When selecting the correct size of a battery cable to power your electrical system or project, a few factors need to be considered.You should know what is the maximum amount of current your system will need, how long the cables need to be, and the cost of larger cables versus smaller cables. When figuring out the length you need, you will add together the lengths of both the positive and negative cables to get your total length.

First let’s talk about the importance of current when selecting your battery cable. Each of your electrical devices will require a specific number of amps to operate. For example, a light bulb might use 1/2 an amp of current, while an inverter might use 100 amps of current. In this case, simply divide the number for watts by your system’s voltage to get the amperage requirements. If a device says it uses 120 watts, then 120 watts / 12 volts = 10 amps.

The second thing to consider when selecting the correct size battery cable is the length of cable you need.

Why is voltage drop important? At the source, or battery, you will read 12 volts using a voltage meter, but at the other end of the cable your voltmeter will only read 11.76 volts (12 volts -2%). If your circuit needs 100 amps of current, the battery cable will be absorbing 2 amps (24 watts) of current because of it’s resistance, leaving 98 amps available. Now lets say that you are using a smaller gauge cable for that same length and your voltage drop is 10%. Now your voltmeter at the other end of your battery cable will read 10.8 volts (12 volts – 10%) and that same 100 amp current draw will cause your battery cable to absorb 120 watts (10 amps) of power, leaving only 90 amps available! Your cable will definitely get warm to the touch.

In summary, when selecting the correct size of battery cable, you need to take into account the total maximum amperage your electrical system requires, the voltage of your system (usually 12 volts), the total length that your cables need to be, and the amount of voltage drop you are willing to accept versus the amount you want to spend.

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