(This is a project only at this time and 2nd on list)

Last week neighbor asked me to give her kids car a battery jump at local grocery store.  Had to use wifes CRV as my dash still out of my 01.  When I arrived I  couldn't get near enough to jump battery.  As I'm sitting there waiting for somebody to move their car. I'm thinking I need longer and better jumper cables.  

  

Project is... I'm thinking 2/0 welding cable has would cover the project of about 25 feet.  From right side battery and underneath to back bumper.  Once at back bumper going to use "Anderson SB 50 amp" connector. ( Like elec forklifts use).   Then about 10 foot jumper cables.  And also going to use jumpers as charger for extra set of RV batteries in bed of pick up.  And very seldom but a 2500 pd winch sometimes.   Of course not at the same time.  I'm I missing anything?

 

I'm  thinking amps will be up there somewhere being elec is going from a good battery to a dead one.  

 

Nothing chipped in stone yet, in first steps of planning.

 

How much elec going thru wires, should I plan on, so I get right size wire?  

 

Thanks

Edited September 3, 20186 yr by 015point9
Add info

6 hours ago, 015point9 said:

And also going to use jumpers as charger for extra set of RV batteries in bed of pick up.

 

The power connection in the trailer plug is the charge lead typically if the RV is hooked up. Even though that lead has a 40 Amp fuse it won't flow any more than the batteries will take. If the batteries need 5 amp that all they will take. The only way to increase this charge rate is to up the voltage the current will rise. Being the charging system is only going to provide 13.5 to 14.5 volts typically I really doubt there will be any serious gains to charge rate with 2/0 cables. 

 

6 hours ago, 015point9 said:

And very seldom but a 2500 pd winch sometimes. 

 

Now for a winch and the heavy load and voltage loss in travel of the wire. Yeah, you might need heavier cable but even 2/0 seems to be overkill. Just checking the voltage loss with 2/0 cable at 25 feet with 160 amp load DC is 0.62 volts. From searching the internet they are saying on average 160 amp at full load for a 2,500 pound winch. Even at 2 AWG would only be 1.25 volt loss. Again I don't expect you to be running right to the margin of the winch. 

That's what I have on my truck front and back

https://m.ebay.com/itm/4-175A-Battery-Quick-Connect-Wire-Harness-Plug-Disconnect-Winch-Connector-Kit-/152600677058?txnId=1749285061005

50 amp are too small.

Can't go wrong with heavier cable, I used the set of 2.0 jumper cables I had laying around for a while they were made in USA. 

I can jump a vehicle front or back of my truck or use a portable winch front or back.

Now a charging wire should be good enough in the trailer plug like Mike mentioned.

2.0 cable is big and heavy. My brother built me a set out of 2.0, 18' long and they weigh 25#, they want to pull the clamp off the battery. They were nice for jumping heavy logging equipment tho. 2 gauge might be enough.