The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Braided ground cable

Why did most older vehicles use a braided ground cable and why did we stop using them. I am trying to decide whether to use a braided ground on my 1952 or just a regular cable. The braided cables don't have a gauge rating like copper cables. How do you know if it is adequate or not?

Chuck

the pre-made ones are 2 gauge and are tin coated copper, nothing better, ordinary standard cables are just cheaper, which is why braided aren't used OEM much now, grounds aren't quite as important on 12V - you'll still find flat braided grounds on a lot of high end tech equipment - go with the best

Bill

NAPA had one size of braided ground cable the last time I asked. It was 6 gauge and inadequate for a 6v system.

Jim Carter indicates he has "correct" braided cable and that could mean 2 gauge or fatter. If it is 2 gauge, it would be OK, but a thicker cable would be better.

I use round/covered 2/0 (00) gauge ground cable and get it long enough to run from the battery to a starter bolt.

http://www.waltstractors.com/acatalog/Ground_Cable-Flat_Braided.html

I use a flat braided ground cable (about 2 1/4 inches wide) to go from
engine to frame.
I use a "zero" gauge cable to go from Battery to engine.

I use a round braided cable from body to frame "mid ship" just to be sure.

Proper grounding is the key to a good wiring job!

Mike

My original braided cable looked pretty funky. I had a container of used phosphoric acid that I thought was used up. I threw the cable in that and forgot it for about a week. Most of the tin is gone and it is clean copper wire. I suppose this will oxidize or sulfate up if I try to use it in that condition or will it?

The only braided cables I have seen do not indicate a gauge rating. Finding 2/0 cable anywhere around here hasn't happened for me. The last time I tried at a starter/alternator rebuilder place I left after the owner insisted that 1 gauge was a bigger cable than 2/0. Drawing 2 zeros on his notepaper helped about as much as if I drew them on his forehead.

Chuck

Chuck - yes the bare copper will oxidize and wind up weakening - being nice and clean, you could get a good 200W soldering iron or gun and some 60/40 straight wire solder and paste flux and re-tin it yourself, just don't flow so much solder on it gets stiff - good as new

Bill

Tractor Supply has several sizes of braided ground strap, at least when I got one a few years ago. I used to work at Carquest, and we could get a wide range of sizes....NAPA should be able to, also.

The braided cable (and non-braided cable) will not oxidize much (if any) if you coat the contact surfaces with non-oxidizing conductive grease (available off the shelf from NAPA).

In Tech Tips there is some useful info in the Electrical Systems category too.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions.
Drew, I just read thru most of the Tech Tips again.
It just proves I don't understand everything I know about electricity.

Chuck