[Willshire]

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

Good point, many go overkill on the starter cable when it's not needed, but keep in mind too that the battery charges over that wire, and depending on demand and wiring, you MIGHT need a larger one than 4.

IF you run the hot start 'fix' solenoid, and you use the post as a common junction for power, then you still don't need to upgrade the size of the actual battery or starter cable. (the starter circuit is isolated to the starter only)

IF you run the OE wiring, and the charge wire goes to the starter, and splits to the horn relay, AND you have non-OE accessories, like electric fan, pump, stereo, then I would suggest going up one or two sizes.

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Agreed. I think with intermittent loads (fan, cigarette lighter, etc.) pushing over the ampacity of the alternator is fine but keeping in mind that the alternator can only charge the battery at it's maximum output. If you have a 145 amp alternator and driving down the road at night with all your accessories on, if it pulls more than 145 amps total, the alternator cannot keep up and you will start to drain the battery, and lights dim etc. a #2AWG will carry all of the load a 145 amp alternator can throw at it. 145amp alternator at 13.5 volts is just under 2000 watts of available power at maximum output. Your headlights consume 10% of that. you will where out an alternator pretty fast if you pump out more than 80-85% of it's max output

[Nicks67GTO]

FWIW RobbMC told me #4 was unacceptable for pushing their starters and I was having an issue with my cables so I went to a supply store and had them make me 1 Ott cables both positive and negative. Overkill on wire size never hurt anything but your pocketbook.

[Bob Dillon]

Mad Electrical also makes custom battery cables, and he's pretty reasonable.

MADelectrical.com

[Willshire]

Originally Posted by Nicks67GTO

FWIW RobbMC told me #4 was unacceptable for pushing their starters and I was having an issue with my cables so I went to a supply store and had them make me 1 Ott cables both positive and negative. Overkill on wire size never hurt anything but your pocketbook.

The locked rotor current of the starter will be over 300% of the running current in most cases. It is the biggest load on the whole system, good thing it is only intermittent.