Skip to main content

How to Maintain Your Battery Cable Wire

Anyone who has ever owned a vehicle of any type knows that maintenance is one of the most important processes of a vehicle's life. Good vehicle ownership comes from adopting a philosophy of “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” What actions comprise maintenance, though, are very different depending on what part of your vehicle you’re looking to help upkeep. This article will give you some quick tips on how to upkeep your battery cable wire, while also telling you how to know when it’s time for some replacements.

1. Keep an Eye on Temperature and Moisture
As with most vehicle parts, keeping your vehicle out of the elements can make a big difference to the life and maintenance of your battery cable wire. Dry-docking or garaging your vehicle (of course, depending on whether it is a marine or land vehicle) can help ensure that your cables aren’t subject to moisture and temperature fluctuations any more than is necessary. While all parts of a vehicle are designed to be somewhat resilient, frequent temperature fluctuations and exposure to moisture can help degrade nearly any material. Specifically, the copper inside your battery cable wire could become damaged by expansion and contraction of the insulation due to temperature fluctuation. Additionally, moisture can corrode copper and cable leads, especially if that moisture also contains heavy salt content.

2. Be Careful With Flexibility
Any time you move your battery cable wire within the battery compartment, make sure that you are careful with how you position the wire. While many types of battery cable are quite flexible, cable that is more heavily insulated can be resistant to being bent. Never over-bend cable, and when you check on your cable, make sure it isn’t being forced into a position that is straining it. Cable being strained or flexed during or after maintenance of other parts of your vehicle can become damaged or degraded, contributing to a shorter life.

3. Know When It’s Time for a New Cable
There are a couple of surefire signs that you need to replace your cable. Always replace your cable as soon as possible if you notice any of these signs. Split or worn insulation is one of the most important signs to be able to recognize. If insulation is split, it poses dangers both to your electrical system and yourself while you do maintenance on the vehicle.

Another important sign to watch out for is rust, buildup, or residue around the leads of your battery wire. This could indicate degradation of your leads or the copper near the ends of your cables, or it could also indicate battery acid leakage that has damaged your wires. Make sure to avoid contact of buildup and residue with skin, as it could still be corrosive to the touch.

The last important sign to keep in mind is unnatural sounds from your wires. Crackling, popping, or crinkling noises are all signs that degradation has occurred within the wires.

If you have more questions or find yourself looking for new cables, come visit us at www.ewcswire.com! Our team of professionals can help you find what you need today.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Two Important Things You Need to Know About Marine Electrical Wire

Do you own a boat? Are you a member of a ship’s crew? Are you a ship’s mechanic or an electrician by trade? If you answer yes to any of these questions, you will at some point or other come across marine electrical wire in the course of your career. Something important you’ll need to keep in mind is that marine electrical cable and wire is not the same as standard building wire; nor is it the same as automotive battery wire. Here are the two big defining traits. Marine Electrical Wire Is Highly Flexible If there’s one thing you need to know about marine electrical wire (also sometimes called marine battery cable or marine battery wire) it’s that it’s highly flexible. This is accomplished by making these conductors out of very high strand counts of very thin conductors. Typically, marine battery wire conductors are made from pure, 100% copper and each conductor is very thin. Doing so makes the cable very flexible. Why is this necessary? Well, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Common Questions About Security and Alarm Cables, Answered

Not sure which type of security or alarm cable your facility or system needs? Hopefully, these answers to common questions can help! What cable is used for alarm systems? Security and alarm systems are usually wired with small-gauge wire specifically designed for the purpose. For instance, many security systems are wired with 12 and 18 AWG gauge alarm wire, as these low-voltage applications do not necessarily require larger, heavier wires. However, larger or wire gauges may be required depending on the circumstances. Also, there are some unique requirements for some systems. For instance, fire alarm cables must be made with specific insulation that is heat resistant and which does not produce toxic smoke when burned. What gauge cable do you need for alarm systems? Only your specific system requirements can answer that question, but often large wire gauges (that is, smaller wires) are used as security and alarm cables because of the low-voltage, low-current application. What is ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Things To Look Out For When Looking For Welding Cable For Sale

Are looking for a welding cable for sale online? If you are, then you must be aware of what they are designed for—not for an undemanding profession, that’s for sure. Welding cable is designed for electric arc-welding machines, it is a conductor that carries the power to fire up the metal rod so that a welding professional can get the work done. However, for a welding cable to properly perform what’s it supposed to do, it should meet the right standards for it to be strong enough to perform its job. Why Must a Welding Cable be Durable? This job is not for the weak and that’s not limited to the professional himself but the cable as well. It’s important to know that you’re getting nothing but the most durable and flexible welding cable there is. There’s a current passing through those wires after all. The last thing you need is for your welding cable to overheat, impeding a speedy welding process. You also don’t want your welding cable to ...
Post a Comment
Read more