Old Batter Charger Cables

[cvthorn]

Old Battery Charger Cables

I have an FMC/Triple A Silver Beauty model 8250 battery charger ca. 1979. I am trying to find replacement cables. The unit is fully functional but no longer completely safe to use. Any suggestions where replacement cables might be obtained?

 

[Teken]

Purchase any high grade welding cable that reflects the size of the cable on the unit. This might be a good time to go up one size and also extend the length of cable for better use.

Teken . . .

 

[JJThrasher]

Can you make some? Maybe buy a set of jumper cables and remove the clamps on on end, and attach them to the machine?

 

[cvthorn]

That was going to be my solid plan B. Haven't opened it up to see how they connect. Thanks for making me give that more thought, though!

 

[cvthorn]

Yes, it does definitely call for longer cables!

 

[LEVE]

Welding cable... it's great stuff for making your own charging cables.

 

[cvthorn]

Where can you get welding cable that isn't a million bucks, though? 14' for $94.38 at Home Depot...

 

[tylernt]

Where can you get welding cable that isn't a million bucks, though? 14' for $94.38 at Home Depot...

Copper is expensive. If you want it cheaper you'll probably have to steal it.

 

[brockstar]

I've ordered from http://www.wireandsupply.com and had good luck. for comparison, they list 1 AWG at $1.80/ft for US made cable. IIRC, they are out of Michigan.

 

[koditten]

Cheaper to but a set of jumper cables. Find the ones you like and cut off one end. This is what I did. Works great.

 

[cvthorn]

Re: Old Battery Charger Cables

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. $28.00 later including a set of 6 gauge jumper cables rated at 500 amps and two crimp connectors I'm back in business.

The bonus is that I went from 6 feet of cable to 16 feet which makes using the damn thing less cumbersome.

As usual, I made something very complicated out of something very, very simple!

 

[tylernt]

Is 6ga thinner than what was there before? Thinner wire has more voltage drop. Also, 16ft of wire will have more voltage drop than 6ft.

Won't matter for bulk charging at say 25A, but for a 250A jump start your motor might turn over a little slower due to the resistance in the longer / skinnier wire.

 

[cvthorn]

I want to say the original wire was 4 gauge but this is a device that I don't
"pound" on. I only use it for jump starts occasionally. I mostly use it when the old batteries around here in my aging fleet need their lives extended a week or two because I'm too cheap and too lazy to "run right out" and get a new battery. For example, the wife's 98 Caravan, which gets driven 4 miles a day, 5 days a week and has an 18 month old battery, had problems the other day. Is it the alternator or was a light left on in the vehicle? Likely the latter. Charged it for 40 minutes and its been fine for over a week. I changed the cables on the charger because sometimes I'm smarter than I look. I'm sort of a Renaissance Man and profoundly don't want to be a dead one. So I think I can deal with a voltage drop with regards to something that I use twice a year!

 

[G_P]

Car audio stores sell bulk wire for installing amplifiers. May be funky flashy looking insulation but its fine for battery charger cables.

Sent from my SPH-M920 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Teken]

I want to say the original wire was 4 gauge but this is a device that I don't
"pound" on. I only use it for jump starts occasionally. I mostly use it when the old batteries around here in my aging fleet need their lives extended a week or two because I'm too cheap and too lazy to "run right out" and get a new battery. For example, the wife's 98 Caravan, which gets driven 4 miles a day, 5 days a week and has an 18 month old battery, had problems the other day. Is it the alternator or was a light left on in the vehicle? Likely the latter. Charged it for 40 minutes and its been fine for over a week. I changed the cables on the charger because sometimes I'm smarter than I look. I'm sort of a Renaissance Man and profoundly don't want to be a dead one. So I think I can deal with a voltage drop with regards to something that I use twice a year!

If the wife doesn't drive that often the long term solution is to purchase a battery maintainer like the Battery Tender Plus.

http://batterytender.com/?gclid=CPG6jJbQ5LcCFe1AMgodQnAAmg

The unit comes with a fast disconnect so all you have to do is plug in the other end with out opening up the hood. This will ensure the wifes car is always fully charged. It will never over charge and is one of the most highly rated trickle chargers on the market.

It has one of the longest warranty in the business (10 Years)

This is a great America company selling it online: http://www.batterymart.com/p-del-021-0128.html

Teken . . .