Wire sizes- BS to mm2 ect

One more point Matt, you need to know what sort of currents you intend to carry in the cable you after and then do some calculations to see just how thick the cable should be to best serve your requirements.

Do not buy any cable just based on the amps marked on the cable.

If cable has amps marked on it, the current is the maximum current the manufacturer recommends but is usually useless for a circuit you are planning to use the cable in.

For example, some 8B&S ( 7.9mm2 ) cable is sold with a 100 amp marking. You could put 100 amps through this cable but if the cable was just 1 metre long and you tried to put 100 amps through it, with an alternator voltage of 14 volts at the supply end, your 100 amp load would be lucky to be getting 9 or 10 volts at the other end.

There’s another link bellow that will save you trying to do the calculations for working out what length and size of cable you will need to best meet your requirements.

Cheers

Cable Size Calculator

This whole "automotive" sizing of cables should be totally ditched and all cables described in terms of their cross sectional area as they are in all other areas of electrical engineering. Choosing a cable is a technical judgment which needs to take a number of factors into account, aside from current, and cannot be made on the basis that anyone (including the cable manufacturers) say "it's good for x amps".

Mike Harding

Hi Tim

A good Link it is quite complete thanks.

I have been enjoying your threads on the other forums. Your own forum thread was especially interesting. You should put these cable sizing links on your own website. TRAXIDE.COM.AU

Regards

Derek.

Couldn’t agree with you more Mike.

Why the automotive industry here hasn't adapted the European style of metric cabling sizes is beyond me, especially as the all 240 vac cable sizes here have to conform to these sizes and markings.

It would mean one standard, easy to follow, sizing system.

Cheers.

Matt, what size is the wire, according to the "reputable" aftermarket supplier !!
What length does it run from Battery to Fridge.