Battery line going from house to engine batteries

ghickey

ghickey

Member
Jun 12, 2019
73
8
8
I am in the process of rewiring pretty much all the internal wiring
(mostly 12v, but probably will end up doing some of the 110v also). In
the process I need to replace the line that runs from the house
batteries up to the engine compartment. What is there is corroded and
most of the insulation in the engine compartment is breaking off. West
Marine has wire up to 6 AWG, but it seems that the wire that is there is
a larger gauge. I checked O'Reilly's and they can order at least 000
gauge. I would rather have a marine cable that will hold up to the
elements better, but I am not certain what gauge is there or should be
installed.

Does anyone have any idea what would be the appropriate gauge to install?

Thanks.

--
Gerard Hickey / WTØF IRLP:3067/Echolink:529661
hickey DMR: 3102272
425-395-4554
 
Go to your local welding supply store and get some 000 welding cable. It
will be much cheaper and has a high amp caring capacity.

J.R. Wright
GMC Great Laker
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMC Eastern States
GMCMHI
TZE Zone Restorations
78 Buskirk Custom 29.5' Stretch
75 Avion (Under going Frame up Restoration)

On Tue, Feb 25, 2020 at 9:03 PM Gerard Hickey via Gmclist <

> I am in the process of rewiring pretty much all the internal wiring
> (mostly 12v, but probably will end up doing some of the 110v also). In
> the process I need to replace the line that runs from the house
> batteries up to the engine compartment. What is there is corroded and
> most of the insulation in the engine compartment is breaking off. West
> Marine has wire up to 6 AWG, but it seems that the wire that is there is
> a larger gauge. I checked O'Reilly's and they can order at least 000
> gauge. I would rather have a marine cable that will hold up to the
> elements better, but I am not certain what gauge is there or should be
> installed.
>
> Does anyone have any idea what would be the appropriate gauge to install?
>
> Thanks.
>
> --
> Gerard Hickey / WTØF IRLP:3067/Echolink:529661
> hickey DMR: 3102272
> 425-395-4554
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Gerard,

The original wire there was SAE #1, that is actually about 90% of #1 AWG. If you upsize that cable, more than that it really will not get you a lot
as the other conductor is still the coach frame. Nothing wrong with going larger except the cost. Remember that welding cable is fine stranded and
easier to bend, but it is more difficult to terminate effectively and the neoprene jacket is not very abrasion resistant.

You can also shop the marine wire suppliers online. (Almost anybody can beat Waste Marine) Those cables are also fine stranded and should be tinned
for corrosion protection.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
For those that are interested, I think we will be selling 35' pieces of stranded cable at the GMCMI spring Rally in Patterson. Can't remember what
gauge it is. Maybe someone here knows. Selling it at $1.00/ft. We have several large spools of it that we have been carrying around for too many
years and just trying to lighten the load. See you there!
--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
 
Please see if you can find out what gauge and color it is.

Ken B.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
> Please see if you can find out what gauge and color it is.
>
> Ken B.

Ken,

Mine is red, but my 73 still has the house bank in the front.

The later coaches I have worked on do have a Red #1 going to the back. This agrees with the published schematics.

I annoys my no end that SAE has their own undersize wire specs.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
I am pretty sure it is a #1 cable -- at least the sizing is about right.
I did not know that SAE had their own gauge standard, but I will go with
1 AWG since that is what everyone is selling. Pretty sure the color was
red also, but the majority of the insulation has cracked and chipped off
inside the interduct.

--
Gerard Hickey / WTØF IRLP:3067/Echolink:529661
hickey DMR: 3102272
425-395-4554

> Please see if you can find out what gauge and color it is.
>
> Ken B.
 
Mine is red too. I was asking Larry what size and color the pieces of cable he is bringing to Patterson were.

My electrons do not like black cables.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
> Mine is red too. I was asking Larry what size and color the pieces of cable he is bringing to Patterson were.
>
> My electrons do not like black cables.

Ken,
I have a note out to a couple of people that are on the set-up team in hopes that they know gauge. No response yet. I do know that the wire is Black
and stranded. It was used many years ago when Ralph was in charge and they used it to electrify tents and other places that did not have adequate
power for the GMCMI rally. I'll post more info as I get it.
--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
 
OK Larry, that is going to be multi-conductor 10, 12, or 14 gauge cable used for 120 or 240 volt AC connections. It will not be heavy single
conductor cable usable for batteries etc. in a GMC.

I was just joking on my previous comment about red cable.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
Ken, teach them to alternate and they'll like black cable.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
 
> Ken, teach them to alternate and they'll like black cable.
>
> --johnny

Alternate between what?
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
plus and minus, which uses a black source or positive
Red positive if it's 240, white commons, green safety or earth ground

--johnny

--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
 
If it is split 240, one 120 hot is black, the 120 hot is red. White is always common in AC wiring. Green is safety ground. There are rules that an appropriate electrician can tell you the FEW places where white is tied to green.

D C "Mac" Macdonald​
Amateur Radio K2GKK​
Since 30 November '53​
USAF and FAA, Retired​
Member GMCMI & Classics​
Oklahoma City, OK​
"The Money Pit"​
TZE166V101966​
'76 ex-Palm Beach​
k2gkk + hotmail dot com
________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Johnny Bridges via Gmclist
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2020 16:07
To: gmclist
Cc: Johnny Bridges
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Battery line going from house to engine batteries

plus and minus, which uses a black source or positive
Red positive if it's 240, white commons, green safety or earth ground

--johnny

--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
> plus and minus, which uses a black source or positive
> Red positive if it's 240, white commons, green safety or earth ground
>
>
>
> --johnny

Wow, you are really going to confuse my electrons with your suggestions. Some of them just might jump ship and get lost while looking for the correct
color. It is like you going to the parking lot in the local mall and looking for your white car in the lot, but ending up driving home in a green one
instead.

TIC
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
For real, could we measure the total cross section of the wires when they're parallelled? For a wire bolt and insulation that wire might work quite
well and it should be somewhat scuff resistant. There's probably a stubby connector at Advance or on eBay with the clamp on
I bet Advance has a crimper they'll lend as well.

Mine is shot, replacement is in order.

--johnny

--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
 
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