On Wed, 10 Apr 2019 18:39:18 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote:

On Wed, 10 Apr 2019 15:10:50 -0400, Hugh Byrne wrote:

Ed Pawlowski wrote on Wed, 10 Apr 2019 10:15:09 -0400

I don't recall the last time I needed to use them, but I always carry a
set. I bet you do now too. You can get them for as little at $10.

Thank you everyone.
I will get 6 gauge or 4 gauge or even smaller (lower numbers being better
especially for longer distances).

I found a lot to choose from at home depot online
https://www.homedepot.com/b/Automoti...s/N-5yc1vZc8mb
Not so many at Lowes online and much higher prices
https://www.lowes.com/search?searchT...priceLowToHigh

What LENGTH is a good compromise between packing in the trunk & usefulness?
10 feet?
12 feet?
16 feet?
I'm kind of leaning toward buying three sets, one for each car.

20 foot 2 gauge will never fail you. Probably overkill, but I still have 2 sets.
They are good for conducting enough current to start most cars in sub-zero conditions,
even with a dead battery. If it's got engine problems all bet are off.
Here a couple tips. You must hear a load on the alternator of the charging car when you
connect the cables. It's very noticeable. If you don't hear it you don't have a good
connection. Especially with thin cable, once you know your connection is good, wait a
minute or three before you try to start the dead car. If it barely cranks, wait longer.
Longer cables make for easier good connections, but longer also means thicker.


The 00 cables I had on the Ramcharger would start a diesel truck or
tractor as long as it was 12 volts, not 24. - from 25 feet away.