Just getting into some upgrades on a used jeep I picked up, and was wondering if anyone would provide some battery cable recommendations for a 1995 4.0L Jeep Cherokee. Brands, and things to consider, before I pull the trigger on a purchase.

 

I installed these and love them....

https://jeepersandcreepers.com/colle...tery-cable-kit

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Standard battery cable clamps work fine. one cable that is oft lacking is the negative, the one from fire wall (near center of upper firewall near cowl) to the engine block near the dipstick for oil. It is a small short bare braided cable. replace it with a fatter cable. also note if the nearby harness to that braided cable rubs on it, that braided cable will via vibration, saw thru the other cable, so route the harness carefully, or simply replace that braided cable with a big fat one insulated in rubber.

the dip stick lug has also many small wires, used for fuel injection, clean them well too.

Cruiser54 website has lots of good info on the electrical stuff for xj's.

http://cruiser54.com/

 

Jeepcables.com is where I sourced mine from.

 

Thanks M998, I will check out these cables.

 

Thanks robsjeep for the details and website, all things I have not considered.

 

Thanks 74Plb this is a good resource.

 

Make sure you get cables with the correct insulation material and thickness for the situation they're used in (heat, chemicals etc.)
This usually means skipping past the cheap section.

You might want to consider upgrading in wire gauge while you're at it.
Standard is 6 from battery pos terminal , and 8 from fenderwall to battery neg terminal
Upgrade to 4 and 6 AWG.

 

That's a nice upgrade. It's not necessary, but it's nice. And upgrade the main ground to the block, while you are at it.

Anything bigger is a stupid waste of copper, promoted by people who do not understand electricity. Those include the re-tellers of misunderstood Internet lore and people who sell battery cables with stupidly big cables. For example:

Hogwash. No matter how many accessories, or how big your accessories, your starter will never draw any more amperage than it does now. Not one bit. So, there is no gain to be had in going bigger. Really, the stock 6 ga. is fine. It works reliably. 4 gauge gives a bit more room for error, but that's it. Any bigger and you are in stupid territory.

If you add a winch and upgrade your alternator, you may want some big cables to your winch, and a bigger cable from the alternator to the battery. Your starter will not care. Neither its cable nor the main ground cable need to be upgraded for a winch OR for a bigger alternator. That will accomplish exactly nothing. Well, your wallet will be lighter, but that's it.

If you add a bazillion watts of lights, same thing. You run cables (hot and ground) to them based on the length of the run and the current draw of the accessories. Again, your starter will not care.

If you want to improve your system, get after that fender ground (it's lousy), maybe add a ground strap to the back of the engine near the dipstick to the firewall, and do the upgrade suggested by Roler. And do NOT buy some stupid big fat cable to replace the small braided strap that goes from the head to the firewall! That is there for radio noise suppression. If you MUST upgrade it, just get a bit bigger braided strap.

Don't let the Ignorati sell you huge cables that do NOTHING for you.


I have mine made by BestBoatWire.com. I get the clear heat shrink so I can see what's going on at the cable ends. Use military style terminals, and you have a very nice setup.


Also a lot cheaper than the two sellers of wasted copper listed above.



P.S. See this post or this post for my approach to the fender ground next to the battery. It's a weak spot.

 

Thanks Roler, yeah I was just reading up on gauges before I came across your response. Good timing.

 

Awesome, thanks BlueRidgeMark for the detailed response. I use my jeep primarily for simple hauling when doing construction jobs, and not much into mod territory, maybe that will be reserved for another jeep project in the future. Right now I am keeping stock, and just trying to get a used jeep run for several 100,000 more miles.

 

http://cruiser54.com/?p=19

 

Yikes!! Those prices are INSANE!!

I use a swag tool (originally to make garage door cables) with marine wire and connectors from WestMarine. Usually just change connectors.

 

Here is a list of pros and cons for 2AWG
PROS
- Capable of more current (~130 amps)
- Less heat
- Looks cool

CONS
- Less flexible
- Heavier
- More money
- May be stolen by meth heads

2 AWG is just fine and a decent long term investment.
4 AWG (~95 amps) is just fine if its only going to be a stock build or daily driver with no toys. Either way you shouldn't have any power draw issues of you update to either

 

No.

How much current a cable is capable of supplying is not just a matter of the gauge, but the length, insulation, and other factors, as well, so saying that 2 gauge (or any gauge) is "capable of" some specified current is meaningless. (other than to indicate that the person saying does not understand electricity.)




There is no heat problem to solve.

I remember a friend of mine who got one of the very first Honda cars available in the U.S. He thought big tires on the back looked cool.

Naturally, we laughed at him.



You won't have any power draw issues with the factory 6 gauge, either.