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06-25-2018, 03:12 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 532
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Replacing house and chassis battery cables
Hey guys. My battery compartment needs work. New Cables are really needed. Lots of corrosion.
Can anyone advise crimping tools recommended that you have used for the large cables. brand/ type etc.
I want to do it well and have good connections. I am sure this big copper wire cable is going to be cheap!
looking for input from you DIY guys that have had good success with this.
Thanks to all.
Rusty
__________________
2006 Dynasty 38' Bishop III Tag. Pulling GMC Yukon or Race Trailer.
2000 Dynasty 36' (Sold) first coach
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06-25-2018, 03:16 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Home Depot probably has what you need. I know Boating World can make cables right in the store.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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06-25-2018, 03:31 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Citra, Florida
Posts: 1,396
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You can buy prefabricated battery cables which will save you the effort and expense of making your own. Unless you want to buy all the parts and tools for a one time job.
Good luck and keep us posted.
__________________
Good Luck and keep us posted please. "Q"
1999 Newmar, Mountain Aire 3768, V-10, CAI, Headers.
"Spending our kids inheritance one trip at a time"
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06-25-2018, 03:35 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,424
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06-25-2018, 03:39 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 2,102
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I replaced mine with 2/0 cable . The crimper is worth over $200 . The cables really made a big difference. You should be able to rent a crimper , or have the ends crimped for you . A heavy truck shop should have the cable ,lugs and should be able to crimp them for you.
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1993 Tiffin Allegro Bay 32'
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06-25-2018, 03:50 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 532
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twinboat
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This looks like a great option.
Thanks Twin boat!
__________________
2006 Dynasty 38' Bishop III Tag. Pulling GMC Yukon or Race Trailer.
2000 Dynasty 36' (Sold) first coach
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06-25-2018, 03:52 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 118
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I bought a crimper on Amazon for $40 to add an inverter. Replaced several corroded cables. Definite would do it myself again. Can set lugs in correct position for terminals. No twisting of cables to fit. Can get exact fit for length of cable and lug position.
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06-25-2018, 03:54 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Posts: 4,040
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Good chance that your local battery shop can make the cables for you. Give them a call.
__________________
Roger & Mary
2017 Winnebago Navion 24V (Sold)
2014 Tiffin Phaeton 36GH (Sold)
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06-25-2018, 04:29 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,795
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The best crimp is one that compresses the lug all around or 360 degs. Problem is the tool is VERY expensive once you get up into the large sizes for high current battery cables and the potential for hydraulic crimpers. I used simple punch down crimp when I had to upgrade the battery cable to support a high wattage inverter (4/0 cable). It's been a year and no complaints.
Making your own cables is pretty simple with the hardest part being cutting 1/4 to 1/2 inch stranded wire. A Dremel with a metal cut off wheel works well. You can easily buy premade ready to use generic cable in the about the length you need and maybe save a few dollars. If you want the satisfaction of a DIY project you can get pretty much everything off Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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2006 Hurricane 31D built on a 2006 Ford F53
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06-25-2018, 04:39 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 6,401
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Interstate Battery stores can make you any size, any lengths and the proper hole size on the connectors. I bought some very good cables on Amazon. They are all pre made so no custom lengths.
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Wayne & Roberta
08 Winnebago Destination 39W Gas UFO Workhorse Chassis......It's really weird being the same age as old people. I thought getting old would take much longer.
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06-26-2018, 06:24 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SW VA
Posts: 216
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I had my inverter professionally installed in Glendale, AZ a few years ago. I spent as much time as the owner would allow watching him work. When it came time to put terminals on the end of the heavy cable, he used a hammer with a couple of well-placed blows to secure them. I am sure he has plenty of experience at it, but he did a great job.
He had a very sturdy workbench with a stainless steel top on which he did the hammering. I would say only two blows. I would suggest a 4 lb hammer if you want to do it yourself and not buy a crimping tool that you will use again in maybe 10 years.
__________________
Jerry and Georgia
'03 Mountain Aire 38' on W22 (8.1 L gas)
2015 GMC Canyon All Terrain towed 4 down
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06-26-2018, 06:57 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,051
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I have never crimped a battery lug or eyelet on a cable. I have always soldered the end on and never had a problem. Small propane torch or Oxy/Act rig works just as well too. Lot cheaper and better hold if you ask me.
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06-26-2018, 07:25 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 101
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I just made a new jumper to go between 2 6v batteries I installed (previous owner replaced the 2 gc2 batteries with 1 12v.
excuse the bit of a mess as I haven't finished tidying up the battery compartment yet.
Jumper made out of 2/0 marine cable with hydraulically crimped lugs:
Battery compartment:
__________________
2001 Bounder 34D - Ford F53 Chassis with lots of little gremlins
Various other toys (Ezgo golf cart, Harley RoadKing, kayaks that come along on a trailer depending on the trip)
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06-26-2018, 07:35 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,424
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Crimping, with the proper tool is the preferred method.
Smashing with a hammer leaves a questionable crimp.
When soldering, the solder wicks up into the cable making it prone to breaking, rather then flexing.
I've seen the solder melt and the cable fall out.
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