Super flexible booster cables?

[shamrock12]

After moving here in South Dakota which is known for harsh winter with temperature dipping to 30 below on some nights, I figured that I should get a good pair of booster cables to keep with my Silverado 2500HD. So I purchased this cable which is 2 gauge, 20 feet long and should handle 500 amps. It has copper jaws which I likes but even better, it is made in the USA.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RL9J20/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It says that the material should stay flexible even in extreme cold. Only problem is, it doesn't quite say if it will stay super flexible in cold weather or just flexible enough (barely) that you have to flatten out the cables manually without cracking the insulation. Well, that is what I found out earlier this week while jumping start a dead Duramax when it was 20 below. I was able to roll it out but it was not as flexible as I would have liked it to be.

So I just wanted to start this thread and see if there is a better set out there that I could look at, other than making my own pair?

 

[AmickRacing]

I think some of the best jumper cables I've ever used were one's that were made out of welding leads.

Certainly not the cheapest option, but welding cable isn't really that expensive either.

 

[Gary S]

That is what I did. I used welding cable and bought 4 nice ends at the Farm Store. Mine are as flexable at -40 as they are in the Summer.

 

[P Dubya]

When I lived above the Arctic Circle the only jumpers we ever used were made out of welding cable....

 

[BlindViper]

Not to start a ******* match but whats the duramax rated to start at? My 7.3 powerstroke is rated to start at -20.

 

[shamrock12]

The batteries were just dead from age & the owner was too cheap to replace them sooner

 

[cruzer75]

Yup I have some I made from #4 welding cable. They work well. Wish they were a bit longer but the cable was free.

Stew

 

[mooseracing]

Make some from double ought welding cable, super fine and flexible.

 

[akdiesel]

Not to start a ******* match but whats the duramax rated to start at? My 7.3 powerstroke is rated to start at -20.

Mine will start at -30. I use 15/40 synthetic and let the glow plugs cycle through. I do not start driving until the engine temp is at least 90 deg when in those cold temps.

 

[Gary S]

Not to start a ******* match but whats the duramax rated to start at? My 7.3 powerstroke is rated to start at -20.

"Rated" and reality aren't the same. It can be rated at -20, and still not start reliably at -20. The ones I see behind the tow truck didn't make rated temp.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Mine will start at -30. I use 15/40 synthetic and let the glow plugs cycle through. I do not start driving until the engine temp is at least 90 deg when in those cold temps.

Smart. Everything you're doing works to minimize the impact of the extremely cold weather.

There is nothing worse than a cold engine with cold oil trying to pull a load ... any load.

I see Mr. AKDiesel is from Wasilla. Do you run into Todd and Sarah very often?

 

[shamrock12]

Guys, the batteries were dead because they were at the end of their life ... not because of cold weather. It just was a coincidence that it happened on a very cold night.

Let's get back on topic please.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Not to start a ******* match but whats the duramax rated to start at? My 7.3 powerstroke is rated to start at -20.

"Rated" and reality aren't the same. It can be rated at -20, and still not start reliably at -20. The ones I see behind the tow truck didn't make rated temp.

I personally know the people who ran those cold start test on the 7.3L PowerStroke. It was lower than -20F. Overnight soak. Into the wind. No block heater.

Admittedly these were low mileage vehicles in perfect maintenance.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Guys, the batteries were dead because they were at the end of their life ... not because of cold weather. It just was a coincidence that it happened on a very cold night.

Let's get back on topic please.

Welding cable has more individual strands making it more flexible and they use a rubber based insulation, not thermoplastic.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Here is the Coleman Cable website: http://www.colemancable.com/Home

The cut sheet for those specific cables is here: https://www.ccixpress.com/wcsstore/CCIxpress/images/catalog/catalogPDFs/0-/08860.pdf It says they're rated down to -40.

The insulation on the cable is TPE, or thermoplastic elastomer. I'm not familiar with that specific insulation but according to Wikipedia they use the same material in snowmobile tracks, so it should be pretty good in cold weather.

As others have mentioned, fine strand welding cable with rubber insulation works really well, but of course then you have to build your own.

 

[shamrock12]

Thanks everyone for contributing. Yes, the insulation is made of TPE which is okay in fairly cold weather but still get too stiff for my liking. I mean, it will flex a bit (with force) but I want the cables that can flex like it is 70 degrees outside.

Do you know of any online retailer that will make high quality set of jumper cables (using welding cables) to order? I don't have the special crimper for attaching clamps to the cables.

 

[shamrock12]

Anyone know of a good source for custom made cables? My local welding supply store was no help to me.

 

[paranoid56]

buy the cable online, buy the clamps, some heavy duty shrink tube and a crimper.

 

[dbonne]

Any self respecting welding store has the crimper, lugs, and most often red and black heavy duty alligator clamps. I picked some clamps up for $10 each. 10 times better than any clamps I have seen on tailor made cables.

 

[LB-1911]

Anyone know of a good source for custom made cables? My local welding supply store was no help to me.

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