Mercury 30hp 2 stroke 1995

[alask83]

What is the cable gauge for the cables to the cranking battery?

 

[Pappy]

Factory cables are probably around 6ga or so. If making your own it never hurts to go to a larger ga. as it carries the electrical load better. Those little electrons only run on the outside of a conductor so the more wires and gauge size the better!
There are many charts out there for 12V load vs. wire ga. when wiring a boat. When measuring always measure the complete circuit not just one way. If in doubt always go to the larger size cable.

 

[alask83]

Factory cables are probably around 6ga or so. If making your own it never hurts to go to a larger ga. as it carries the electrical load better. Those little electrons only run on the outside of a conductor so the more wires and gauge size the better!
There are many charts out there for 12V load vs. wire ga. when wiring a boat. When measuring always measure the complete circuit not just one way. If in doubt always go to the larger size cable.

Thanks Pappy, I'm going to put the cranking battery in the bow storage & use 6 gauge tinned copper.

 

[overboard]

Not sure. but I think the longer the distance the heavier the cable. Since you're running the cable from the bow to the stern you may need to go to a larger cable gauge.

 

[airshot]

Thanks Pappy, I'm going to put the cranking battery in the bow storage & use 6 gauge tinned copper.

If you run in any chop or rough seas, you could damage your battery. Batteries don' t like harsh jostling, one reason they are not often found in front. Just some food for thought !!

 

[alask83]

If you run in any chop or rough seas, you could damage your battery. Batteries don' t like harsh jostling, one reason they are not often found in front. Just some food for thought !!

That is well understood, battery in a box with foam padding strapped down. Chop is a slow zone for me.

 

[Pappy]

As has been mentioned you may need larger cable if running that far. Remember measuring the complete circuit? For simplicity sake lets say your boat is 14' so you would need a bare minimum of 28'. Take that # and plug in your initial starter load which will be in the neighborhood of a couple hundred amps ( 20-30 after initial load) and you may find 6ga. may not be the safest.
http://www.offroaders.com/technical/12-volt-wiring-tech-gauge-to-amps/

 

[Crazyboat]

It's a small engine to crank so I don't think it matter all that much, however as mentioned above, go with heavier stuff. If you had a real long run you'd want something think for sure, but I've got cheap assed jumper cables that feel like wire hager.