[HWYSTR455]

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?

.

[gtofreek]

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.

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

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?

.

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

My question is still WHY use welding cable when SAE or ISO rated auto cables are available, and can be roughly the same cost?

" 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? .

Racers have used Copper Welding Cable since the 1950s in their race cars.

Most automotive battery cables today are designed on the premise of "use the cheapest material that will pass the minimum specs to get the job done."

Copper prices have been high for years. The manufactures run durability tests to find the cheapest material and design that will pass the tests. (They ARE trying to make money on the cars they sell.)

Everything that you say is true but copper Welding cable is not inferior to OEM wire if used in a proper racing application. There are no cold temps, water ingestion, desert dust, or oily environments (if the engine is sealed up properly) to worry about.

Tom V.