View Single Post
  #2  
Old 10-18-2015, 01:07 PM
gtofreek's Avatar
gtofreek gtofreek is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Tucson, Az.
Posts: 7,494
Default

I agree. There is no real need to have to use welding cable. Regular automotive cable will work just fine. I will probably use 2 gauge on my GTO, as I am not planning on putting the battery in the trunk. At least not for now anyway. When I had my battery in the trunk[8D tractor battery], I ran 1 gauge cable to the front for both positive, and negative. I built a super torque starter for it. One day, my distributor took a dump so I had to crank my car home with the starter, in first gear, shifting to 2'nd when it got rolling. Cranked it for over a mile to get home. Wore the brushes down on the starter, but the cable, the rest of the starter, and battery held up fine.



Quote:
Originally Posted by HWYSTR455 View Post
My question is still WHY use welding cable when SAE or ISO rated auto cables are available, and can be roughly the same cost?

http://www.champcable.com/product_pd...Comparison.pdf

" SAE and ISO committees develop standards for wire and cables used in trucks and automobiles. These standards are designed to ensure wire will perform safely and adequately in the harsh environments that vehicles are subjected to on a regular basis. The committee members have years of experience in engineering, design and development work for the automotive and commercial vehicle industries. Listed below are actual test result and pictures illustrating the type of catastrophic failures that can and will occur using the wrong type of wire, such as welding cable! "

Most of the welding cable I've seen doesn't have any markings on it, so you aren't sure what it's rated for, not to mention it's larger in diameter. Then there's also EMI to consider. Why don't OEs use welding cable?

All I can say is use what you want, I know what I feel safer using. Just because 'it works' doesn't mean it's the best choice. There's a spec for auto use, why not do some homework on it instead of taking other's word for it?

.

__________________
Paul Carter
Carter Cryogenics
www.cartercryo.com
520-409-7236
Koerner Racing Engines
You killed it, We build it!
520-294-5758

64 GTO, under re-construction, 412 CID, also under construction.
87 S-10 Pickup, 321,000 miles
99Monte Carlo, 293,000 miles
86 Bronco, 218,000 miles