12 replies to this topic

[AdamMk1]

I have around 30 meters of shark 0gauge OFC wire laying around. Iam wanting to run my brake/fuel lines and battery cable in car, would the wire be OK to use?

[dklawson]

I wasn't aware that in Europe you specified wire size by gage. I'm used to most Europeans referring to wire by the number of square millimeters.

If your 0 gage cable is the same as 0 AWG (U.S. sizing) it will be WAY bigger than what is on the car now. I doubt it will fit in the track/slot on the bottom of the floorpan.

I can't remember if the actual (factory) cable size is something between 35 mm^2 or 50mm^2. Regardless, with the main battery feed it is very important to have finely stranded cable that is suitable for flexing frequently. Welding cable is very similar to what is on the car.

[lorry]

If a cable is too large in diametere you will get voltage drop

[tadleysimon]

in the uk we do usually define cable size by sq millimeters lol

[lorry]

In car audio it is more commonly known in gauge form. The cable mention is shark cable which is an audio brand

[HARBER07]

God knows. Only use square mil at work though!. I used 35mm Tri-rated cable as a link between a cut-off switch, and according to my chart is rated to 167 amps.

[MRA]

If a cable is too large in diametere you will get voltage drop

Sorry pal but this is totally incorrect

If the CSA is small you will get voltage drop caused by resistance within the copper wire strands, as the current tends to heat the copper the resistance increases and therefore the cycle rapidly gets to a determining point ......... Thermal event time

Doug, you are totally correct we do not determine wire sizes by gage ??? we use gauge The Standard Wire Gauge (SWG)

And we invented it first..... that's why you guys had to call your's the AWG American Wire Gage

http://en.wikipedia....dard_wire_gauge

Edited by mra-minis.co.uk, 12 June 2010 - 10:03 PM.

[josh.evans]

you want to use either 10mm squared cable or a 16mm squared copper conductor. and as you are only using around 3m you shouldnt get hardly get any volt drop as the resistance will be about 0.01 ohms which is nothing

josh

Edited by josh.evans, 12 June 2010 - 10:10 PM.

[Carlzilla]

Cant see why not dude, the current that cable is designed to carry would be more than the standard battery cable, but it wont hold out as well if routed in the same place as the old, as the insulation isnt as good imo. but routed inside the car, and using grommets anywhere it passes through bodywork, it should be fine

[dklawson]

Martin... give me a break for leaving the "u" out.

I have to switch back and forth between AWG and mm^2 depending on where our clients are.

If wire gauges aren't confusing enough, there are at least a half-dozen sheet metal gauge standards to deal with.

[Wil_h]

you want to use either 10mm squared cable or a 16mm squared copper conductor. and as you are only using around 3m you shouldnt get hardly get any volt drop as the resistance will be about 0.01 ohms which is nothing

josh

This is true, but as soon as you try and put 250 Amp through it you will definately see some voltage drop

[MRA]

Martin... give me a break for leaving the "u" out.

I have to switch back and forth between AWG and mm^2 depending on where our clients are.

If wire gauges aren't confusing enough, there are at least a half-dozen sheet metal gauge standards to deal with.

Sorry Doug, I wasn't really having a go

[dklawson]

No problem Martin... it's all tongue in cheek!