Need to run new battery wires, what size?

[sirsaechao]

I have a 02 Tacoma and if anyone knows, they are reverse terminal setup so if I go to town to get a replacement battery like a Optima, they are 34/78 when I need 34R (aka reverse post). I have been using 2 battery side terminal adapters on the top posts to extend it for a year now and I have enough time to run new battery cables. What size is ideal? 4 gauge? 2? 1/0? and why? Also will a couple of these JL Audio battery terminal be good JL Audio XB-BTU (xbbtu) - Battery Terminals - Sonic Electronix or is it over kill? If so I am open for battery connector terminal suggestions as well. Thanks.

[sqshoestring]

IMO get the terminals that work best for you/your install. Try to look them up on a forum or reviews to make sure they are not junk, or that brand anyway. The wire is according to the power you think you will ever run in the vehicle. 4ga is good for 1Kw for example. Go to bcae1.com to #16 wire page and there is a chart for amp wattage, its the easiest way to figure. High side amps rarely take full power excepting maybe midbass. Add your power up for class D and class AB and use that size. I put a 5ga to run my 700rms, have a 4ga to add if I need more. Using class D on subs saves you a fair amount of power as you can see.

I have one of those huge crimpers, so I put a connector on my wire and have clamp posts in this car...though this amp kit may have come with one on it.

[sirsaechao]

Yeah Im running a JL Slash 1000/1 and 300/4. Just wondering what size battery cable to run as the ones. I need to extend my battery cables so I want to run all new ones. Any suggestions on what kinda wire I should run? All copper? CCA?

[Dryseals]

Originally Posted by sirsaechao

I have a 02 Tacoma and if anyone knows, they are reverse terminal setup so if I go to town to get a replacement battery like a Optima, they are 34/78 when I need 34R (aka reverse post). I have been using 2 battery side terminal adapters on the top posts to extend it for a year now and I have enough time to run new battery cables. What size is ideal? 4 gauge? 2? 1/0? and why? Also will a couple of these JL Audio battery terminal be good JL Audio XB-BTU (xbbtu) - Battery Terminals - Sonic Electronix or is it over kill? If so I am open for battery connector terminal suggestions as well. Thanks.

Are these the cables for the starter and the rest of the vehicel? If so, then most OEM cables have a fusible link, to keep the vehicle from frying in the case of a huge short. Also protects the battery.

[sirsaechao]

Originally Posted by Dryseals

Are these the cables for the starter and the rest of the vehicel? If so, then most OEM cables have a fusible link, to keep the vehicle from frying in the case of a huge short. Also protects the battery.

Yes...step away from the audio part of things. For example, I want to lengthen the stock battery cables positive and negative so I can run any battery off the shelf vs ordering. Because they don't stock deep cycle in reverse terminals and the stock cables are to short for the in stock batteries.

[tanakasan]

Originally Posted by sirsaechao

and the stock cables are to short for the in stock batteries.

Pep Boys/Kragen etc. universal replacement cables come in different lengths?

Robert

[sqshoestring]

If for the car itself I'd try for the size above what they use, if you only add a foot or two odds are you could use the same size. I know autozone/etc have generic cables that are 4ga or so in various lengths, napa had them too.

[fatphatboy88]

If I was you I would run 2 gauge for battery cables.

[Dryseals]

Originally Posted by sirsaechao

Yes...step away from the audio part of things. For example, I want to lengthen the stock battery cables positive and negative so I can run any battery off the shelf vs ordering. Because they don't stock deep cycle in reverse terminals and the stock cables are to short for the in stock batteries.

If all I wanted to do was add length, then I would do a splice and retain the fusible link. A heavy duty butt splice will work fine if crimped with the proper tool. Then use a MIL-DTL-23053 spec heat shrink to cover it.

Any decent full time battery store will have the right tools for the crimp and will probably have the heat shrink also.