Car Battery Cable Size Calculator

To use the calculator enter the maximum current in amps of the circuit and the length of the wire and operating voltage.

Car battery cable size calculator.

As far as i know these values are valid as of today. Too small a cable size and you ll run the risk of generating heat in the cable. Cable size ampacity chart. 1 awg gauge battery cable 1 gauge awg battery cable is designed for higher power applications and can comfortably handle 200 amps at a cable length of 9 4 feet.

If the wire gauge is ok to use it will have a check mark on the same line. The manufacturers make stock battery cables as small as possible but still get the job done. I recommend building cables larger than stock. Cable sizing selection.

Choosing the correct gauge automotive wire depends on the acceptable voltage drop length of the feeder branch circuit conductor load amperage and the ambient temperature of the compartment where the primary wire will pass through. Most of the cost is the ends and labor. Actually for my current installation i ve sized all of my dc cables to meet the 175 amp worst case scenario. The battery cable is among the most important cables in a battery management system.

The required battery size b lead acid for lead acid batteries is calculated by the battery size calculator as. The following maximum amps versus cable size awg come from the nec version 2011. Choose a higher ambient temperature when conductors are expected to pass through. Below we reference the two things you must double check when sizing your battery cables.

Outside engine compartments the ambient temperature should generally be 20 c. Going up a size or 2 is worth it in the long run. For very long cables for example 15 foot long battery cables to relocate your battery go one size larger. So all interconnecting cables are 2 0 based on the chart below.

Typically most automotive systems run at 13 8v but you can select 6 12 13 8 default or 24 volts. But to enable this you need to make sure the sizing is correct. It ensures you have power stay on task and avoid battery drain. 2 gauge battery cable can be used as power cabling for small cars.

In summary when selecting the correct size of battery cable you need to take into account the total maximum amperage your electrical system requires the voltage of your system usually 12 volts the total length that your cables need to be and the amount of voltage drop you are willing to accept versus the amount you want to spend. Too large and you ll be wasting money on copper you don t need.