Is 6 gauge good enough for 20 foot jumper cables?

Karl Williamson · 09-17-2000, 06:57 PM

I got a good price for these; half as much as for 4 gauge. I presume these are suitable mostly. Any expert advice would be appreciated

**mattadams** · 09-17-2000, 08:00 PM

Karl - first things first, 20 feet seems like an awful lot of jumper cable. I believe mine are around about 10 feet long? You tend to loose electricity the longer and the less guage. I'd say they'd probably get the battery started and temporarily charged but it might take a while longer, and they might not last as long. Someone correct me here...

flyguy · 09-19-2000, 03:06 AM

Hmm...I was pondering using some extra speaker wire at one point....

nick

**Maniak** · 09-19-2000, 12:39 PM

We have 2 long sets of jumper cables.. The one I made was 20 feet long using 2 guage wire.. Works great.. never gets warm..

The latest one we bought is 20 feet long using 4 guage wire.. never had any problems with it..

We always buy the longer onces since it never fails that the vehicle we need to jump is someone elses and we can't get to the front of the vehicle.. It is nice to just pull in behind them and run the cable.

If I can find my chart I'll post it which shows how many amps you can safely draw per foot per wire size..

EB Bauer · 09-19-2000, 01:06 PM

I just ripped of the cables from an arch welder and made my own. They are big but sure get the job done quick!

Tom Wilk · 09-19-2000, 07:47 PM

I agree with Maniak; I had to jump start my Ranger a couple of years ago, and I could not get my car in front of it. I ended up using some #6 stranded copper I had laying around to extend my 12 foot cables. The #6 along with all the extra connections barely had the capacity to start the poor thing.

Go with the #4, make sure it is copper, and make sure that the jaws have a strong grip. You want as good a connection as you can get.

Kyle K. · 09-20-2000, 09:01 PM

we run big ... 2 awg to 2/0 awg to the front and rear bumper , or thereabout, then use welding lead connectors, then 10 - 15 foot 2 awg jumpers, hope this helps.

09-17-2000, 06:57 PM	#1
Karl Williamson Wannabe Elite Explorer Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 6 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	I got a good price for these; half as much as for 4 gauge. I presume these are suitable mostly. Any expert advice would be appreciated __________________ '98 stock XLT SOHC

09-17-2000, 08:00 PM	#2
mattadams Tall Man Little Escape Longmont, CO 2010 Escape XLT Join Date: Sep 1999 Posts: 8,251 Vehicle Specs	Karl - first things first, 20 feet seems like an awful lot of jumper cable. I believe mine are around about 10 feet long? You tend to loose electricity the longer and the less guage. I'd say they'd probably get the battery started and temporarily charged but it might take a while longer, and they might not last as long. Someone correct me here... __________________ Matt Adams 2010 Ford Escape XLT 1997 F-150 XL 2000 F-150 XLT 4x4 ORP with tons of fun stuff that I sold years ago and still miss. www.mattstruck.com

09-19-2000, 03:06 AM	#3
flyguy Wannabe Elite Explorer Gilbert, AZ '07 XLT V8 Join Date: Oct 1999 Posts: 1,863 Vehicle Specs	Hmm...I was pondering using some extra speaker wire at one point.... nick __________________ New! 2007 Explorer XLT V8 "Ironman" - K&N FIPK Aircharger, SCT Xcal2 Tune, Zabtek Throttle Body

09-19-2000, 01:06 PM	#5
EB Bauer Wannabe Elite Explorer Albuquerque, New Mexico 1991 Eddie Bauer Join Date: Oct 1999 Posts: 514 Vehicle Specs	I just ripped of the cables from an arch welder and made my own. They are big but sure get the job done quick! __________________ Scott Bauer Albuquerque, New Mexico

09-20-2000, 09:01 PM	#7
Kyle K. Wannabe Elite Explorer New Bern, NC '91 XLT Join Date: Mar 1999 Posts: 229 Vehicle Specs	big bad jumpers we run big ... 2 awg to 2/0 awg to the front and rear bumper , or thereabout, then use welding lead connectors, then 10 - 15 foot 2 awg jumpers, hope this helps. __________________ If you keep breakin parts, you're either using the wrong stuff, or havin way too much fun.

09-19-2000, 12:39 PM	#4
Maniak Moderator-Stock 91-94 Vail, Arizona 1992 XLT 4x4 Join Date: Feb 1999 Posts: 10,742 Vehicle Specs	We have 2 long sets of jumper cables.. The one I made was 20 feet long using 2 guage wire.. Works great.. never gets warm.. The latest one we bought is 20 feet long using 4 guage wire.. never had any problems with it.. We always buy the longer onces since it never fails that the vehicle we need to jump is someone elses and we can't get to the front of the vehicle.. It is nice to just pull in behind them and run the cable. If I can find my chart I'll post it which shows how many amps you can safely draw per foot per wire size.. __________________ Click HERE to see our Explorer Specs

09-19-2000, 07:47 PM	#6
Tom Wilk Wannabe Elite Explorer Chattanooga, TN '99 Sport Join Date: Jul 1999 Posts: 896 Vehicle Specs	I agree with Maniak; I had to jump start my Ranger a couple of years ago, and I could not get my car in front of it. I ended up using some #6 stranded copper I had laying around to extend my 12 foot cables. The #6 along with all the extra connections barely had the capacity to start the poor thing. Go with the #4, make sure it is copper, and make sure that the jaws have a strong grip. You want as good a connection as you can get. __________________ Tom 99 Sport 4x4, SOHC, Auburn, OME, Twist tomw@explorerforum.com