Dan Ingram 1 Posted December 8, 2007 Wiring really isnt my strongest point and i'm going to move my battery to the boot. I wil be putting it in a box which seems the safest idea. What cable size should I use, am i best using 135amp ish or will it be ok with something smaller? Also do I just earth the battery in the boot or do I need to run the earth back to the engine. If I do earth it in the boot wheres best to earth it? All help greatly appreciated Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ants1974 0 Posted December 9, 2007 I used some outdoor 3 core stuff drom b&q, seems ok, hasnt got hot with all the cranking i've done to get it started Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ryan 99 Posted December 9, 2007 135amp is about as thin as I'd use. Ideally you'd use something thicker - in the 180-200amp range at least. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
engine killer 6 Posted December 10, 2007 I have done almost the same but I cannot remember what size of cable I am using. Regarding to the earthing, I run three wires one to the closest point (underneath passenger seat), one to engine and one to ECU in order to avoid any bad earthing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sandy 191 Posted December 10, 2007 Because of the distance, I use 180A. You feel the benefit if you have a large/high CR engine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
large 33 Posted December 10, 2007 I used some outdoor 3 core stuff drom b&q, seems ok, hasnt got hot with all the cranking i've done to get it started What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What size cable have you used, I would change that asap. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ashley peddle 3 Posted December 10, 2007 for the earth i just run one of the halfords pre-made connectors to the boot (they have a battery terminal on one end and a ring connector on the other) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alastairh 47 Posted December 10, 2007 If its going in the boot in a box, i would just run the earth down to one of the 17mm beam mount nuts As Sandy says, 180 sounds about right Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ants1974 0 Posted December 10, 2007 What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What size cable have you used, I would change that asap. Its rated at 260amp, its shielded and i used all the cores and the shield, my electrician mate says it will be fine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stu 18 Posted December 10, 2007 260amp A.C or D.C? the cyclic nature of A.C may well mean it can handle 260amps, but id say it'd struggle with that amount of D.C. Still, so long as its beefy enough it should be ok. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ryan 99 Posted December 10, 2007 Its rated at 260amp, its shielded and i used all the cores and the shield, my electrician mate says it will be fine. 200 amp cable is normally 25mm^2. I doubt a bit of AC power cable is going to be more than 6mm. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spiky 37 Posted December 10, 2007 i used 300 amp battery cable from www.vehiclewiringproducts.co.uk dont both with small crap stuff use a good size cable and forget about it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snillet 1 Posted December 12, 2007 I started with 35mm2 cable but that turned out to slim here in the cold north, so now i´m using 50mm2 cable, works just fine. Although i have something like 11:1 CR..., that should crave some more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M_R_205 5 1 Cars Posted December 12, 2007 i used 170 amp stuff from CBS (http://www.nfauto.co.uk/consumables.htm) i also ran an eartht o the engine bay as there was some odd feed back through the dash Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snillet 1 Posted December 13, 2007 i used 170 amp stuff from CBS (http://www.nfauto.co.uk/consumables.htm) i also ran an eartht o the engine bay as there was some odd feed back through the dash 25mm2....That is less then the first cable i tried.... and half of the one i´m using now, if you have cold starts a lot (about +/- 0 degrees C and down) that is not going to be good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
large 33 Posted December 13, 2007 Its rated at 260amp, its shielded and i used all the cores and the shield, my electrician mate says it will be fine. Whats ok then What size is it, 16mm square is good for 95A ac. A.C. and D.C are not the same. By the sounds ot it you may have s.w.a. cable this is not trirated(sp?). It will probably be ok, (please note the word probably)and if its not your car will catch fire but thats up to you i@m just trying to help you BEFOR that happens Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spiky 37 Posted December 13, 2007 i used Ref ......Cable size.. mm2 ....O.D......... Amps....... £/ metre 315 ......315/0.40 .....40 .......11.8mm .....300 ..........£3.86 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snillet 1 Posted December 14, 2007 i used Ref ......Cable size.. mm2 ....O.D......... Amps....... £/ metre 315 ......315/0.40 .....40 .......11.8mm .....300 ..........£3.86 I would say that is about the right stuff. There is tons of info about correct cable sizeing in the motorboat communities if anyone like to read up on it. In motorboats the batteries generally are located far from the engine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spiky 37 Posted December 14, 2007 i used 300 amp battery cable from www.vehiclewiringproducts.co.uk dont both with small crap stuff use a good size cable and forget about it thats where i got mine Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
