| Routing coach battery cable? [message #90616] |
Thu, 01 July 2010 07:04  |
Dave Martin
Messages: 59
Registered: May 2010
Location: Ames Iowa Home Base
Karma: 0
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I've a '73 26' and want to route some heavy cables between the front 2 deep cycle batteries and the electrical cabinet in the rear. I've added three extra deep cycle batteries behind the generator.
Is it practical to pull a new cable using the old one or should I just route new cables (2ga) nested in the drivers side frame?
Dave in Iowa (now)
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| Re: [GMCnet] Routing coach battery cable? [message #90620 is a reply to message #90616] |
Thu, 01 July 2010 07:24  |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Dave,
I wouldn't try to pull new cables with the old. The old ones pass through
holes in the ribs and are embedded in the urethane foam isulation. It would
probably be a completely frustrating attempt.
Installing new cables, and abandoning the old one, is a good idea; there
have been numerous reports of deteriorated insulation on the original cables
causing a serious short and fire hazard. It that foam catches fire, the
coach will most likely burn to the ground.
Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven
www.gmcwipersetc.com
On Thu, Jul 1, 2010 at 8:04 AM, Dave Martin <dmartin@newarts.com> wrote:
>
>
> I've a '73 26' and want to route some heavy cables between the front 2 deep
> cycle batteries and the electrical cabinet in the rear. I've added three
> extra deep cycle batteries behind the generator.
>
> Is it practical to pull a new cable using the old one or should I just
> route new cables (2ga) nested in the drivers side frame?
>
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Routing coach battery cable? [message #90623 is a reply to message #90620] |
Thu, 01 July 2010 07:46 |
Dave Martin
Messages: 59
Registered: May 2010
Location: Ames Iowa Home Base
Karma: 0
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Member |
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Thanks Ken, I hadn't thought about the foam aspect, so will simply route new cables.
Dave (now in Iowa)
| Ken Henderson wrote on Thu, 01 July 2010 07:24 |
Dave,
I wouldn't try to pull new cables with the old. The old ones pass through
holes in the ribs and are embedded in the urethane foam isulation. It would
probably be a completely frustrating attempt.
Installing new cables, and abandoning the old one, is a good idea; there
have been numerous reports of deteriorated insulation on the original cables
causing a serious short and fire hazard. It that foam catches fire, the
coach will most likely burn to the ground.
Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven
www.gmcwipersetc.com
On Thu, Jul 1, 2010 at 8:04 AM, Dave Martin <dmartin@newarts.com> wrote:
>
>
> I've a '73 26' and want to route some heavy cables between the front 2 deep
> cycle batteries and the electrical cabinet in the rear. I've added three
> extra deep cycle batteries behind the generator.
>
> Is it practical to pull a new cable using the old one or should I just
> route new cables (2ga) nested in the drivers side frame?
>
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: Routing coach battery cable? [message #90624 is a reply to message #90616] |
Thu, 01 July 2010 07:48 |
Rusty
Messages: 197
Registered: October 2005
Location: Philadelphia Pa
Karma: 0
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This is actually next on my list of pro-active tasks. My cable is really bad as it comes thru the firewall. 2 yrs ago I covered it with some of the clear plastic tubing that has nylon braid inside it. I cringe at what it may look like inside the body. Its sort of a no brainer to decide to run a new (4 or 6 gauge?) cable along the frame somewhere back to the rear junction.
Maybe its a fluke but this is the first I have heard that the old 36-yr old foam insulation is susceptible to ignition by some spark or heat source. Thats not good to hear.
Rusty
75 Glenbrook
Philadelphia Pa
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| Re: Routing coach battery cable? [message #90628 is a reply to message #90626] |
Thu, 01 July 2010 08:08 |
midlf
Messages: 2212
Registered: July 2007
Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
Karma: 1
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Do run the cables in PVC conduit or flex tube to protect them. Also properly protect them, at each end, with appropriate fuses or circuit breakers.
Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
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| Re: Routing coach battery cable? [message #90646 is a reply to message #90616] |
Thu, 01 July 2010 09:20 |
AStasunas
Messages: 58
Registered: April 2009
Location: Winter Springs, Fl
Karma: 0
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In the process of my restoration, I discovered the insulation on my cable was falling off so I replaced mine front to back. I had the interior of the coach stripped so it was not a bad job. In the front, beyond the cab, I did route the cable through flexible water tight electrical conduit for extra protection. I did this because that was the area of the old cable where the insulation was really bad.
"Vinnie"
1975 Eleganza,
Winter Springs, Fl
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| Re: Routing coach battery cable? [message #90649 is a reply to message #90646] |
Thu, 01 July 2010 09:37 |
Keith V
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
Karma: 0
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And to think ,my Royale has an unprotected battery cable running from the front all that way to the generator. Seems like a fire waiting to happen.
Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
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| Re: Routing coach battery cable? [message #90652 is a reply to message #90626] |
Thu, 01 July 2010 09:54 |
hertfordnc
Messages: 1164
Registered: September 2009
Location: East NC
Karma: 0
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| Dave Martin wrote on Thu, 01 July 2010 08:05 |
it'll be about a 40' total run (plus and minus) to the electrical cabinet. For 4 gauge cable this will be .01 ohms (4' of 4 ga cable is .001 ohms, 1mv/amp drop).
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Why would you run two? Seems to me you only need to run the positive cable, everything shares a chassis ground.
Dave & Ellen Silva
Hertford, NC
76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff
Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021
It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Routing coach battery cable? [message #90665 is a reply to message #90655] |
Thu, 01 July 2010 11:08 |
hertfordnc
Messages: 1164
Registered: September 2009
Location: East NC
Karma: 0
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| k2gkk wrote on Thu, 01 July 2010 10:02 |
Chassis ground connections are notoriously unpredictable,
especially with a vehicle as old as these are.
A separate dedicated negative side cable is good insurance.
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naaahhhh 
every component that uses power does so through a chassis ground, including the starter, (which demands solid connections)
If you run a proper cable to a bare metal frame connection at both ends of the circuit, use compatible hardware, clean it and coat it properly, the age of the coach will not be a factor.
We do this on C-130s that were also build in the 70's.
Dave & Ellen Silva
Hertford, NC
76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff
Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021
It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Routing coach battery cable? [message #90674 is a reply to message #90670] |
Thu, 01 July 2010 12:23 |
Dave Martin
Messages: 59
Registered: May 2010
Location: Ames Iowa Home Base
Karma: 0
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| Quote: |
If you run a proper cable to a bare metal frame connection at both
ends of the circuit, use compatible hardware, clean it and coat it
properly, the age of the coach will not be a factor.
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Is "compatible hardware" brass nut & washer on steel, or steel on steel, or galvanized on steel?
Is "coat it properly" grease or paint or vinyl or something else?
Dave (now in Iowa, plan on Minnesota tonight)
[Updated on: Thu, 01 July 2010 12:26] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] Routing coach battery cable? [message #90678 is a reply to message #90670] |
Thu, 01 July 2010 12:54 |
hertfordnc
Messages: 1164
Registered: September 2009
Location: East NC
Karma: 0
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We're splitting hairs and I certainly don't want to get on anyones nerves. I just meant that the metal under the corrosion is just as old on the airplane as one the coach.
My thinking is that if the engine starts off the coach battery and the generator starts off the house battery then the both have a good ground.
My plan for the Revcon is to connect the batteries via a marine switch so i can share charging power between the coach, the generator and the converter.
But 'm planning to run one big wire from front to back.
Dave & Ellen Silva
Hertford, NC
76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff
Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021
It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
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| Re: Routing coach battery cable? [message #90680 is a reply to message #90616] |
Thu, 01 July 2010 13:01 |
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I would forget 2 gauge and go ballz to the wall with 4/0 gauge! Look for marine cable on ebay u can find 25foot lengths of 4/0 for around 120!
73 Canyon Lands, (a.k.a. The Yellow Submarine) West Los Angeles CA
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