Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-04-2018, 11:14 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 9
Where to get white battery cable?

The PO of my trailer cut the white 8AWG ground cable for the battery. The splice was poor and came apart with very little effort. I want to replace it but I do not have the crimper, etc. for 8AWG cable and battery lugs. Where I can buy a pre-made replacement? Its only about 18" long... I have seen this exact thing in black/red but nowhere do I see white. Buying a roll of cable, fittings for both ends and a crimper is not a very economical solution...
JLamb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2018, 11:48 AM   #2
Carknocker Family
 
Ida Ratherbe Camping's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 690
Buy either a black pre made or a red pre made. If it confuses you, buy a roll of white electrical tape and tape near ends to remind you the wire is supposed to be white
Ida Ratherbe Camping is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2018, 11:55 AM   #3
Empty Nesters
 
KenandCarol's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Santa Maria, CA
Posts: 361
You can buy 8 awg wire from Home Depot for .45c per foot (and they do sell it by the foot. You can also buy ring terminals that screw down on the wire so no crimper is required. $2.77 for a pack of two.

just an option.
__________________
2017 Sunseeker 2250 24' MH
KenandCarol is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2018, 05:44 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Payson, AZ
Posts: 3,862
our local napa auto parts store makes custom battery cables. don't know if all do, if other chains do, or if they have white. but no harm to ask.
__________________
2015 cardinal model 3825fl
2015 dodge ram 3500 dually
CHICKDOE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2018, 05:47 PM   #5
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Scotia, NY
Posts: 21
You may want to check out West Marine for white cable. Bit in all honesty the white tape or shrink tube approach is quite easy as you can economically order a premade black wire and mark it.
goreviper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2018, 07:39 PM   #6
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
Check out solar interconnect cable. They have a lot of premade cables.
__________________
Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
Gotta go campin!
Bama Rambler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2018, 08:27 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,283
Your local battery supplier will make custom cables for your battery connections.

FWIW, rather than replace the cable with #8, why not upgrade to the more common battery cable size of #6.

I'm in the midst of a project to replace all my wiring between battery and converter/charger with #4 awg stranded wire. The #8 may be adequate on paper but listen to your furnace sometime while running and you turn your converter off so it switches to battery power. The audible drop in speed is far less now that I have the larger wire between the battery on the tongue and the converter/power panel which is behind the rear axle.

You may never upgrade the positive side but there's nothing wrong with a larger gauge negative cable.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)

"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"

2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change)
TitanMike is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 01:08 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
jtesta1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Valencia Pa
Posts: 602
Buy a red or black cable go to Walmart and buy white duct tape for 3.88 . Problem solved.
jtesta1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 01:38 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
DouglasReid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ida Ratherbe Camping View Post
Buy either a black pre made or a red pre made. If it confuses you, buy a roll of white electrical tape and tape near ends to remind you the wire is supposed to be white
X2^^ Electricians do this all the time i houses
__________________
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
DouglasReid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 01:45 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
Marine Battery Cable, Tinned Marine Grade Battery Cables : AWG Gauge Size Genuinedealz.com
babock is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 06:49 PM   #11
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 36
X2 on NAPA making battery cables. I have gone to them and gave them the info of how long I needed along with + or - and they took care of me.
rock-rocker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 07:27 PM   #12
Bene Gesserit Rule
 
Murbella7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 846
Quote:
Originally Posted by JLamb View Post
The PO of my trailer cut the white 8AWG ground cable for the battery. The splice was poor and came apart with very little effort. I want to replace it but I do not have the crimper, etc. for 8AWG cable and battery lugs. Where I can buy a pre-made replacement? Its only about 18" long... I have seen this exact thing in black/red but nowhere do I see white. Buying a roll of cable, fittings for both ends and a crimper is not a very economical solution...
White should never be used as electrical cable. It does not adhere to any of the regulations and would just confuse any/everybody else (apart from you) as to the purpose of it. Use RED for +ve DC, BROWN for Active AC, BLACK for -ve DC, BLUE for Neutral AC. GREEN or GREEN with either a YELLOW or WHITE stripe for earth.
Murbella7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 07:56 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 108
Quote:
Originally Posted by Murbella7 View Post
White should never be used as electrical cable. It does not adhere to any of the regulations and would just confuse any/everybody else (apart from you) as to the purpose of it. Use RED for +ve DC, BROWN for Active AC, BLACK for -ve DC, BLUE for Neutral AC. GREEN or GREEN with either a YELLOW or WHITE stripe for earth.
That's not correct. Every camper I have seen, and owned, has white wire for the negative battery cable. The OP said he is replacing a white cable - not just adding one and choosing to use white.
__________________
____________________
2017 Silverado 3500 Z71 CC / L5P Duramax/Allison
2018 Grand Design Reflection 311 BHS
2015 Coachmen Apex 259BHSS 50th Anniversary (sold)
rjc1024 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 07:59 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Oaklevel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 9,732
Usually most automotive battery cables are black for ground and red for positive, but not always as in our last camper the colors were reversed.........

