So what do you need to consider when choosing a set of jumper cables.
Jumper cable gauge wire size.
Best jumper cable size gauge the thing with wire size is this.
Not all jumper cables are created equal.
Cheaper jumper cables usually have 10.
Given the information we already have a 1 gauge jumper cable is a pretty heavy duty while a 12 is considerably lighter.
An all round reliable and robust car jumper cables suitable for 12 24 volt batteries.
Most jumper cables on the market measure 10 feet.
The gauge refers to the thickness of the wiring in the jumper cables.
Seeing a nice thick pair or jumper cables at the store marked heavy duty can be deceiving what you really need to look at is the gauge of the cables themselves.
Thicker wire carries more power allowing you to jump start larger batteries.
So a typical range of jumper cables will run from a 1 gauge to a 12 gauge wire.
Larger vehicles need cables designated as 2 or 4 gauge.
The n gauge wire diameter d n in millimeters mm is equal to 0 127mm times 92 raised to the power of 36 minus gauge.
The n gauge wire diameter d n in inches in is equal to 0 005in times 92 raised to the power of 36 minus gauge number n divided by 39.
They are suitable for use in very cold conditions and have ergonomic twice grip clamps for excellent conductivity and tension.
In this article we will show you some key factors to consider before buying a set of jumper cables.
In other words a typical car starter requires a lot.
This allows you to connect the two batteries together without stretching.
This is ideal for saloon cars but if you have a larger car look at the 20 to 25 foot jumper cables.
American wire gauge size calculator and chart.
According to popular mechanics you should look for a set of jumper cables that are between gauge sizes four and six you also want to look for jumper cables that are about 20 feet long just in case you can t park your car close enough to another vehicle.
They come in different gauge sizes which can make knowing which size to purchase difficult.
The smaller the wire diameter the less power it can handle.
When starting a car engine it is amazing how much power gets sucked from the battery.
A higher number gauge is not better.
The following maximum amps versus cable size awg come from the nec version 2011.
The larger the wire diameter the more power it can handle.
Actually for my current installation i ve sized all of my dc cables to meet the 175 amp worst case scenario.
The 4 gauge cables are well insulated and don t tangle.
Cartman booster cable 4 gauge x 20ft in carry bag 4awg x 20ft ul listed.
An average set of jumper cables should have wire that is 6 or 8 gauge.
A low number means thicker wire.
Cable size ampacity chart.
So all interconnecting cables are 2 0 based on the chart below.
D n in 0 005 in 92 36 n 39.