Auto Battery Cable Repair

[wyliesdiesels]

Looking for a splice kit or connector to repair the battery cables in a vehicle.

Some Ahole decided to steal the battery (as well as smash out a window, slash the tires, and steal 3 spark plug wires) and while doing so just cut the battery cables.

These are fairly large (dont know what gauge) and the local auto parts stores did not have anything. neither does amazon, unless im not searching correctly

what do you recommend? Im ok with a large **** splice with heat shrink....

 

[djbmw]

Looking for a splice kit or connector to repair the battery cables in a vehicle.

Some Ahole decided to steal the battery (as well as smash out a window, slash the tires, and steal 3 spark plug wires) and while doing so just cut the battery cables.

These are fairly large (dont know what gauge) and the local auto parts stores did not have anything. neither does amazon, unless im not searching correctly

what do you recommend? Im ok with a large **** splice with heat shrink....

Lots of 0, 2, and 4 gauge binding blocks for audio use that would fit this well. You could also use an inline fuse with a 200amp fuse or something as well. Example pictures of both attached.

 

[mm08822]

Batterycablesusa is a good source but I wouldn't expect there is time to wait on delivery.

Set screw **** splices and shrink tubing sounds like the quickest way to get it running in the meantime.

 

[PCustoms]

what do you recommend? Im ok with a large **** splice with heat shrink....

I changed the battery location and added winch wiring on my previous truck. Marine cable, T&B ring terminals and a **** splice or 2. Used the thick adhesive lined heat shrink, I've never had an issue doing it this way.

 

[Torque&Recoil]

I like PCustoms method, but I have used welding cable. Readily available in black color. If you want to identify the positive, wrap some red electrical tape or use red heat shrink. Any chance of making a totally new cable, as opposed to splicing?

 

[PCustoms]

I like PCustoms method, but I have used welding cable. Readily available in black color.

Yep.

I used to have access to plenty of shorts/cutoffs of the marine cable, many a car stereo, off-road lights etc. Have been wired with some ridiculous wiring color schemes over the years.

I think I just used the last of my scraps a year or so ago wiring the camper. Any oddball color choices that was 12v+ got red heat shrink.

 

[CJM8515]

welding or audio cable wiring will do the job just fine. i would not splice, id fully replace

 

[Bad Habit]

https://www.delcity.net/store/battery-cables-accessories/terminals/

 

[wssix99]

This is probably what you are looking for: https://www.amazon.com/Solsop-Crimper-60PCS-Lugs-Cutter/dp/B0FD2MGBZV/?tag=atomicindus08-20

But I agree that you will probably need to replace some of the cables.

 

[kngelv]

Your local car stereo installer will have plent of these to choose from. They are used for subwoofer power but they will work in this instance too. Sorry about the pieces of shite that effed it up.

 

[CoogarXR]

You could probably use a polaris-type insulated **** splice available at electrical supply stores. Kinda like this:


It's just like the set-screw splice mentioned by another poster, but it's coated and meant for outdoor/wet applications.

 

[mike93lx]

You could probably use a polaris-type insulated **** splice available at electrical supply stores. Kinda like this:


It's just like the set-screw splice mentioned by another poster, but it's coated and meant for outdoor/wet applications.

Those are not rated for fine stranded cable. Don't use these

 

[PCustoms]

Everyone realizes OP is an electrician, right?

 

[CoogarXR]

...

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I have booster cables that were too short. 2 sets... I removed about 1.5" of insulation from each side and pushed the fine strands together. Then taped them up with black tape. It was a temporary thing I did over 10 years ago. I use these to run my winch on my trailer from my vehicle battery. Still haven't got around to doing a proper splice....

 

[cgrutt]

84-9223 - Splices, Yellow Bulk

Grote Industries - Part: #84-9223 - Splices, Yellow Bulk. MagnaLugs are superior to standard tube lugs

www.grote.com

Looks like they have 4 ga to 4/0 ga available. Sorry about your truck.

 

[Wrench97]

Crimp connectors and heat shrink is the best you're going to do without replacing the cables.

 

[Bert_]

@wyliesdiesels

You have the squeeze tool to put an H crimp on it?

