Custom Battery Cables

[riversidevw]

I've been slowly upgrading the old battery cables on my cars. Many were ill-fitting small-gauge universal things. For the '58 Hawk, I decided to try an on-line vendor offering very decent quality and a pretty much unlimited selection of cable and connectors.

http://www.custombatterycables.com/

My new cables are 1-0 gauge, the post terminals are tin-plated copper. With perfect hindsight, I probably would have selected black for the positive cable... the red is really conspicuous. Also, the available angled lug connector for the solenoid end of the cable would have made a bit neater installation.

They aren't cheap... about $33 for the negative cable, $39 for the longer (on the Hawk) positive. Use the online custom order form to get your estimates... the guy doesn't have much time or patience for pen pals. That's fine with me as long as he continues doing good work. Order shipped in about three weeks, only takes PayPal.

[Bob Andrews]

Very nice product. Worth it to have correctly done cables; most people don't understand the importance of cable size and proper termination.

I have bookmarked the site for later reference, Thanks for taking the time to share it!

[candbstudebakers]

Shipping in about 3 weeks, that's just dandy, I guess when you pay top top dollar it feels better to have to wait until he is ready to ship out.

[DEEPNHOCK]

More like he holds and bundles his Ebay orders and buys from a wholesale source, and then everyone has to await his shipment for him to re-distribute the product.
If you read is feedback and his excuses, he has all of them lined up in order...
He says his retial business takes a back seat to his wholesale biz. Oh, that's nice...
I am not impressed at all..

Shipping in about 3 weeks, that's just dandy, I guess when you pay top top dollar it feels better to have to wait until he is ready to ship out.

[Bob Andrews]

More like he holds and bundles his Ebay orders and buys from a wholesale source, and then everyone has to await his shipment for him to re-distribute the product.
If you read is feedback and his excuses, he has all of them lined up in order...
He says his retial business takes a back seat to his wholesale biz. Oh, that's nice...
I am not impressed at all..

Actually, his website says this is his own side business. He makes the cables himself- not buying from a wholesale source. Has studied Electronics Engineering and has 30 years' experience making cables. As a one-man operation he got behind because he has been taking Chemotherapy. That can slow somebody down a bit.

At this time, this is a part time business for us. (I'm a full time Test Engineer for a major semiconductor manufacturer). My family, friends and I build the cables after our day jobs and on the weekend. We try to always ship cables in a timely manner but sometimes we get behind. We try to build on the weekend and ship on Monday morning. Sometimes we get a little behind and it take a couple weeks.


How come you have so many typos in your web site?
Because I work on it when I can't sleep and it was probably the wee hours of the morning when I typed it... or sometimes I work on it in the chemo room at Desert Oncology while I'm mildly high on chemo.



As of 6/23 he is caught up and says it's a 2 week wait. Don't see how that's so unreasonable from a one-man operation making high-quality products.

Perhaps a bit of reading is preferred over snap judgement and jumping to unfair conclusions.

[cycledog]

Go to the welding supply store. Buy #2 weld wire and put on your own ends. Much less expensive.

[Bob Andrews]

Go to the welding supply store. Buy #2 weld wire and put on your own ends. Much less expensive.

Sure, I agree, that will work. The problem is, very few of us are equipped/knowledgeable enough to determine the proper terminals, find the right ones, and correctly install them. I know a little about this, and think I could do it close to correct, but I have no way to crimp on a PROPER end. This seller even sells parts and crimpers, but for the number most need to build it's cheaper and better to have him do yours with his 12-Ton crimper.

The clamp-on ends will work, and one can solder on a lug that will work. These cables are for high-end jobs where top-quality workmanship is a must.

There's some good info on that site. Worth taking a couple minutes to look around.

[DEEPNHOCK]

I stand corrected.
I did read it.
I am still dubious.
Let us all know of the experiences with this vendor.

<snip>
Perhaps a bit of reading is preferred over snap judgement and jumping to unfair conclusions.

[candbstudebakers]

Actually, his website says this is his own side business. He makes the cables himself- not buying from a wholesale source. Has studied Electronics Engineering and has 30 years' experience making cables. As a one-man operation he got behind because he has been taking Chemotherapy. That can slow somebody down a bit.

