Battery Cable Questions

[DropTopDon]

1. What gauge battery cables would I need for my TJ and what is the difference, I read that TJ's come factory with 6 gauge wires. I saw someone else installing 2 gauge wires though so I was just wondering what the difference is and which one I should get.
2. Is it worth it to buy a kit from custombattercables or jeepcables for $150+ dollars? What advantage would I get from purchasing one of those rather than one for less from somewhere else.

 

[sfexeter]

I recently purchased the jeepcables.com setup and would not recommend them for a TJ. The wires that enter the fuse box do not have a 90 degree bend, so if installed they are completely in the way of the battery. Also, the in line fuse it utilizes has no place to be cleanly secured given the amount of included wire. I ended up using the factory cables for that part (which in my estimate makes it a big waste of $). I spoke with the owner who was a very nice guy, but he didn't have any solution to the issue. It looks like the custombatterycables setup solves the issues I had. Maybe someone here can speak to those, but they look like the better option.

 

[CharlesHS]

https://www.batterycablesusa.com/
You can purchase materials you need and build your own cables.

 

[dracotonisamond]

for an inline fuse for the alternator here is a trick i figured out that ends up being fairly neat.
get one of these and bend the tab 90 degrees, it hangs off the fusebox nicely.
https://www.bluesea.com/products/5191/MRBF_Terminal_Fuse_Block_-_30_to_300A

i also put a small strip of 1/8 copper bus bar under the fusebox terminal but thats probably not needed.

 

[CONJOB]

Hello

If you build your own, don’t forget the nice battery terminal. The heavy wires need a place easy to mount too.
For the connection to the fuse box, I just put a bend in the end connector and the lid was able to close. Not as clean as in the photo above but free.

If you are in the market for a winch as well, I used the extra 2 GA cables in the Badlands winch for a run from the battery to the alternator. And two grounds , one to the engine block and one to the body both to the battery The jury is still out on any improvement since it is a very new installation but it does appear to make my motor run smoother.

 

[skrelnik]

Custom battery cables was a great kit. Easy install...highly recommend it.

I also wrapped the harness with some cable wrap.

As an example: https//www.mcmaster.com/cable-wrap/

Next to the stock cable harness.

 

[TJ Jim]

I went with custombatterycables.com also. They were dang near perfect. The 90° bend at the pcm was a little short, but they are heavier and great for my winch. Highly recommend checking them out.

 

[Zorba]

I just beefed up the ground as the winch has its own 2 ga feed and the stock positives are fine for the rest of the Jeep proper. I went with batterycablesusa.

 

[CharlesHS]

Shortly after purchasing my '01 TJ 4.0L I inspected the 6 gauge battery cables, clamps, ground connections to the engine block and fire wall; the positive clamp was cracked and the insulation for the battery cables had receded about 2" from the clamps.
Built new battery cables with materials that were remnants from cable build left over from XJ cable build; flexible fine stranded 2 gauge cables, military style battery clamps, 4 gauge wire to the firewall ground and installed split wire loom on all the cables.
The difference in speed the engine cranked/started was quite noticeable.