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.

 

[jhendric]

Funny timing I replaced the clips for the second time on my charger yesterday. When I replaced them the first time I bought some cheapos from Amazon and they were so thin you could bend the ears that were to crimp the wire by hand. That lasted about a month. I got some Muellers (the one right in the middle of the pic Oldwizzard posted) they are in a different class!

 

[JDtime]

I picked up a set of DEKA 00163 20ft all copper cables for 20 bucks off ebay from an industrial supply company. They had them listed as copper clad. I guess they thought they were the cheaper cables.

 

[Retired dozer fixer]

Clamps aren’t always the problem. I’ve had bad connections where the cable joins the clamp. Loose or corroded

 

[sz0k30]

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 think I have the same set!

 

[Buckaroo5]

I have a heavy duty set of jumper cables but they hang on the garage wall - don't carry them anymore. Now carry a JNC660 jump box I bought a number of years ago. You have to remember to charge it every 3 months or so. Plenty of oomph and the clamps on it are very robust but getting harder for my old hands to open them. My son has the JNCAIR which includes an air compressor. Had to replace the battery in it because he doesn't pay as much attention to recharging interval as I do.

JNC660 1700 Peak Amp 12 Volt Jump Starter - Clore Automotive

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[Kscardsfan]

Clamps aren’t always the problem. I’ve had bad connections where the cable joins the clamp. Loose or corroded

It's not the connection, it's getting the damned things to open wide enough to fit over all the stuff that is tied into a modern day battery terminal. It's unreal how much **** is on a battery connection now.

 

[mslim]

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

When I was part owner in a movie equipment rental house, our 4/0 feeder cable was welding cable. When the electrical code changed we were mandated to change to "entertainment cable". I have a dandy set of jumper cables with big Mueller alligator clamps.

 

[Beerhippie]

It's not the connection, it's getting the damned things to open wide enough to fit over all the stuff that is tied into a modern day battery terminal. It's unreal how much **** is on a battery connection now.

Have you considered remote terminals for the jumpers, like you'll see on roadside assistance and tow vehicles?

Also, have you considered buying a new battery and/or alternator so you don't need jumps anymore?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Clamps aren’t always the problem. I’ve had bad connections where the cable joins the clamp. Loose or corroded

Common. The crimp there typically ***** !

Install a giant ring terminal on the cable with dual wall heat shrink and BOLT IT to the clamp !

 

[theoldwizard1]

Have you considered remote terminals for the jumpers, like you'll see on roadside assistance and tow vehicles?

Those are called Anderson connectors. Also used on electric Hi-Lo. They sell ones good for up to 350A !

 

[gimpyrobb]

I used Associated for my battery charger replacement ends. All copper teeth work well.