Adding more batteries

[Jim Seamans]

Mainsail,
To my current installation of 4 GC2 batteries, I plan to install another pair to provide me with ~660Ahrs. Current cables are not long enough, need 1.5ft more to hook them up. Was wondering, to add these, I was going to add the extra cable by using lugs on cable ends (positive and negative) with a bolt and shrink wrapping the entire affair. Otherwise, I will need to run need feeder cables from the battery bank..

You thoughts on this?

 

[Dantodd]

Mainsail,
To my current installation of 4 GC2 batteries, I plan to install another pair to provide me with ~660Ahrs. Current cables are not long enough, need 1.5ft more to hook them up. Was wondering, to add these, I was going to add the extra cable by using lugs on cable ends (positive and negative) with a bolt and shrink wrapping the entire affair. Otherwise, I will need to run need feeder cables from the battery bank..

You thoughts on this?

I recently had some cables made up. I couldn't justify the price of quality crimpers in 2/0 so I paid someone to make the cables to spec. Genuinedealz.com has good prices and only charges $1 per crimp in labor. If you don't have access to the right tools this is your best option. It was actually cheaper than buying the parts at WM and assembling them myself. Plus they used the better lugs that you can't source through WM.

 

[Jim Seamans]

Thanks Dantodd, That's not the problem, I have everything. I just need to extend the cables since I made them before without much slack. I just don't want to go and purchase 20 ft of yellow and red 4/0 cable to make a 1.5ft extension...

 

[mitiempo]

Shouldn't need 4/0. 2/0 should be fine.

Make sure you draw across the bank instead of from one end - that way the batteries will have equal loading and the charge input should also be across the bank.

 

[Maine Sail]

Thanks Dantodd, That's not the problem, I have everything. I just need to extend the cables since I made them before without much slack. I just don't want to go and purchase 20 ft of yellow and red 4/0 cable to make a 1.5ft extension...

Jim,

I would affix them to a couple of Blue Sea Power Posts then run the short jump wires from the pos & neg power posts..

http://bluesea.com/category/82/38/productline/194

 

[CarlN]

Or go one step beyond Mainsail's suggestion and have the positive jumper connect to a BlueSea ANL fuse block instead of a post.

Carl