re-cabling the batteries

[Sianna]

Hi clever electrical people, on my boat I have a 3 battery set up, 2x110amp leisure batteries and a 110amp starter battery all combined with a Victron battery combiner. So far so good

The current (no pun intended) cabling between the batteries is old and very inflexible, I'm wanting to replace with a tinned flexible cables, to make removal easier, as one has to be removed to access the other two stored in a locker below, so does anyone have any good suppliers they would recomend for cables or connectors and what size cabling for 3x110amp batteries 25mm/35mm or 50mm?

many thanks for answering my dumb electrical questions.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Size of batteries is irrelevant, loads and length of cable run determine cable size.

 

[PCUK]

As a rough guide 70mm welding cable is a good all rounder unless you have very long cable runs. May not be tinned but very very flexible!

 

[Sianna]

Size of batteries is irrelevant, loads and length of cable run determine cable size.

thanks, so 2 batteries side by side, so 6ins apart max, the 3rd battery is above the main battery locker so 24ins max along with the run to the connector 24ins max, does that help?

 

[Sianna]

As a rough guide 70mm welding cable is a good all rounder unless you have very long cable runs. May not be tinned but very very flexible!

Oh, never thought of that

 

[goeasy123]

Assuming your boat was properrly spec'd in the first place find the thickest cable installed on the boat and make the battery cables the same or thicker, but no less than 50mm(squared)
Or
Assuming your boat was properly spec'd..... use the same or next size up.

Sianna's 70mm(squared) is probably a safe bet. That big for a boat with 3 x's 100Ah batteries.

 

[PaulRainbow]

thanks, so 2 batteries side by side, so 6ins apart max, the 3rd battery is above the main battery locker so 24ins max along with the run to the connector 24ins max, does that help?

Need to know the distance from the batteries to the loads and roughly what the loads are. I almost always spec the cables to suit engine starting, then you can start the engines off of the domestic bank in an emergency. What engine do you have and how long are the cables from the batteries to the engine ?

 

[JOHNPEET]

In answer to your question regarding suppliers, I’ve used this company for my needs. Great service and quick delivery:

Oceanflex Tinned Copper Battery Cables

Remember to fuse your cables adequately at the battery end!

 

[QBhoy]

Need to know the distance from the batteries to the loads and roughly what the loads are. I almost always spec the cables to suit engine starting, then you can start the engines off of the domestic bank in an emergency. What engine do you have and how long are the cables from the batteries to the engine ?

Exactly what this man says. No two ways about it !

 

[BB1]

Hi clever electrical people, on my boat I have a 3 battery set up, 2x110amp leisure batteries and a 110amp starter battery all combined with a Victron battery combiner. So far so good

The current (no pun intended) cabling between the batteries is old and very inflexible, I'm wanting to replace with a tinned flexible cables, to make removal easier, as one has to be removed to access the other two stored in a locker below, so does anyone have any good suppliers they would recomend for cables or connectors and what size cabling for 3x110amp batteries 25mm/35mm or 50mm?

many thanks for answering my dumb electrical questions.

Furneaux ridall, use ocean flex cable, the best!