To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Booster Cables

rusty_ratchet

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 8, 2013
Messages
316
I would like to get a quality set of booster cables. I found this discussion here on GJ, and have also been looking at this set from WayTekWire. Has anyone here used the set from WayTekWire? I've also thought about getting something from NAPA, but it appears that a comperable set is quite a bit more expensive. Thoughts?

BTW: I will probably be jumping mid-sized sedans, but that could change. I would like to keep the price around $100, but am willing to spend more if I can get way better cables for a little extra expense.
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

FigureItOut

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2015
Messages
3,267
Location
Bentonville AR
I'm not sure why one would even be considering the Napa set you linked to over Waytek's set. It's more expensive, shorter, and thinner gauge wire. Waytek generally sells pretty high quality products, and that's actually a really good price for the wire alone. Get those.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk
 

firebox40dash5

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 19, 2012
Messages
4,185
Try the 782-5252 (4ga 20', and reasonably priced) or -5251 (2ga 25', but much spendier) at Napa. Probably a lot easier for a store to get than Grote, too. They're 100% copper and have pretty nice clamps.

If Sears still has them, I have blue & black Diehard cables I'm pretty sure are the same as the above. Got some good deals on my 2 sets several years ago with coupons & points & ****... get it while the gettin's good if they still sell them at a decent price.
 

woody 73

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 14, 2009
Messages
11,546
Location
The Great State Up North
Hi if the way tek is #2 size spend your money on it, better to cry in pain the first time for a good quality set then buying a cheaper set that might let you down.
 

CJM8515

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 8, 2014
Messages
9,303
Location
NJ
Thicker the cable (lower the gauge) the better. Watch out for very fat clamps tho, they dont fit in tight spots on newer cars.
 

Wamsutta

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 8, 2014
Messages
10,880
Location
Amarillo, Texas
The thing is though, for the price of a good set of jumper cables, you can buy a jump starter and keep it in your trunk.
 

bob15

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Messages
6,863
Location
Northeasten, CT
You could always make your own. Buy # 2 cable and a set of battery cable clamps and you are done. You will then control the quality via what you buy for components.
 

bob15

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Messages
6,863
Location
Northeasten, CT
The thing is though, for the price of a good set of jumper cables, you can buy a jump starter and keep it in your trunk.

What happens when the jump-start's battery is dead from sitting too long in a vehicle without being recharged?
 

Finky198

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
2,120
Location
North East
If your jump packs dead it was most likey caused by lack of human intervention...
What makes you think someone’s gonna stop and help you jump a vehicle in today’s day.

In my 7 years of owning a JNC jump pack I have neve once had a dead pack, nor a car that wouldn’t start...
 
Last edited:

E.Marquez

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 11, 2010
Messages
499
Location
Kempner Texas
Short of commercial grade stuff, most just start cables Ive seen for sale are ****.
Make some yourself.
Go to a welding supply place like Airgas Not big box hardware store or Tractor supply, to much $$

Get yourself two sections of 25 foot #2 ga cable, two pair of good clamps and some red heat shrink tube.

Have the welding shop crimp on the terminal lugs for you if they offer that service (most do)
spend 10 min at home bolting on the clamps and heating some heat shrink tubing on the POS cable ends..
Buy or sew up a bag to store them in and your done..
Cable should be about $1.55 a foot
Forney Battery Charger Clamps, 800-Amp, Commercial Grade about $15 a set.
I have made a dozen or more sets now for my family.
The #1/0 ga set I have in the truck is 30ft and uses a 1000amp QR connector on the truck end to make hook up easy, hood closed fast (I made an adapter as well to add clamps if used not with my truck. That set of cables was $312 from a tow truck supply place, I built them for less than 1/2 that.
 
Last edited:

subarub4

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
1,188
Location
Connecticut
I have a jump pack with a 18WH battery and I've kept it in the car over 7 months I would check the charge and it would still be over 80% I just most recently got myself a Lion jump pack still testing it but it's smaller and less weight which I like.
 

bushmechanic

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 17, 2014
Messages
4,820
What happens when the jump-start's battery is dead from sitting too long in a vehicle without being recharged?

The lithium units actually hold for a stupid long time, and my Noco unit has jumped at least ten cars since I last charged it by simply plugging the thing into a computer.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

bob15

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Messages
6,863
Location
Northeasten, CT
If your jump packs dead it was most likey caused by lack of human intervention...
What makes you think someone’s gonna stop and help you jump a vehicle in today’s day.

In my 7 years of owning a JNC jump pack I have neve once had a dead pack, nor a car that wouldn’t start...

I'm happy for you because in the 15 years I've had one, it has gone dead numerous times. I have resorted to just leaving it plugged into an outlet until needed.
 

bob15

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Messages
6,863
Location
Northeasten, CT
If the person is too lazy to pull the jump starter out once in awhile to charge it up, they deserve a tow truck bill.

And if you forget to take it out? Easier and safer to just keep cables in a vehicle than hope your jump pack works.
 

Wamsutta

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 8, 2014
Messages
10,880
Location
Amarillo, Texas
And if you forget to take it out? Easier and safer to just keep cables in a vehicle than hope your jump pack works.

But then you'll have to stand there next to your car with the hood up as you plead for somebody to give you a jump. No telling how long you'll be there.
 

FigureItOut

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2015
Messages
3,267
Location
Bentonville AR
It's not the solution for everybody, but I keep my JNC660 plugged in in the car and charging whenever I'm driving.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk
 

donpauli2

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 6, 2013
Messages
91
Location
central Illinois
You cannot beat a great set of jumper cables. Those little jump packs need to be charged and maintained


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

AA/FC

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 9, 2010
Messages
2,080
I would like to get a quality set of booster cables. I found this discussion here on GJ, and have also been looking at this set from WayTekWire. Has anyone here used the set from WayTekWire? I've also thought about getting something from NAPA, but it appears that a comperable set is quite a bit more expensive. Thoughts?

BTW: I will probably be jumping mid-sized sedans, but that could change. I would like to keep the price around $100, but am willing to spend more if I can get way better cables for a little extra expense.

This is the set that I own and recommend. They are 100% copper, 1/0 fine strand welding cable with copper clamps.... made in USA. These are larger gauge than either the Napa, or Waytek cables...

https://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/deka-super-heavy-duty-booster-cables/0000000038096
 

LB-1911

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Sep 24, 2011
Messages
5,744
Location
Northwestern Il.
Thank you all for your input. I just ordered a set from WayTek.

Did you go 20' or 24" ?
600P Battery Booster Cables, 2AWG


20 feet long, JESUS


The additional length takes the hassle out of vehicle positioning compared to 12' & 16' cables.


DEKA SUPER HEAVY-DUTY BOOSTER CABLES -1/0 welding cable -
http://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/Dek...earch&gslfah&gclid=CLPPqcXY77sCFbBFMgodWy0ASA

Deka 2 Gauge 20 Foot Commercial Booster Cables
http://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/Dek...earch&gslfah&gclid=CNqXj-rZ77sCFclaMgodcA0Apg
 

PhantomEB

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 6, 2006
Messages
6,787
Location
Medicine Hat, AB, Canuckistan
I made a set from welding cable well over 20 years ago. They got the fat clamps but oh well I know the juice will be flowing thru them when I need them to do so. I also have a battery pack for trips out of town. I am thinking of doing some jumper posts at the back of my next truck for boosting off of as I do a lot of highway driving in my career.

Being evacuated from the Fort McMurray, Canada wildfire in 2016.... sure has made me think more about being self sufficient, I already have a kolpin Rotopax and mount to mount to the box wall behind the cab.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom