Jumper cable/Charger clamps

[Kscardsfan]

Is it just me or do jumper cable and battery tender clamps seem to be undersized vs the amount of **** that is wired into modern vehicle terminals now? It's all I can do to fit them onto most batteries now with all the stuff attached to the terminals. It seems even worse with the baby sized clamps on the battery tender. Has anyone else felt like this or am I just getting old and grumpy like my dad and grandfather before me now that I'm in my 40s?

 

[Beerhippie]

Yes, to both questions.

 

[The Cobbler]

yup

 

[theoldwizard1]

The BEST clamps/clips are made by Mueller. People in the industry know them because they have been around for ever ! They make several different sizes of clamps.




Not Mueller, but very good quality. I use them to make a cable to connect my 2000W inverter to my car battery (short term).

 

[Dumber than lumber]

I have a set of battery cables from Sears.
Over 40 years old. Probably Diehard brand.
They are very heavy duty. Probably not quite “industrial grade”, but the insulation is is still flexible after four decades in our various vehicles.
Made in America meant something special … well, except until it didn’t.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have a set of battery cables from Sears.
Over 40 years old. Probably Diehard brand.
They are very heavy duty. Probably not quite “industrial grade”, but the insulation is is still flexible after four decades in our various vehicles.

Most jumper cables are now "copper clad" aluminum wire.

 

[Retired dozer fixer]

Welding cable makes the best jumper cables. Made several pairs over the years

 

[woody 73]

Funny story, a few short years ago I picked up a pair of jumper cables that would jump the battle star Galactica death star spaceship, well my son calls me to jump his car and no luck, I guess there is a first for everything; so, my son call triple A and the guy shows up with a small handheld battery charger and **** the car starts right up. Not sure what to make of that jumper set but I know for a fact it has no aluminum in it, (welding cable), maybe the clamps are not good enough for it???

 

[Dumber than lumber]

Funny story, a few short years ago I picked up a pair of jumper cables that would jump the battle star Galactica death star spaceship, well my son calls me to jump his car and no luck, I guess there is a first for everything; so, my son call triple A and the guy shows up with a small handheld battery charger and **** the car starts right up. Not sure what to make of that jumper set but I know for a fact it has no aluminum in it, (welding cable), maybe the clamps are not good enough for it???

What you call "a small handheld battery charger" might have been a jump box. We just got one. I bought my brother one about 3 years ago. (He and I get stranded in the backcountry over 1/2 of the times that I go to visit.)
Brother has now bought one for his wife and all 3 of their sons.
Battery jumper cables might become obsolete.

 

[Zewnten]

get butterfly? clamps. they open like pliers

 

[whateg01]

The thing that gets me is we go to great lengths to get bigger cables, bigger clamps, etc, and for good reason, but the clamp is still generally only making contact in a very small area.

 

[GaryM909]

Welding cable makes the best jumper cables. Made several pairs over the years

I made a set out of 2/0 welding cable with good clamps. I had to boost my SIL a couple years ago when it was -40. They worked well.

 

[jayemm]

I have a set of battery cables from Sears.
Over 40 years old. Probably Diehard brand.
They are very heavy duty. Probably not quite “industrial grade”, but the insulation is is still flexible after four decades in our various vehicles.
Made in America meant something special … well, except until it didn’t.

I have a set of jumper cables I got from Sears in ~1993. Have white insulation (now somewhat dirty) and are still flexible, even in cold weather. They must have been made especially for Sears (who liked to be different or exclusive sometimes) in that they are 18 ft. long and 5 gage. Never seen a pair like that since. Copper wire and U.S. made. Cost $30 and were the second best offered IIRC. Sometimes wished I'd sprung for the more expensive 20 ft. 4 gage as the 2 extra feet would have been nicer for when you have to pull up behind to jump the other vehicle. In looking at wire today you have to read the fine print and inspect carefully as so much is copper -clad aluminum -- "CCA" -- whether it's jumper cables or speaker wire.

 

[seber]

My jumper cables are computer cable. I don't know the gage but they are 5/16 fine wire copper covered with a thin fabric. twelve feet of dual cable rolls up in an eight inch coil.