At this time, this is a part time business for us. (I'm a full time Test Engineer for a major semiconductor manufacturer). My family, friends and I build the cables after our day jobs and on the weekend. We try to always ship cables in a timely manner but sometimes we get behind. We try to build on the weekend and ship on Monday morning. Sometimes we get a little behind and it take a couple weeks.


How come you have so many typos in your web site?
Because I work on it when I can't sleep and it was probably the wee hours of the morning when I typed it... or sometimes I work on it in the chemo room at Desert Oncology while I'm mildly high on chemo.



As of 6/23 he is caught up and says it's a 2 week wait. Don't see how that's so unreasonable from a one-man operation making high-quality products.

Perhaps a bit of reading is preferred over snap judgement and jumping to unfair conclusions.

Call it a snap judgement if you want Bob but I see it as my opinion and no way to run a business but then to each his own and buy his cables and lose points when judged.

[gordr]

Make your own.

Go to an AG equipment dealer, or a heavy-duty truck equipment dealer. Both will sell bulk battery cable by the foot, and will have a line of solder-on terminals that come with heat-shrinkable sleeves to seal the end of the insulation. Follow the instructions that come with the terminals, and you practically cannot go wrong. No 12-ton crimper required.

[jimmijim8]

Tractor supply has nice thick battery cables for cheap. I lik'em. jimmijim

[bob40]

Made my own for years. GordR nailed it.

[pdrnec]

Looks like he makes a quality product just about any way you want it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from him. I've made up cables before - and they looked like it.

[Bob Andrews]

I stand corrected.
I did read it.
I am still dubious.
Let us all know of the experiences with this vendor.

I guess it's just a difference of approach. I tend to take people as I find them, and give them the benefit of the doubt. I agree that this is after all a stranger, so caution is important. However, my experience is that most people are decent, especially in small business. Also, we have a testimonial from a member. To me, that adds up to giving them a fair look, not just assume the worst. I'm no Pollyanna- I have my cynical side- but my cynicism comes from my own personal experience, or that of someone I trust. But thus far I've never had a bad experience with a battery cable guy, so I'm giving him a fair shake

Call it a snap judgement if you want Bob but I see it as my opinion and no way to run a business but then to each his own and buy his cables and lose points when judged.

Of course, Bob, you are entitled to your opinion- same as I am. I would never say otherwise.

As for losing points, this is from his site:
We can also make small cables to match factory stock on request for customers who want accurate restorations.

Go to an AG equipment dealer, or a heavy-duty truck equipment dealer. Both will sell bulk battery cable by the foot, and will have a line of solder-on terminals that come with heat-shrinkable sleeves to seal the end of the insulation. Follow the instructions that come with the terminals, and you practically cannot go wrong. No 12-ton crimper required.

Agreed, you and I can make cables ourselves. But there are lots of people who can't, or don't live near an ag supplier, or just don't want to search for the materials, buy solder, learn how to do it, etc. Or there are those qualified who just want high quality done elsewhere by specialists so they can concentrate on other things.

I liken these to those companies that sell custom-built brake lines. It's not rocket science, but sometimes it's preferable to have pros do a more professional job; in either case, by the time one gathers the materials, and the necessary tools to make them, they might be farther ahead to just order some. Depends on the situation, and the individual.

[riversidevw]

For me, for one or two applications like this, I couldn't see the point of locating the various materials and making these cables up myself. For those who get satisfaction from cutting and crimping, go for it.

The Speedster already has a negative cable made up for the prior owner from heavy welding cable. It's OK, though it looks exactly like what it is. I've thought of replacing the ground (positive, of course, on that 6V application) with original style braided strap, but haven't come across any really heavy duty versions equivalent to a good 1-0 insulated cable. The 1-0 gauge cables just installed in the '58 Hawk may seem to some to be overkill, but heavy cables are apparently a really good thing for many 6V applications.

I've rerouted the positive cable on the Packard this morning so that it passes under the Hydrovac and approaches the solenoid from below... seems a lot tidier. I ordered the negative cable for this '58 Hawk in 24" length, the positive in 45". I searched some old contemporary magazine photos of engine compartments of '57 and '58 Hawks, but it was difficult to see the routing of the cables.