VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Electrical - 6 volt 6 Volt battery cable gauge

I want to replace one of the battery cables on my 1941. My local Checker does not carry a 6v cable per se, but tells me a 4 ga is for a 12v battery; and 2 ga is for 6v batteries. Are they correct?

For six volts use at least a 00 gauge cable. On my car the positive cable is 0000.

:) :grin:

JYD is right on the money!
I haven't found any cables suitable for a six volt Chevrolet at any chain auto store. I buy some at Tractor Supply Company, they aren't original, but functional. The new ones for my 28 were made by an Arlington TX. alternator starter shop owned by one of the VCCA BOD member's son. It helps to know a lot of VCCA guys.
If you have solder and a propane torch order out some heavy duty terminal ends, and buy the heavy cable you need from a welding supply shop, make them your self.

I tried Tractor Supply website and the lowest they have is 1 gauge. I have tried Google a couple of times and cannot seem to find 00 or 0000 gauge.

I note in Filling Station catalog they have battery cable (FS-696) but no gauge indicated. I'll call them in the morning.

Any other ideas where I can get ones already fabricated?

Thanks

try a heavy equipment dealer. some can custom make them

Getting 00 or 0000 cable should not be a problem. I got my 0000 cable made up at a local starter shop. Since they also worked an semi-trucks and etc. they not only had the cable available by the foot but they also had the end connectors as well. I took my old cable in so that they could match the correct length.

Another place that stocks the large cable by the foot is a welding supply house.

By the way, I believe that the 6 volt cable the Filling Station carries is smaller in diameter than an 00 cable.

:) :grin:

I have used the 2 ga. cables from Tractor Supply Company without problems. Just make sure that there is no corrosion in any of the connections or ground circuit (block, clutch housing, transmission etc.).

Thanks Chipper.

I was beginning to think I was missing something here. If the proper gauges are 00 and 0000 (which I have no doubt are the best solution based on previous posts), and there are tens of thousands of older cars with 6v systems, with x number needing new battery cables each day; then why aren't the ones being sold the proper gauges? Why would a Filling Station not be selling them? Or to put it another way, why isn't anyone marketing a proper-gauge 6v battery cable to people like us?

It just seems that given the demand, why would one have to go to a welding shop to have one fabricated? There must be proper ones on the market. What am I missing here?

Getting 6 volt battery cables by the foot from 0/0 to 4/0 is not a problem. Go here:

http://www.wiringproducts.com/index1.html

Click on "Battery Cable" in the menu at the bottom of the page.

For 2/0 battery cables J.C. Whitney has them. Go here:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/tf-Browse/s-10101/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2006074/p-2006074/N-111+10201+600000921/c-10101/reviewflag-1#review

Also, that are many other places on the Internet where you can get heavy duty battery cables as well.

:) :grin:

Dog:

As I stated when starting this thread, Checker has 2-gauge.

I checked the Wiring Products website you gave me, and they have black 6 gauge and red 4 gauge. I could not find anything thicker.

Whitney has a 2-gauge and a 2/0-gauge which they claim has twice the conductivity of 2-gauge. Is the 2/0-gauge the same cat with a different name and is actually the same as 00 or 0000 gauge mentioned earlier in this thread? If not, does it work as well?

You are getting yourself confused regarding 2 gauge and 2/0 gauge. 2 gauge is different than 2/0 gauge. 2/0 gauge is the same as "00" gauge. Your Checker has 2 gauge not 2/0 (00) gauge. J.C. Whitney has 2/0 gauge and on the link above, if you click on the drop down menu, they not only show that they have the standard gauge cables, but they also have 1/0 (0), 2/0 (00), 3/0 (000) and 4/0 (0000) cables both in black and red.

:) :grin:

By God, I think I've got it! (to misquote Prof Henry Higgens). So, it works somewhat like buckshot. The 4/0 actually means 4 0's. It seems so simple once explained. Your earlier post stated that you use the 0000 (4/0) for positive so I'll go for that.

I just knew someone must carry it and I'd not have to order 5' of cable and have to have someone fabricate it.

Thanks for all your help and patience.

That's a heck of a deal!

Anyway, glad to help out and good luck!


:) :grin:

J.C. Whitney sounds like the battery cable deal to me, the price seems to be right. I have ordered a lot of stuff from them thru the years and have not been disppointed. You hear remarks about their after market stuff not being good quality, then again, I may not be so particular about stuff.

I couldn't find the 4/0 ones on-line, but ordered two 2/0's. The price seemed to be in line with Filling Station, etc.

Back in the late 50's I used to order parts for my Model A Ford from Whitney and was always satisified. We stopped by their store in Il this Summer, but were disappointed. Not much there. We wanted to look at some seats but they did not have any in stock. Most of what is in their catalog they have dropped shipped directly from the supplier.

It is a beautiful morning in AZ, so a little ride around town to go get a Starbucks in a 41' seems in order.

Again, thanks for the help.

Dr. David,

A wee bit off the cables subject; but I'm curious about something. Fountain Hills and Oly, WA. Do you have the 41 shipped back-and-forth, or do YOU trailer it back-and-forth??

Or better yet, do you have a different one for EACH location??

Anyway, have fun cruising for coffee and cables and whatever else in a nice old car in the good weather....

:vcca:

Bill.

We are rainbirds with a 40' motorhome that we drive back and forth between Wa and Az. We tow our cars behind in an enclosed trailer.

The 2/0 gauge and 00 gauge are the same. Same with 4/0 and 0000. Once you have wires that have large enough diameter the resistance will be low enough that you will get the full 6.6 volts to the starter and ignition system. It will start with proper starter speed. If the starter does not spin fast enough then check for warm spots in the wiring and expecially the terminal ends. That indicates a high resistance that turns the electic power to heat and not useful work.

The 4/0 cables are all over on the Internet. The link that I supplied above has them in various lengths. For example, the black cable is shown on their web site as follows:

"4/0 Gauge (W-BCB-4/0)$45.31

:) :grin:

I didn't see anyone mention it, but you should keep the cable as short as possible to reach where you need to reach taking into consideration engine roll. No longer than necessary.

Seeing as how you are driving a 40 ft motor home I would have to think it probably has some heavy battery cables of its own.Now I'm not suggesting you remove and use them but perhaps your motor home dealer has them or can fabricate some.Also most heavy truck dealers( the ones associated with the "other" dog) should be able to fabricate per sample.Being a west coaster perhaps you may find other brands more prevalent but any heavy truck dealer(Peterbilt-Kenworth-Volvo-IH-Sterling-WesternStar-Freightliner etc) should be able to help you out.

I had a local battery/autopmotive electrical shop build one for me. Cost was $17 bucks, which compares with our reproduction suppliers less shipping. I had them use 01 guage which has been entirely satisfactory.

The price sounds fine but I think the 2/0 would be my preference.The 6 volt system will turn slower than a 12 volt as it has less ability(or push) to get the current to the starter.The bigger the cable(more o's) the greater the amount of current flow and the better the starter likes it.Restricting the current flow could cause premature failure of the starter.Perhaps one of the tech advisers knows the specs on the amps required and the capacity of the 2ga cable.

Ooops!! Meant 1ga.

Using your suggestions I bought two cables (2/00) from JC Whitney. I bought the lengths that would just fit. While I didn't have any problem with starting prior to the new cables, I cannot believe how much faster and quicker the starter now works. The starter engages instantly when I press the pedal. It used to have a slight lag.

Thanks to all of you for all your help.

PS While my motorhome has 6v deep cell batteries, they are connected in twos with 12v cables as they power 12v bulbs, etc. when the land-line is not hooked up.