Best place for windlass cable

[Jonny_H]

We will be installing an anchor windlass in the coming few weeks. Happy with the installation etc, but the prices for power cables from chandleries is very scary!

Where did others source them from? I think we need about 10 metres each way (maybe 12 to be on the safe side) running a 1000W windlass on 12v. I have heard welding cable can be used, anyone done this, how does this stand up to the marine environment?

Finally .... how do people crimp the terminals onto the cable? I normally solder and crimp but haven't got a crimper big enough for the cable size I will need? I could get them crimped on the cables when I buy them I suppose (and make the cable holes a bit larger where I feed through bulkheads) - any suggestions (don't fancy buying a big crimper for one job!)

Thanks

Jonny

 

[Evadne]

Have you thought of having an auxiliary battery in the bow, with a lower current charging it?
Definitely worth having the cables crimped for you if you don't want to fork out £100 for a crimp tool.

 

[mph]

You could try getting the cable from here: Barden UK
They also sell some heavy duty cable connectors which don't need crimping.

 

[Jonny_H]

Thought about this option.

Read all the pro's and con's - and its basically 6 and 2 three's! Some 'experts' have sworn by a bow battery, others have said run cables.

I think cost wise the cables will work out cheaper compared to another battery and a slave charging unit. Also, we replaced all the batteries over the winter and I purposefully got a larger engine battery to cope with the windlass.

I will get the cables crimped I think - unless anyone in the North West has a big crimper they want to swop for a cup of coffee for a couple of hours? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Jonny

 

[purplerobbie]

Welding earth cable
Very thick very flexible and very cheap
Only availble in black though

I can get them crimped too

Rob

 

[Danny]

I used two 8m lengths of starter motor cable that I obtained from an automotive engineering supplies shop. I also used terminals that they supplied for use with this cable. I think the terminals should have been crimped but I soldered them and it all worked very well indeed. The windlass was smaller than yours though - 800w I think.

 

[silver-fox]

Jonny

My moody 425 has welding cables running from batteries in the stern to the bow thrusters via a fuse and isolation switch. It is a run of 12 metres and it works fine and has presumably done so ever since it was fitted in 1990!

Hope that helps testify to the longevity if nothing else!

 

[Jonny_H]

Thanks - welding cable looks like the way to go - keep the coffers for Rum when we reach the Caribbean!!

Jonny

 

[misterg]

Just a little plug for IEM Services for mail order cable and connectors. I thought the prices were OK, and have had very rapid service from them. No other connections /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Andy