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Choosing the Right Battery Cable Wire


Battery cable wire comes in a great variety of sizes and types for all kinds of different applications. Determining what type of cable is correct for your project is going to come down to the demands of the project. Battery cables are used to bring power to an engine of some kind, be it a marine engine, a power converter kit, or the engine of a car. As a result of the various applications for battery cables, there are a few major factors to keep in mind:

• Connector Types
• Thickness (Gauge)
• Length
• Insulation

Choosing a battery cable connector type that is incompatible with your battery’s terminal can be both irritating and dangerous. It’s therefore very important to inspect your battery’s terminals and see what types of connectors work with them. If you are replacing cables with a new set, this step can be as simple as choosing a cable with the same connector type as your old cables.

Once you’ve determined your connector type needs, you will want to think about the thickness, or gauge, of the cable that the project will require. Larger batteries require larger gauge battery cable wire in order to transfer the current. The stronger the electric current going through a cable, the thicker the cable needs to be. You will need the thickest cable when working with heavy equipment engines and marine engines, as well as for projects in which the current needs to be transferred over a greater length of cable.

The next consideration in choosing battery cable is to decide what length of cable you will need. For most projects, it is best to try and minimize length needs because the greater the length of the cable, the thicker it will need to be to safely transfer the battery’s electrical current. If you are planning on moving batteries, plan ahead and purchase thicker cable in anticipation of the distance requirements of such a project.

The final factor to consider is the type of insulation required for your cable’s final environment. If you are working on a marine project, it is very important to get marine grade wire. Cable that is not marine grade is very risky to use on a marine project, as most cables are not prepared to be consistently around water, especially corrosive salt water. For other purposes, consider checking the cable for SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) approval. The SAE is a massive group of professional engineers who publish vetted technical standards for all types of engines, both for use on the road and more. Cables that meet SAE standards can be quickly cross-referenced for approved use by checking the SAE’s official guidelines. It is also important to consider if there will be any oils, acids, or solvents in the area of the cable. Each of these environmental risks requires special considerations in regards to insulation type.

Once all four of these factors have been surveyed, you’re ready to choose the battery cable wire that is right for your needs. Interested in finding out more? Contact us at 800.262.1598 or sales@ewcswire.com!

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