Battery Lead Sizes

[kevin the chicken]

I need to fit a cut off switch to my unimog so that I can stop the tachometer clock draining the battery as it is not used very often. To do this I need to buy some different leads. The ones fitted are pretty hefty ones and I intend to replace them with ones of the same thickness. How are they measured? is it by cross section size of the core, diameter, circumference or what?

Thanks

Kevin

[Guest alfaGTA]

FYI jump leads in aldi/tesco/wilkos etc etc are "heavy duty" and often cheaper than buying the equivalent wire by the metre so just lop the ends off.....

[agent_zed]

bmws have the battery in the boot so the starter cable is really long. might be worth a scrappy visit?

[fry61]

Battery in Florin is in the boot & I used 25mm csa double insulated " meter tails" -- being a mains electrician of old; that's what was " in stock"

[Dave R]

kevin

if you measure what you need length wise, and lug size, i can assist

 

i have the tool to put the lugs on, and possibly the cable

[cb750]

Kevin, cables are measured by number of strands in the core and their diameter, e.g: 196/0.4 gives approx 25 sq. mm. 25 mm cable has a continuous rating of 170 amp (according to my cable book)

Rob

 

[kevin the chicken]

Thanks guys, now I know what to look for I will measure them up. I was in my local agricultural factors the other day and noticed that they had a great big rack of them so I will try there first as I they are likely to be pretty meaty ones as it has a 5.7 litre engine and a big battery. Its more likely to be combine size than car!

[Guest 2b cruising]

Hi. You might find that the tachometer has its own feed direct from the battery. This is what is done on hgv's. If so a master swith won't turn it off. Would be a good idea to check this first. ie, trucks with master switches cannot by law turn off there tachometer.

[kevin the chicken]

Good point, I will check that before I do anything. If anything though that may make things easier if its so. Surprised its not air operated though, everything else is!

[fry61]

You're confusing tachometer with tachograph --the tachograph in HGV's can't be turned off because it needs to keep clock & printed disc running to log driver hours/rest periods.

[kevin the chicken]

Yes I mean tachograph