a conduit bender to bend it.

As stiff as it is routing the cable would be a job.
Protecting the conductor from grounding out against the frame would take some work. That insulation is gas and oil resistant but it is not meant to be used in vibration enviroment.

The main reason the cable at Home Depot is so stiff is the individual wires in the conductor are huge when compared to battery cable of the same size.
Overall the conductor is the same size, 3/0 battery cable and 3/0 electrical wire both have the same circular mill size.


NAPA has the right wire to do battery cables at close to the same price.
Plus they can also come up with the right terminals.

 

Dave, Would the extra amperage hurt the glow plug system or anything else? Any other problems I might be looking at?....Thanks

 

The amperage is no issue, as the devices will only draw what they need. If you had a different voltage is what would do damage. In all reality, it would likely extend battery life due to not drawing them down as much, and in the event the alternator fails or belt flies, you can keep on rolling with the charge you have. That's the sweet part of these older diesels, you only need to keep the fuel shutoff powered to keep rolling. I ran over 20 miles with just the a/c belt on after tossing a belt, do that with a gasser!

 

thanks!....