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Topic: Chassis Battery wire size? (Read 837 times) previous topic - next topic

Chassis Battery wire size?

Does anyone know the wire size for the chassis (engine) batteries?  I'm guessing either 2/0 or 3/0 ?  I cannot find it stamped anywhere on the wires.  Called MOT and FOT and came up empty on this one.  They are both generally very helpful.
Fiddler
1959 Parris Island grad
40' 2001 U320 Build 5875
1999 Suburban K1500 toad
1986 Corvette Pacecar
ssoftail@comcast.net

Re: Chassis Battery wire size?

Reply #1 –
Smart educated folks use 4/0 cables for starters, some double up.

Re: Chassis Battery wire size?

Reply #2 –
On our 95 and 99 the battery cables are three ot. If you have the schematics for your rig, you'll see that the size is indicated there. If you don't have them they are readily available here.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Chassis Battery wire size?

Reply #3 –
 On our 2000 295 they were 3/0 and I changed it all to 4/0 in the battery bay. Do not know if it made any difference so far but had a pile of it from my Brother Geoff so used it. I also changed all the solar feed wire from #6 to #2, now that was not easy to bend.
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Chassis Battery wire size?

Reply #4 –
Quote
On our 2000 295 they were 3/0 and I changed it all to 4/0 in the battery bay.
Can't imagine it making any difference but it's a good upgrade in case you ever replace your inverter-charger with one that requires four ot. Had to do that when we installed a Magnum 2812.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Chassis Battery wire size?

Reply #5 –
 I was changing the whole set up to copper Bus Bars for the connection method and as the cables had to be changed and seperated from each battery it seemed the most logical thing to do at the time.
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Chassis Battery wire size?

Reply #6 –
I would suggest not buying new cable's.  Rent a cable tool crimper & replace the bad hardware and use your old cable unless for some reason it is a total loss.  Rebuilding is much easier than replacing.  The results may not look as nice but the end result is identical (and easier on your wallet.)  pc
S/W Houston 95" U320C SE/40' 
Build #4778  Cummins M11
Repairs & Covered RV Parking (BAO)
PPL is close..

Re: Chassis Battery wire size?

Reply #7 –
 PC, not sure who you were referencing too but my 4/0 cable was free and if someone has undersize ones then fixing the ends does not change an improper size cable. IMHO
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Chassis Battery wire size?

Reply #8 –
Quote from: John Haygarth –
I was changing the whole set up to copper Bus Bars for the connection method

John,
 
I would sure appreciate some pictures of how you accomplished that. I looked at your last few years of photos and did not see any, at least not with an obvious title/caption.
 
Thanks,
 
Trent
Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: Chassis Battery wire size?

Reply #9 –
Quote from: pocketchange –
I would suggest not buying new cable's.  Rent a cable tool crimper & replace the bad hardware.
I have a crimper and some lugs for 4/0 I believe. Anywhere near me I can help make cables up. Have the cutters also

Roland

1993 U280 4341
2010 Jeep Liberty
The Pied Pipers

Re: Chassis Battery wire size?

Reply #10 –
Trent, the first picture is with the wooden guard over connections ( would get a pretty hefty spark if something fell against those copper bars) and the next is with it removed (obvious). Looks a bit messy but hard to get all cables to lay neatly in so close an area.
I made my own insulators out of FG Resin and hardener and tapped them so the bars are held across 2 of them and the insul" are held to the plywood frame from the back to an offset hole therefore no chance of shorting from bars. Copper is 2.5" x .375"
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Chassis Battery wire size?

Reply #11 –
Just received a reply from James Triana, bless his heart, all the wires for the chassis batteries are 000.  Now I need to find 2 or 3 ends to replace the deteriorated ones.  NAPA does not carry them...Looks like this place has some reasonable prices....
 
http://www.pacergroup.net/ItemForm.aspx?Item=TAE3%2f0-38R-T&ReturnURL=/Categories.aspx?Id=Closed_End_3%2f0_Lugs&Category=a79373c5-1e33-467a-b423-999872aed4f9

Tried Home depot, etc;  but no luck finding a local place to rent a crimper; perhaps look online to buy a crimper that won't break the bank.  Anyone have any experience with hammer blow type crimpers like this one?

Forney 57637 Lug Crimping Tool - Join the Pricefalls family - Pricefalls.com
Fiddler
1959 Parris Island grad
40' 2001 U320 Build 5875
1999 Suburban K1500 toad
1986 Corvette Pacecar
ssoftail@comcast.net

Re: Chassis Battery wire size?

Reply #12 –
Fiddler,

For 3/0 wire ends you need to find your local industrial electrical supply company like Graybar.  Follow this link to see if you have one in your area  Graybar | Specializing In Supply Chain Management Services  Some locations will have rental crimpers or know where you can get one.

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Chassis Battery wire size?

Reply #13 –
Fiddler, I used a crisper similar to that for years while working on electric forklifts, lots of cables crimped.. I carry mine now and would not hesitate to use it.

Barry & Donna
2003 U320 PBBS 4020
Build #6165
Dodge RAM Crew Cab 3500 4x4
2001 Jeep Cherokee Limited
Skip # 102803 Motorcade # 17271
FMCA # 408218

Re: Chassis Battery wire size?

Reply #14 –
Fiddler,

I have used an Anchor 701010 heavy duty lug crimper with good results. I always use it in a vise rather than with a hammer. They are available at West Marine and Amazon.

Larry
Larry and Terry
Ex 2004 U270 36'

Re: Chassis Battery wire size?

Reply #15 –
Fiddler,

Pacer lugs are good. Ancor lugs are better. IMHO. I have used both.

Larry
Larry and Terry
Ex 2004 U270 36'

Re: Chassis Battery wire size?

Reply #16 –
@fiddler Solder slugs would be a lot cheaper than buying a crimper.

The proper way to solder battery terminals - YouTube

see ya
ken
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: Chassis Battery wire size?

Reply #17 –
John, Nice bus bars. I see a shunt on the back wall, Barry
 

Re: Chassis Battery wire size?

Reply #18 –
 yes that is for the solar set up, nuetral one again. It is hooked up to the Trimetic monitor.
 I have started looking into the battery shunt and Milli gauge set up but as we go away in a week or so to Coast of Africa (Canary Isles) and England will worry about that and install of Sterling charger later. Also getting the garden ready for winter close down as we do not have much time once back before our trip to Mexico for a few months after Xmas. Life is hectic!!
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.