Car battery cable specifications.

[ajlelectronics]

I am doing a customer's Scimitar engine bay restoration and I can't find the old cables as a sample for the cross sectional area. I had an idea it was 25mm2 but an owner suggests 35mm2. This is an Essex engine and the longest run will be the battery positive to the starter motor of 1m in length.

What do you reckon? Ebay offers seem to be 16 or 25mm in the made up lengths I am looking for.

 

[Barking Mat]

I'd go 35mm2, nowt wrong going up a size.

 

[ajlelectronics]

I'd go 35mm2, nowt wrong going up a size.

Thanks Mat, my feeling too, it's just a matter of getting them made.

 

[badabec]

only 25mm, but any good?

Battery/Starter Cable

www.vehiclewiringproducts.co.uk

 

[MetalMonkey]

35mm is a fair size - its what i used when i went ridiculously overboard on the landrover with miles of cable and inverters and anderson plugs galore.
25mm should be absolutely fine, especially on such a short run - most modern cars have extremely thin cables.
Nothing wrong with going thicker, but it can be difficult to route and more expensive.

 

[Robotstar5]

I'd go 25mm, it's a short run that will only get loaded for a few seconds while the engine is being started.

 

[Trevorleach]

I would say 25mm sounds a bit limp size wise, 35mm is more like it.

 

[Keithmac]

I am doing a customer's Scimitar engine bay restoration and I can't find the old cables as a sample for the cross sectional area. I had an idea it was 25mm2 but an owner suggests 35mm2. This is an Essex engine and the longest run will be the battery positive to the starter motor of 1m in length.

What do you reckon? Ebay offers seem to be 16 or 25mm in the made up lengths I am looking for.

I had a 4 meter run of 4AWG (22m²) wire and that had no issues cranking my 3l V6 engine over. A 1 meter run should be fine imho.

 

[Jack_K]

25mm² sounds fine to me.

 

[RichardM]

If the owner thinks it was 35 put that in. It may be over kill but both parties will be happy.

 

[8ob]

I would go bigger, you can get away with less with reduction gear starters.

Bob

 

[jsf55]

3m long into the boot and turns over my 5.3LS and it's 25mm2 and it's never been an issue, earth is smaller at 16mm2 as it's a short run too the chassis

 

[Smallfry]

Most moderns have geared starters so need less current. I doubt the old Essex has this, so I would go for the 35mm2

I have just fitted some 70mm2 to my derelict Unimog, using welding cable and Newlec spade end fittings. These are normally crimped on, but I soldered them instead. Works a treat.

 

[badabec]

While you're in the engine bay, treat it to one of these

Starter Motors

www.wosperformance.co.uk