Trunk mounted batteries? What size cable, 4/0?

Bout to purchase all the battery cables and am looking at 4/0 cable, is that large enough, I'm running a red top optima and I think it's just a little over 8' to the starter from the trunk.

What do you guys use??

 

My 31 Sedan routed about 10 ft of cable and i used 1/0. In my expeience go as big as you can, depending on how much the starter is going to pull and how big the engine is you want that bigger cable to reduce the resistance.

 

+1, 1/0 or larger, make sure your ground is the same size & under 12"

 

Bigger is definitely better, and 4/0 shuold be okay for 8 feet. I used 2/0 for the rear of my '39 and it has been fine with an inexpensive battery.

 

We always use 2/0 welding cable. It is a lot more flexible than battery cable.

 

X2 on the 2/0 welding cable...very easy to run.

 

I buy 4-gauge in bulk along with cable ends and shrink wrap from the Last Of The Traveling Salesman that calls on my shop once a month !! I just like to fab my own cables so I can run them in the location I like. Seems like the pre-fabbed cables were always to short or a ton too long. Cars looking good too !!! >>>>.

 

I won't be running anything but the engine, lights, and a heater!!

I'll go check out the 2/0 cable at AirGas and see what they got.

Thanks fellas!!!!

 

3X on welding cable

 

thanks Jack!

 

I use high temperature, cross-link insulation 1-gauge cable. The cross-link insulation is important because[FONT=arial, helvetica] it can withstand higher temperatures for short periods of time (in case of emergency).is wont melt and flame up.
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4/0 is way huge for a hotrod! That is what we sell for use on the semi trucksthat use 4 batteries. Why would you want to use that size of cable?

 

I got some 1/0 at home depot, on the clearance shelf. starts my 350 from the trunk with a 400 cca battery. probably 10 feet.

are you talking 0000 or 4 gauge? regular battery cable is 6 and 8 from old detroit.
0000 is overkill.

 

I have 4/0 aluminum building cable on my 406 Galaxie, mainly because it and the hydraulic crimper were available free, and it's lighter than the copper. The ground goes directly to the frame under the trunk, same material. The cable from the solenoid to the starter is made from welding cable. The starter is a 302-2V unit from a junkyard engine with a big-block nose added. This combination spins my 14:1 427 very well, hot or cold, even with a little 22 series battery- you just have to get the juice to the starter. I see this on v-twin bikes all the time, folks keep buying different and more expensive starters and batteries, keeping the shoe-string cables, and still have starting problems. I doubled the size of the cables on my Indian, stock size starter and battery, no starting problems

 

I meant 4 gauge.... looks like the majority is saying 2 gauge?

 

I don't think so , I think they mean 00 as in double ought (double 00)....THat's what I have and it has worked in a number of street/drag cars over the years.

 

I always used the 2/0 welding cable also. A friend of mine that rebuilt starters for a living put me on to it.

 

x2.

 

Cable size is important, but more strands of wire should be the goal. My local welding shop has many types and sizes, and some can come with hundreds of strands. The more strands of wire the more surface area, less resistance and heat. As stated earlier more strands also makes the cable more flexible which helps in routing.

 

2/0...approx 10ft with a average battery and car cranks great plus runs compressers just fine...grounded body and frame both with 2/0 also.

 

I used 2/0 welding cable. Pos and Neg front to rear with separate grounds front and rear in my 80 Camaro with 2 trunk batteries and a BIG stereo system. Installed it back in 89 and NEVER had a single problen since