battery cable size

[colvic987]

I have a battery cable i need to change the terminals from bolt on to copper lug, so i can then bolt a terminal with a 8 or 10mm bolt to the battery then connect the cable to, so i can add some extra equipement directly to the battery. the cable is in use and is insitu on the boat, and unable to take off, and i dont want to have to buy loads of different lugs to fit just four of them, and be stuck with the others.

The question is i have measured the width of the battery cable and it is 10 mm wide using a vernier caliper tool, how do i convert this into the correct cable size so i can buy the copper lugs i require to give a snug fit for crimping.

 

[neale]

Is the 10mm measurement including the insulation? If you could measure just the conductor I reckon I could give you a pretty accurate answer. eg if the conductor is 7mm dia, it is probably 35mm2. If it is 8mmdia it is probably 50mm2. If the 10mm is not including the insulation you probably have 85mm2 cable

 

[VicS]

As Neale says measure the diameter of the core, rather than the overall diameter ( if thats what you have done)

calculate the cross-sectional area in mm², area = 3.142x(diam/2)², or refer to THIS TABLE which also gives the sizes in AWG

 

[tobble]

Silly question I hope, but does the cable have the size printed on it? Is so you can remove the guess work...

 

[colvic987]

The measurement is excluding the insulation, i have looked on the cables but cannot see any printed or stamped marks on the cable, as most of the cable is behind trunking to the main switch. but i will check next time i go down to the boat. thanks for your replies

 

[Rich_S]

I have a battery cable i need to change the terminals from bolt on to copper lug, so i can then bolt a terminal with a 8 or 10mm bolt to the battery then connect the cable to, so i can add some extra equipement directly to the battery. the cable is in use and is insitu on the boat, and unable to take off, and i dont want to have to buy loads of different lugs to fit just four of them, and be stuck with the others.

The question is i have measured the width of the battery cable and it is 10 mm wide using a vernier caliper tool, how do i convert this into the correct cable size so i can buy the copper lugs i require to give a snug fit for crimping.

Have you got enough slack to cut a bit off to take to the lug shop?

Rich