battery cable--what guage?

w.michael

w.michael

Senior Member
I need a new cable from the battery to the starter, 6 volt. I don't understand the numbering system for the wire guage for these cables.

1. Is this the correct order, for the largest to the smallest?
#1
0
00
000
etc.

2. Is 2/0 the same as 00 ?

3. Snyder's has the cable, 2/0. Material not specified. Bratton's has
the cable, #1 copper. Is #1 larger than 2/0? Is larger cable better?
Is copper better? Which one do I want?

Thanks for your help.

W, Michael
 
Wire size chart
 

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I believe that #1 is the original size. I've kinda subscribed to the 'bigger the better' theory. I prefer #0 or #00. If your friendly local Tractor supply store doesn't have any, then, the welding store will.
 
The smaller the number, the larger the wire. 00 is larger than 0; 000 being larger than 00, etc. 1/0 = 0; 2/0 = 00; 3/0 = 000; etc

Have I confused you enough yet?
 
Well, no wonder I'm confused. 000 steel wool is finer than 0 steel wool, but 000 wire is courser than 0 wire. Thanks for your help--although I may remain confused!
 
It's just matter of electrical flow and resistance. You will be fine with a cable size from #1 thru 00 (2/0). You want copper stranded wire. You can check with Snyder's, but I'll bet both vendors are selling copper stranded wire battery cables. Up to a point - bigger is better, but after 00 there would not be much improvement. Bill
 
yea with battery cables and ground straps: bigger is better and can never have enough grounds. Yes there is a point where the improvement is negligible but it would in theory be better.

I agree with bill. at work we have 4/0 weld cable, its like lugging around a 3/4" garden hose filled with concrete... 2/0 would be perfectly fine for battery cable. especially since it only has to travel the less than 3 feet.
 
If you want to be even more confused, the current flows on the outside of the wire, the more strands the more amp the cable can handle. Or so I have been told.
 
I would just buy the battery cable already made from one of the Model A parts dealers. They fit, look, and work fine.
 
If you look to buy a ready made cable from a parts store take a magnet with you, some of the ready made cables have steel terminals ---they get bad internal connections quick.
 
For my 1930 coupe with 6 vDC system, I use "1/0 Battery Cable" (stranded copper) and copper lugs, both recently purchased from Napa Auto Parts.

Battery Cable & Lugs.jpg
 
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I read somewhere to think of current flowing through a cable like blowing air through a pipe. Blowing air through a 4in. pipe with your mouth is not as effective as blowing the same amount of air through a 1in. pipe. Or was it water through a pipe? I guess it's the same principal.
 
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