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Jumper cable gauge?

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  #1  
Old 06-10-2019, 12:17 PM
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Default Jumper cable gauge?

Hi,

In a couple of weeks I'll embark on a 4k cross country trip and just in case I want to pack a MC-to-MC jumper cable (we have several bikes on that trip, hence MC-to-MC will work). Doing some research I see that those cables come in 10gauge and 12gauge (6ft length). I would like to take the thinnest/smallest cable I can get by. However I don't want to melt the cable either. I run a 2012 EG with the 103 engine. Does anybody know the max crank amps on that bike?
10 or 12 gauge? Any opinion?

Thanks!
 
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Old 06-10-2019, 12:23 PM
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I just use an extension wire going between battery tender plugs. Works for me.
18” similair to this
 
  #3  
Old 06-10-2019, 12:29 PM
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Hi Sturgis67 -

Jump starting a bike with a dead battery using such a cable would blow the fuse...
In any case, what gauge is that cable?
 
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Old 06-10-2019, 12:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Sturgis67
I just use an extension wire going between battery tender plugs. Works for me.
18” similair to this
Have you actually used that successfully to jump a bike?

How many fuses did you blow?

I used an extension cable like that, had to swap the polarity on one battery, and even on a little Ninja 250 we blew a fuse. Replaced the fuse and left it hooked up for a few minutes while the good bike ran charging the battery of the dead bike and it started.

Now I just carry a Lithium jump pack, don't have to worry about cable length or where bikes are parked.

If you are going to buy those cables, buy 2 of them to get the wiring right.
 

Last edited by VAFish; 06-10-2019 at 12:48 PM.
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Old 06-10-2019, 12:55 PM
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Between the two, I'd go with 10ga over the 12ga. But I tend to be conservative on this stuff.

If that cable in the photo is a trailer wiring extension, I'd be surprised if it was even 14ga. Trailer wiring is often 16 or 18 gauge, and even as small as 20ga, and I'd not use anything that light for a jump.
 
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Old 06-10-2019, 12:58 PM
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Don’t use jumper cables, get a battery boost pack.
 
The following 4 users liked this post by chopper_man:
hvacgaspiping (06-11-2019), mctraveler (06-11-2019), TriGeezer (06-10-2019), VAFish (06-10-2019)
  #7  
Old 06-10-2019, 01:00 PM
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No freakin way that’s gonna hold the power to jump a bike. Further, the charge pigtails are fused on each bike...and that will blow!

Originally Posted by chopper_man
Don’t use jumper cables, get a battery boost pack.

yeah...that ^^^!

Originally Posted by Sturgis67
I just use an extension wire going between battery tender plugs. Works for me.
18” similair to this
 

Last edited by TriGeezer; 06-10-2019 at 01:02 PM.
  #8  
Old 06-10-2019, 01:21 PM
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Originally Posted by stkm04
Hi Sturgis67 -

Jump starting a bike with a dead battery using such a cable would blow the fuse...

You are not going to "jump" start any thing with a 10 or 12 gauge wire either...but you can charge the battery...just takes longer...sometimes a lot longer...

to "jump" start a bike you need 6 or 4 gauge...jump start a car...2 guage...
 
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Old 06-10-2019, 01:22 PM
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I have one like this. I have used it to start bikes and my Mustang GT.
 
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Old 06-10-2019, 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Fireball Jack
I have one like this. I have used it to start bikes and my Mustang GT.
One like what ?
 


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