Jump start cables
- Thread starter moose
- Start date
bubblehead
Veteran Expediter
Moose! Think of 10 as Bo Dereck and 16 as Rosie O'Donnell . Now ask yourself again...Which/what is better? And why?...Got it?
Moose, as a fellow Minnesotan I find your question embarrassing. I realize you are not a native, but this question should have been asked in private. Most native Minnesotans receive a set of jumper cables at birth and get a block heater for their 15th birthday.
The 10 gauge cables have a larger diameter wire than the 16 gauge which makes them better, especially on cables over 12' long. 4 gauge is even better and usually come with super heavy duty clamps.
A person can do extensive damage with a set of 4 gauge jumper cables and a couple cans of either!
The 10 gauge cables have a larger diameter wire than the 16 gauge which makes them better, especially on cables over 12' long. 4 gauge is even better and usually come with super heavy duty clamps.
A person can do extensive damage with a set of 4 gauge jumper cables and a couple cans of either!
bluejaybee
Veteran Expediter
Let's see now. Bo is a skinny slim thang! Rosie is (was) a pretty good size thang. In the wire (cable world), which do you want? Big or small? You want the big 'un. Bigger is better! So that would make Bo a 16 and Rosie a 10!
Just thought I'd try to clear that up a bit!
I wonder why and when they started this silly system with wire and shotgun gauges? I mean why would anyone one in their right mind have a SMALLER number for a LARGER size gauge? I understand the gauge sizes since I grew up with them but for someone who might not have it could get very confusing.
8 gauge for regular passenger vehicles or c/v, and nothing smaller than 4 gauge for trucks, in my opinion. Look at what gauge is used on your battery and starter connections. Get the picture?
To answer the original question as to why:
The smaller the diameter of the wire, the less current that can flow through it. Same idea as the volume of water that's able to run through a garden hose versus a fire hose.
To answer the original question as to why:
The smaller the diameter of the wire, the less current that can flow through it. Same idea as the volume of water that's able to run through a garden hose versus a fire hose.
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It started out because of the number of drawing operations used to produce a given gauge of wire. Very fine wire, say, 30 gauge, requires more passes through the drawing dies than does 2 gauge wire. Wire would be made initially in the largest size, which was 0 gauge, and if you draw the 0 gauge one time through the drawing dies to produce a slightly thinner wire, what comes out would be 1 gauge wire. If it took two draws to get smaller wire, that was 2 gauge. It's a little more complicated than that, as it's been standardized with mathematical formulas for each wire thickness, but that's how the gauge numbers got started. At least for wire. Not sure about gun shot, but it's probably similar.
greg334
Veteran Expediter
Shotguns sizes are based on the weight of a steel ball, 12 gage is 1/12 of a pound ball and 10 gage is 1/10 of a pound ball - both are used not as the shot size but the measurement of the diameter of the barrel size.
By the was Browne and Sharp wire size method is used today.
By the was Browne and Sharp wire size method is used today.
moose
Veteran Expediter
Exactly ,& that's why i had a hard time making any of it .
in Israel Jump Start cables are rated by a formula calculated by the outside thickness of the cable and the length of it .
which is kind of hard to understand as well ,so normally in the technicians preschool classes ,it will be demonstrated by the time it takes for the plastic installations to melt off the cables when connected directly to the 220V power outlet ,which normally resulted in the city lights dim ...
nightcreacher
Veteran Expediter
I carry 4 guage and keep my fingers crossed that don't need them
bluejaybee
Veteran Expediter
We never have to wonder for long. The turtle has the answer. It is amazing what the shelled one has in that head!
or any for that matter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bubblehead
Veteran Expediter
Almost....'BO' (10) is much more capable of jump starting your er' batterie(s) than 'RO' (16)...don't over think the concept
Hightech_Hobo
Expert Expediter
My answer is scrap all your jumper cables no matter the gauge...!!
Go with a booster instead...I remember early years in expediting standing in front of my van/truck holding cables in hand hoping for a kindly driver to help out...some of those waits were very long...
I found a Battery booster at walmart...A Black and decker 100 amp thing with an inverter, air compressor, light, 12 volt lighter plugs and 2 ac sockets. This device has proven invaluable in the truck over the last two years.
It would not start the big engine on the straight truck...but it got the generator going every time and that save my butt 2 or three times. I have since learned better battery managment and have not required a jump for some time now...but the booster has aired up my tires, provided light for repairs...run my printer that wont work on a modified sine wave inverter provided power for computers at picnic tables in rest area and much more...a $100.00 investment. I would not be without it in the truck!!
Go with a booster instead...I remember early years in expediting standing in front of my van/truck holding cables in hand hoping for a kindly driver to help out...some of those waits were very long...
I found a Battery booster at walmart...A Black and decker 100 amp thing with an inverter, air compressor, light, 12 volt lighter plugs and 2 ac sockets. This device has proven invaluable in the truck over the last two years.
It would not start the big engine on the straight truck...but it got the generator going every time and that save my butt 2 or three times. I have since learned better battery managment and have not required a jump for some time now...but the booster has aired up my tires, provided light for repairs...run my printer that wont work on a modified sine wave inverter provided power for computers at picnic tables in rest area and much more...a $100.00 investment. I would not be without it in the truck!!