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aceofspades
Dodge Dakota
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5/05/2008
22:36:51

Subject: Voltage drop?
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Im going to get some power cable to relocate my battery tomorrow and im trying to figure out what gauge will work. I know how to figure out how much of a voltage drop i will see, but what is acceptable? how much of a voltage drop can i experience and still function properly without the truck dying?



J and J Auto
GenII
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5/06/2008
01:43:24

RE: Voltage drop?
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Why not just go to summitracing.com and get
a battery relocation kit

comes with cables ends and a box if you want
one

$40 to $100 depending on what you chose

Larry
J&J Auto

aceofspades
Dodge Dakota
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5/06/2008
09:56:26

RE: Voltage drop?
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because all i need is the power cable, and thats gonna cost me about 15bucks, so why waste the extra money? all i really need is to know what an acceptable voltage drop would be, so that i can still drive and use my headlights and everything properly without it dying or having the lights dim



evilroy
Dodge Dakota
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5/06/2008
19:24:51

RE: Voltage drop?
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Max voltage drop across the positive or negative side should be under .3 volts, measured from the battery post to the load (engine block for the ground side, starter terminal or alternator output terminal for the positive side). A modern fuel injected engine will shut down under about 10 volts, above that, up to around 11-11 1/2 vo;ts, it may not run right, but it will run, and things like your turn signals and radio will act strange. System voltage, engine running should be around 13.5 volts. These numbers are generic specs, as they say, your mileage may vary.
If you are relocating your battery to the bed, you should go at least 1 size and preferably 2 sizes bigger (smaller, numerically) gauge over the stock cable.



aceofspades
Dodge Dakota
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5/06/2008
19:30:57

RE: Voltage drop?
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i Went with 4gauge, the guys at the installation place said it would be just fine, so if i have a problem, ill have them fix it



Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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5/07/2008
09:18:54

RE: Voltage drop?
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To do it *right*, you need to know how many feet you're running, and how many ohms/ft of resistance the cable you're using has, and match it to the original resistance. 4 AWG will give you about 0.00025 ohms per foot. Multiply that by the new length (so if it's say, 12 feet, you have 3 milliophms of resistance. You'd have to draw 100 amps before you get into trouble. So you're probably OK.

Or you can hack it and hope for the best.



aceofspades
Dodge Dakota
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5/07/2008
12:19:17

RE: Voltage drop?
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i got 10foot, but i plan on using 8-9tops, i told the guy all this information, distance, amps, etc, he said 4gauge would be fine and if i wanted to go overboard 2gauge, but he said 4gqauge would work fine, so i took his word



daddio
Dodge Dakota
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5/07/2008
12:32:25

RE: Voltage drop?
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you may be safe but the resistance always comes into play. the number of conductors in each cable will determine resistance and amperage capacity.



aceofspades
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2008
21:35:52

RE: Voltage drop?
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got everything done and hooked up and now the engine doesnt crank, just makes a rapid clicking noise sort of like a quiet air ratchet, the battery voltage is a little low, i think i got like 12.5, so its so-so, but i think its a combination of the voltage drop and low battery

or could it be the starter? if its just a low battery(still stock) and voltage drop, ill get a new battery and make the place where i bought the cable fix the problem since they told me i didnt need the 2gauge wire and they talked me out of it



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