Stock Battery Cable Sizes?

[slipstream808]

I'm trying to find the sizes on all of the stock battery cables.

The two negatives, the four white positives (that merge into two ring terminals), and I'm guessing the one large positive that goes right to the alternator.

Reason being with the battery going to the trunk I need to run a distribution block or two for the stock wires and the accessory wires. My new long battery cables say 2 gauge but that is all i know right now (it is written on them). Most threads I've serached are about running new wire and I'm tired of looking at threads after 2 hours.

My guesses are the negatives are 4 gauge. The four white are 8 gauge, and the one big positive is a 4 gauge.

Thanks guys!!!

 

[frankenstein406]

are stock thicker gauge strands? you going with equal strad size or just gauge?

 

[slipstream808]

I'm not worried about the strand at all right now. I'm worried about gauge so I can hook up some distribution blocks as best as possible.

 

[knochgoon24]

Your guesses sound about right.

You might want to replace your ground wires while you're messing with them. Two of my grounds were about to fall apart. I just replaced all of them with some nice 4 gauge stuff I got when Circuit City went out of business.

 

[slipstream808]

Yeah the grounding cables are fraying through pretty good but I'm not too worried about that right now. At least my guesses are good!

 

[draculia]

The wires going to the Alt are 5mm^2, and there are two of them. They come off the 100 amp fusible link. The 4 white wires going into the fuse box are also 5 mm^2, and the one big positive cable goes to the starter and is 20 mm^2.

The AWG equivalent to the 5mm^2 ones is roughly 10awg, which is 5.26 mm^2.
The 20 mm^2 equivalent is 4 awg, which is 21.1 mm^2.

Considering that you have 2awg wire already, I would run that back to the battery. Pick up a single post buss bar and use it as a distribution block. Just connect the 2 awg wire to it, as well as the starter and 4 fusebox wires. You can strip the 4 fusebox wire, twist them together and fit them in a 2 awg terminal lug. Be sure to heatshrink everything.

For the grounds use at least two, and make sure they're 2 awg. Connect the engine block ground to the chassis, you could use on of the boltholes from the battery tray. Also run one from the battery to the chassis. Depending where you mount it in the trunk, there are two good location. If you mount it in the spare tire well, or anywhere in the back half of the trunk, there is a bolt on both sides of the floor. Its an m8 bolt with a 12mm bolt head. If you mount it in the front half of the trunk you can use one of the seat bolts. Make the grounds as short as possible.

Again, heatshrink everything, and solder everything. A good source for materials is GenuineDealz.com - Marine Electrical, Boat Wire & Cable, Custom Battery Cables I prefer tinned cables myself, which is why I use them for a lot of stuff. They have free shipping, and pretty good prices too.

I'm starting a battery reloacation and fusebox relocation/rewire as well, so feel free to ask me anything.

 

[slipstream808]

Thanks for the info. Now I can start looking at some distibutor blocks to use!

 

[draculia]

Here are some sites to get you started:

Keefe performance - Delphi, Deutsch, tyco relays, electrical terminals, connectors, Packard, PED
Del City - Wiring Products and Professional Electrical Supplies
Wire Terminals, Automotive Wire, Battery Terminals & Electrical Supplies
Welcome to Waytek Wire
Genuinedealz
Sherco Auto Supply

 

[slipstream808]

Well I'm not new to this stuff but I appreciate the links a lot. Good buying there. Thanks!