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johnmaci View Drop Down
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Posts: 202 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Battery cables too short
    Posted: 01 May 2016 at 4:55pm
So I replaced my battery box and now the battery cables don't reach the battery terminals.
Why do the mfg's cut them so short??? The ground is even shorter than the positive.

Any suggestions on how to splice them to add an extra 24" or so?
The red cable says AWG 6 
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6327 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 May 2016 at 7:51pm
You would want to use at least the same gauge of wire to extend the wires. It seems strange that just replacing the battery box would leave the cables too short. Did you move the batteries in the process?

In any case, head to your local auto parts shop. Someone there should be able to advise you on the best way to extend your cables.
StephenH
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johnmaci View Drop Down
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Posts: 202 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 May 2016 at 8:54pm
Thanks.
I ended up getting a taller box, and now the cables don't reach.
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6327 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 May 2016 at 9:57pm
Okay. That explains why. I hope you find a solution that won't cost much.
StephenH
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 May 2016 at 7:12am

An easy fix would be to go to your favorite home store (like Lowe's, Home Depot) and pick up the needed lengths of wire and some ring terminals (crimp or solder)and replace the existing. While you could splice them, it adds "points of failure/problem" and, if nothing else, looks amateurish.

The positive should go to a circuit breaker near the batteries. The negative - just trace it back on your particular camper.
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Posts: 281 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 May 2016 at 7:47pm
Use the same gauge wire and butt splice with heat shrink butt connectors
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johnmaci View Drop Down
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Posts: 202 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 May 2016 at 6:49pm
Thank you!!!!
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Keith-N-Dar View Drop Down
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Posts: 1447 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 May 2016 at 6:56pm
Originally posted by sailor323

Use the same gauge wire and butt splice with heat shrink butt connectors


I am not a big fan of butt splices on anything mobile.  I recommend a soldered sleeve with heat shrink insulation if you must extend a wire.
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johnmaci View Drop Down
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Posts: 202 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 May 2016 at 8:14am
Originally posted by Keith-N-Dar

Originally posted by sailor323

Use the same gauge wire and butt splice with heat shrink butt connectors


I am not a big fan of butt splices on anything mobile.  I recommend a soldered sleeve with heat shrink insulation if you must extend a wire.

I agree, but my limiting factor is that I am using an outdoor storage facility and have no access to 120v to run an iron or heat gun :(
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TheBum View Drop Down
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Posts: 1407 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 May 2016 at 10:32am
Originally posted by johnmaci


Originally posted by Keith-N-Dar


Originally posted by sailor323

Use the same gauge wire and butt splice with heat shrink butt connectors

I am not a big fan of butt splices on anything mobile.  I recommend a soldered sleeve with heat shrink insulation if you must extend a wire.

I agree, but my limiting factor is that I am using an outdoor storage facility and have no access to 120v to run an iron or heat gun :(


A Bic lighter will work. Just be careful not to get the flame too close to the heat shrink tubing.
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