I do not trust either or any color as the colors get switched. I always follow out where they end up before reattaching......... I have 2AWG on one of the Mustangs and they are both premade blue.


__________________

2005 Dodge 3500 Cummins
2017 Wildwood Lodge 4092 BFL
1966 Mustang GT
1986 Mustang SVO
Lillie Spoiled Rotten Boxer Mix
Oaklevel is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 09:22 PM   #15
Bene Gesserit Rule
 
Murbella7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 846
Quote:
Originally Posted by rjc1024 View Post
That's not correct. Every camper I have seen, and owned, has white wire for the negative battery cable. The OP said he is replacing a white cable - not just adding one and choosing to use white.
I realize that the RV industry is a completely random thing with no real regulation and certainly no oversee of anything, so builders (and rebuilders/repairers) can and do whatever they like however they like, (and they do). But when but comes down to fundamentals like wiring, why go against regulation and standards? Worse, why promote non-standards? Why make it confusing? Just because some use white cable doesn't mean that it should be used.
Murbella7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 09:25 PM   #16
Bene Gesserit Rule
 
Murbella7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 846
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oaklevel View Post
Usually most automotive battery cables are black for ground and red for positive, but not always as in our last camper the colors were reversed.........

I do not trust either or any color as the colors get switched. I always follow out where they end up before reattaching......... I have 2AWG on one of the Mustangs and they are both premade blue.


X2: I don't necessarily follow a cable run but do check with a multimeter.
Murbella7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2018, 01:26 AM   #17
Senior Member
 
DouglasReid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
Quote:
Originally Posted by Murbella7 View Post
White should never be used as electrical cable. It does not adhere to any of the regulations and would just confuse any/everybody else (apart from you) as to the purpose of it. Use RED for +ve DC, BROWN for Active AC, BLACK for -ve DC, BLUE for Neutral AC. GREEN or GREEN with either a YELLOW or WHITE stripe for earth.
In the US the color code for AC is as follows

Ground = Green or Bare Copper

White = Neutral

Any other color is a Positive or Hot wire. Black being the most commonly used.

In 12 volt systems for trailers connecting to vehicles, white is Ground, used to connect vehicle ground to trailers for grounding the lights.

The white color does not confuse anyone over here.
__________________
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
DouglasReid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2018, 06:11 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 108
Quote:
Originally Posted by Murbella7 View Post
I realize that the RV industry is a completely random thing with no real regulation and certainly no oversee of anything, so builders (and rebuilders/repairers) can and do whatever they like however they like, (and they do). But when but comes down to fundamentals like wiring, why go against regulation and standards? Worse, why promote non-standards? Why make it confusing? Just because some use white cable doesn't mean that it should be used.
I respectfully disagree. The trailer light circuit has a white ground. My utility trailer with no brakes and a 4 prong flat plug uses white for ground. My new 5th wheel has white ground on the battery and white for neutral on the AC systems. While I agree that there is a real lack of standards in the RV industry telling the OP that it's wrong to replace existing white wire with new white is simply not correct.
__________________
____________________
2017 Silverado 3500 Z71 CC / L5P Duramax/Allison
2018 Grand Design Reflection 311 BHS
2015 Coachmen Apex 259BHSS 50th Anniversary (sold)
rjc1024 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2018, 06:22 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Port Charlotte Fl/Hinsdale Ma
Posts: 4,823
Quote:
Originally Posted by Murbella7 View Post
White should never be used as electrical cable. It does not adhere to any of the regulations and would just confuse any/everybody else (apart from you) as to the purpose of it. Use RED for +ve DC, BROWN for Active AC, BLACK for -ve DC, BLUE for Neutral AC. GREEN or GREEN with either a YELLOW or WHITE stripe for earth.
That right there just ain't right. But you guys just ain't right anyway. White is in fact used as Neutral in AC electric in the States. Blue is, in fact, a HOT color in the US and in the National Electric Code.

Don't come over here and play electrician. You'll get kilt!
cavie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2018, 06:46 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
DouglasReid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
Quote:
Originally Posted by rjc1024 View Post
I respectfully disagree. The trailer light circuit has a white ground. My utility trailer with no brakes and a 4 prong flat plug uses white for ground. My new 5th wheel has white ground on the battery and white for neutral on the AC systems. While I agree that there is a real lack of standards in the RV industry telling the OP that it's wrong to replace existing white wire with new white is simply not correct.
X2
__________________
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
DouglasReid is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
battery, cable

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:32 AM.