Automotive Jumper Cables for Quick Large Gauge Wire

Am I the only one who does this, or just part of a small minority? For years, when experiment with battery hookup and cables for inverters, I have found it easier (and cheaper in some cases), and a lot faster, to just drive down to Walmart and buy some 4 or 6 gauge jumper cables and butcher them up just for the wire. In a couple of cases, I just cut them in half and inserted the stripped ends into an inverter... then used the clamps to attach them to one of the various AGM car batteries that I had for backup power.

This is all done inside, or outside at minimal exposure. Maybe not ideal, but works pretty well, and you can always find these things at local automotive stores and places like Walmart.

Maybe worth noting that these are most often copper clad aluminium (CCA). Conductivity is only about 50-60% of real copper cable and you would need to select 2 gauge instead of 4 gauge copper.

MattiFin said:

Maybe worth noting that these are most often copper clad aluminium (CCA). Conductivity is only about 50-60% of real copper cable and you would need to select 2 gauge instead of 4 gauge copper.

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Yes. Good point. And I've only used the ones who claim copper wire and I've cut and scraped them as much as I could to prove it to myself. I still remember the 70s and all the problems that aluminum wiring did to our houses back then.

I have done the same. If I am going inside conduit I use THHN because the insulation on jumper cables is not rated for in conduit use and it is too thick and harder to pull.

I might use my jump cables to cobble something together temporarily. No I am not going to strip the clamps off and put lugs on the wire.

Keep your eyes open for a battery outlet or electronics store that sells real wire.

Invest in good marine grade copper tinned cables. and lugs.. well worth the investment!

MattiFin said:

Maybe worth noting that these are most often copper clad aluminium (CCA). Conductivity is only about 50-60% of real copper cable and you would need to select 2 gauge instead of 4 gauge copper.

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2 gauge, performax booster cables, SKU: 260-9542 at Mendard's appear to be copper clad aluminum.

Not jumper cables but I have used old car audio amplifier power wires in a pinch.

Touch racing said:

Not jumper cables but I have used old car audio amplifier power wires in a pinch.

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Welcome to the party Touch racing.

I put a graphic equalizer in my 57 Chevy and used 16awg primary wire. Worked great. Your old wires must be bigger than my old wires.

BIGFOOT said:

Invest in good marine grade copper tinned cables. and lugs.. well worth the investment!

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I wish I could up-vote this twice.

I have not seen jumper cables in any walmart or other automotive store that were pure copper. They are all CCA.