 

[BurtEggley]

check west marine for cable and connectors, amazon if you lack the large crimper. Modesto in Central California does have its problems these days, it is well documented. Sorry they violated you and your family.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

You could probably use a polaris-type insulated **** splice available at electrical supply stores. Kinda like this:


It's just like the set-screw splice mentioned by another poster, but it's coated and meant for outdoor/wet applications.

wont work for fine stranded automotive wire

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Everyone realizes OP is an electrician, right?

yup I am. I work on building electrical not automotive, for a living. but i was more so looking for sources for materials not directions on how to repair.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

@wyliesdiesels

You have the squeeze tool to put an H crimp on it?

nope. never use those

 

[wyliesdiesels]

check west marine for cable and connectors, amazon if you lack the large crimper. Modesto in Central California does have its problems these days, it is well documented. Sorry they violated you and your family.

this is a shop vehicle (stored in ceres, ca down the road from modesto, ca) for employees and we have been in this complex in ceres since oct 2020 without any issues at all so...

yes modesto has its issues but luckily very few occur in my residential neighborhood either

 

[wyliesdiesels]

welding or audio cable wiring will do the job just fine. i would not splice, id fully replace

i was thinking of doing that but some of these are buried in the engine compartment so easier said than done.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Your local car stereo installer will have plent of these to choose from. They are used for subwoofer power but they will work in this instance too. Sorry about the pieces of shite that effed it up.

thats a great idea. dont know why i didnt think of that. we have at least 4 here in town. I bet they would sell me some by the foot. I dont need a whole 50 or 100' spool which was all i could find online

 

[Bert_]

nope. never use those

I think some electrical supply houses have one they lend out to contractors that don't have one.

 

[Wrench97]

Truck parts supplier will have cable as will most NAPA stores, if I'm hard up for a #4 cable buying a premade battery cable and cutting the end(s) off is not out of the realm of possibilities.

 

[CJM8515]

id replace as much as you can and only splice where you cant, less points of failure if you must splice i suppose.

 

[BurtEggley]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017S9EINA?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[oldmachinenut]

CS-3040 CABLE SPLICER - Lenco Welding Accessories Ltd.

LENCO cable splicers are made from a special brass extrusion. Large oval-point steel screws on each end of the splicers make it easy to splice cables in the shop or in the field. Tough glass filled nylon sleeve insulates the splicer. CS-2040 350 Amp Capacity Single oval point screw for cable...

www.lencocanada.com

 

[Stuart in MN]

Get complete replacement cables, in the long run it will pay off.

 

[Norcal]

Get complete replacement cables, in the long run it will pay off.

I agree, I won't replace the battery connectors, just replace the whole assembly to avoid future problems, the OP's issues are a bit more involved.

 

[Wrench97]

I agree, I won't replace the battery connectors, just replace the whole assembly to avoid future problems, the OP's issues are a bit more involved.

Just looking at the image that's a older vehicle, and those don't appear to be just cables, more and more the cables are part of a harness and not serviced separately, also past 10 years they become obsolete.

 

[PCustoms]

KISS

-determine wire size
-order a few marine grade terminals (**** and appropriate ring)
-order marine grade adhesive lined heat shrink
-repair harnesses as needed (I assume you have crimp tools and know what a proper crimp is)

I'm partial to Ancor marine and T&B, though the del city and grote options above look an awful lot like the ones I used to get at the boat shop.

Going nuts to replace the whole harness isn't needed IMHO.

 

[kerrynzl]

@wyliesdiesels if you look closely inside your relay box , there should be a bus bar in there [you could join 2 cables there, bolted to the bus bar]

 

[ToolmanGary]

I have spliced some battery cables by using a piece of copper tube that is the correct size, crimp it like a connector them cover it with shrink tube.

 

[Bert_]

@wyliesdiesels

You get the thing fixed?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

not yet. weather and client work has gotten in the way. plus my employees have been needing to drive their own vehicles due to scheduling conflicts so it has been fine stuck in the shop

 

[supratreo]

thas an easy fix. crimp on **** connector and dual wall heat shrink will take care of that. hit a good car audio shop for the wire. make sure its labeled OFC.
perks of living in Modesto

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Just looking at the image that's a older vehicle, and those don't appear to be just cables, more and more the cables are part of a harness and not serviced separately, also past 10 years they become obsolete.

luckily these are not part of a harness.