4/0 battery cables

SDMike · Dec 9, 2021

Neighbor gave me about 30ft. of 4/0 battery/welding cable. Shouldn't be any issues using it with crimp on ends to make battery cables for my tractors, right? Tractors are JD 4010D, JD 3010D, and an Oliver 77.
Thanks

Mike

RESLLS · Dec 9, 2021

I use solder on ends. 4/0 is huge. Should carry the voltage without any drop.

John T · Dec 9, 2021

With the proper crimping tool and correct size ends they should suffice quite well THOSE ARE HUGE CABLES. After crimping I have finish soldered/sealed the ends before and then used heat shrink and that should last like forever. Often 2/0 is a big enough old tractor battery cable (subject to engine and cranking amps) so 4/0 welding cable which has excellent flexibility coupled with tough insulation should do just fine...

Talk about jumper cables wooooooooo hooooooooooo

John T

John B. · Dec 9, 2021

Like John T said yes - Jumper Cables. Welding cables make the best jumper cables.

guido · Dec 9, 2021

SDMike,

Make up some jumper cables, and go jump start a locomotive. What voltage drop?
Crimp solder, shrink wrap......DONE!

I got some, and I think some 2/0 too..

Guido.

chvet73 · Dec 9, 2021

For my own edification, how do you guys solder cable that large? Certainly seems past my soldering iron capacity. My smallest torch would be the propane one. And that Im afraid would melt insulation. Would one of those butane be how? Which of course I dont have. But makes an excuse to buy one.

Hobo,NC · Dec 9, 2021

heat the lug fill with solder insert cable... I would crimp it and move on with life...

SVcummins · Dec 9, 2021

Heat it up fill the end with solder keep melting solder until its about 1/2 full shove if In and your done

old-9 · Dec 9, 2021

Depending on how long you make them, do not tape them together as to how heavy they will be. I have a couple 50 foot welding leads, weight adds up fast, but not much voltage drop. joe

Fritz Maurer · Dec 10, 2021

Good jumper cables only if you have the fortitude to buy decent alligator clips. 800 amp copper clips probably around $50/ pair. Even at that you can smoke them on a recalcitrant 24v vehicle. Put Auto Zone clips on 4/0 cables and you have nothing but an expensive door-stop.

wore out · Dec 10, 2021

(quoted from post at 13:14:22 12/09/21) Neighbor gave me about 30ft. of 4/0 battery/welding cable. Shouldn't be any issues using it with crimp on ends to make battery cables for my tractors, right? Tractors are JD 4010D, JD 3010D, and an Oliver 77.
Thanks

Mike

While "bigger is better", 4/0 is HUGE to work with and "thread" into battery boxes and connect!

Conductor diameter is 0.58"!

In perspective, if your John Deeres are still 24 Volt (IIRC) the original cables were #2, 0.326" copper diameter and work just fine if in good condition.

Even if "free" it almost seems a shame to "waste" all that extra copper/size/ampacity!

4/0 battery cables

SDMike

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RESLLS

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John T

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John B.

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guido

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chvet73

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Hobo,NC

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SVcummins

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old-9

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Fritz Maurer

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wore out

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