battery cables again
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
battery cables again
i c the 2 gauge is the most commen on our trucks. i c u maybe are a little better off with going with the next size bigger cable. but now what s the next size bigger from the 2 gauge a 0 gauge . i saw on here use a 3 gauge , but i ve never heard of a 3 gauge. like shotguns the lower the number the bigger the gun.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Good old Oswego.
It's "supposed" to be 2/0 going between batteries and then 3/0 going to the starter. I replaced mine with all 2/0 positive cable and 2/0 grounds. Yeah, 3/0 is always better because it is bigger but I don't think you NEED it. Some will disagree i'm sure. No, when it comes to this size cable, the lower the number the SMALLER the cable. It's not measured by gauge like wire is........or shotguns.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20,322
Likes: 789
From: Mi'kma'ki
smaller to larger:
AWG
5
4
3
2
1
0
00
1/0
2/0 (stock battery cables for our IDI's.)
3/0 (stock cable from the pass battery to the starter on 80's IDI's)
4/0
5/0
if your truck doesn't see temps in the single digits,then 2/0 is plenty imho.
when you get down in the single digits or sub zero,plug her in and give her 3/0 and she's going to go
AWG
5
4
3
2
1
0
00
1/0
2/0 (stock battery cables for our IDI's.)
3/0 (stock cable from the pass battery to the starter on 80's IDI's)
4/0
5/0
if your truck doesn't see temps in the single digits,then 2/0 is plenty imho.
when you get down in the single digits or sub zero,plug her in and give her 3/0 and she's going to go
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Eaton, CO
I'm thinking about going 3/0 all the way around, including ground cables. McMaster-Carr has reasonable prices on cables and lugs. They have that pass through lug that's on the passenger positive post. The cost adds up though.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,501
Likes: 5
From: Faibanks Ak.
Originally the whole positive cable was 3/0, then at some point ford cheapened them up to 2/0 between the batteries and 3/0 from the passenger side to the starter.
I could have swore Ed posted the price under 100 bucks, I'll see if I can find that thread.
I could have swore Ed posted the price under 100 bucks, I'll see if I can find that thread.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
For common wire gauges (AWG) from smaller to larger.
10
8
6
4
3
2
1
1/0
2/0
3/0
4/0
250 MCM
350 MCM
Started out as 3/0 for the entire positive cable.
Then 2/0 from the drivers side to the passenger side, then 3/0 from there to the starter.
As copper got more expensive, 2/0 for the entire cable from about the 90 and later models.
Save 10 dollars on 200,000 trucks a year, big pile of money.
10
8
6
4
3
2
1
1/0
2/0
3/0
4/0
250 MCM
350 MCM
Started out as 3/0 for the entire positive cable.
Then 2/0 from the drivers side to the passenger side, then 3/0 from there to the starter.
As copper got more expensive, 2/0 for the entire cable from about the 90 and later models.
Save 10 dollars on 200,000 trucks a year, big pile of money.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Eaton, CO
I have a quote via PM. It's $161 for the positive setup. No verification of the 3/0 from passenger battery to the starter.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 283
Likes: 0
Looking at our truck I think the runs were less than 7 feet each so you can do the math, from what I remember its way cheaper to make them yourself over buying them from ford, napa, etc. If you don't want to make them you can ask them to do it for a small fee and you will get what you want in the mail.
http://shop.genuinedealz.com/
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Good old Oswego.
You can make one yourself any way you want. That's what I did. Go to NAPA and look through their catalog at all the different battery terminals they can get. I chose to go with solder on ones. I only used 2/0 everywhere. Maybe I should have stepped up to 3/0 but ohh well.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,477
Likes: 21
From: Taylorsville, NC
You can make one yourself any way you want. That's what I did. Go to NAPA and look through their catalog at all the different battery terminals they can get. I chose to go with solder on ones. I only used 2/0 everywhere. Maybe I should have stepped up to 3/0 but ohh well.
