Jumper Cable Gauge Wire Size

Cable size ampacity chart.

Jumper cable gauge wire size.

When starting a car engine it is amazing how much power gets sucked from the battery. The gauge refers to the thickness of the wiring in the jumper cables. A higher number gauge is not better. They come in different gauge sizes which can make knowing which size to purchase difficult.

This allows you to connect the two batteries together without stretching. Cheaper jumper cables usually have 10. A low number means thicker wire. The n gauge wire diameter d n in inches in is equal to 0 005in times 92 raised to the power of 36 minus gauge number n divided by 39.

So all interconnecting cables are 2 0 based on the chart below. According to popular mechanics you should look for a set of jumper cables that are between gauge sizes four and six you also want to look for jumper cables that are about 20 feet long just in case you can t park your car close enough to another vehicle. Best jumper cable size gauge the thing with wire size is this. An average set of jumper cables should have wire that is 6 or 8 gauge.

D n in 0 005 in 92 36 n 39. The n gauge wire diameter d n in millimeters mm is equal to 0 127mm times 92 raised to the power of 36 minus gauge. Not all jumper cables are created equal. Seeing a nice thick pair or jumper cables at the store marked heavy duty can be deceiving what you really need to look at is the gauge of the cables themselves.

So a typical range of jumper cables will run from a 1 gauge to a 12 gauge wire. The smaller the wire diameter the less power it can handle. The larger the wire diameter the more power it can handle. Wire gauge calculations wire diameter calculations.

So what do you need to consider when choosing a set of jumper cables. The following maximum amps versus cable size awg come from the nec version 2011. As far as i know these values are valid as of today. They are suitable for use in very cold conditions and have ergonomic twice grip clamps for excellent conductivity and tension.

In this article we will show you some key factors to consider before buying a set of jumper cables. This is ideal for saloon cars but if you have a larger car look at the 20 to 25 foot jumper cables. Cartman booster cable 4 gauge x 20ft in carry bag 4awg x 20ft ul listed. Given the information we already have a 1 gauge jumper cable is a pretty heavy duty while a 12 is considerably lighter.

In other words a typical car starter requires a lot. The 4 gauge cables are well insulated and don t tangle. Abn jumper cables 25ft long 2 gauge 600 amp commercial automotive vehicle booster cables motorcycle car atv 4 7 out of 5 stars 633 29 49 29. American wire gauge size calculator and chart.

Most jumper cables on the market measure 10 feet. Thicker wire carries more power allowing you to jump start larger batteries.