Electric cable for trailer 12V

[LandyAndy]

Hi Guys
I have some heavy duty cable,it was used for 440V power,3 core.
Is it acceptable to use this to run a 12v source to the rear of my D2 to power the trailer.
I have a pair of BIG truck batteries,intend to permanentley fit one to the new trailer via an anderson connection.
I have a SC40 controller,the idea is to fit the SC40 to the D2 to manage the trailer battery.
The Trailer battery will be my second battery,not connected for cranking,jumperleads will work if need be.When I eventually get a car fridge the power source could come from the trailer most of the time.When not using the trailer a sealed portable battery could be used inside the vehicle connested to the same rear wiring.
Any way back to the original question,is the mentioned cable suitable.
Got plenty,can do 2 runs side by side conecting the 3 cores on each to give a heavy duty pos and neg cable.
Thanks
Andrew

[PhilipA]

Have a compare of the three cores in your cable with some 4 gauge 12 volt cable.ie nearly the size of starter cable. I believe that you would need this as a minimum to minimize voltage drop.
Is it bigger in cross section ,adding the three cores than 4 gauge 12volt?
I doubt it but do not know how big your cable is.
The other thing is that 4 gauge would be much more flexible to fit around bends etc.
Regards Philip A

[drivesafe]

Hi Andrew, as Philip asked, what is the size of the cable.

From experience, three core ac cable is usually nowhere near thick enough to carry the currents needed without causing major voltage drops over that sort of distance.

BUT, I’ll what to hear what size the cable is.

One other problem with using AC cable is that it can be made up with few strand but those it has are thick. This poses a problem where fatigue can effect the cable.

The flip side is that most AC 3 core FLEX can actually be made of many thinner strands and as such, not be a problem at all.

Cheers.

[LandyAndy]

Its more like heavy duty extension lead cord,will have to dig some out of storage,but from memory it was fairley fine strands.
If I think on I will get a pic up tommorow,gauges of wire are a tad forighn to me,just know electric wire is like water pipe as far as flow goes.
Andrew

[DEFENDERZOOK]

did he say he will be using an SC40 to charge the battery.....?

then he doesnt need jumper leads to charge it......what he has sounds like more than enough.......


if he is gonna use this cable to run accessories......then thats a different story.......
again.....depending on what accessories he plans to run........



unless ive mis read something........

[100I]

did he say he will be using an SC40 to charge the battery.....?

then he doesnt need jumper leads to charge it......what he has sounds like more than enough.......


if he is gonna use this cable to run accessories......then thats a different story.......
again.....depending on what accessories he plans to run........



unless ive mis read something........

yep:)


...The Trailer battery will be my second battery,not connected for cranking,jumperleads will work if need be....

[JDNSW]

As Drivesafe say - only two concerns -

1. is it thick enough? Need the actual size ideally cross sectional area, but diameter of the conductor would give a good idea. (to minimise voltage drop)

2. Are the individual strands thin enough to avoid fatigue?

The other major factor is the insulation, but if this is good enough for 240v, it is good enough for 12v. However, note that a lot of 240v wire that is designed for fixed installation has very soft insulation that can rub through quite quickly in an automotive installation, and is also very susceptible to UV degradation if exposed to sunlight, so watch these points.

John

[LandyAndy]

Well I found the rolls.
Turns out its just like normal extension lead cord.
It did come out of a wharehouse that was wired at 440v.
Will save it for fixed extension leads in the shed,what I originally got it for.
Will get the proper 12V stuff for the car.
Andrew

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Hi Guys
I have some heavy duty cable,it was used for 440V power,3 core....
...Thanks Andrew
Tell me I'm stupid, however isn't the Voltage either 415V or 240V

415V flex usually has 4 core = 3 phase + earth and sometimes includes a 5th core for a control lead or Neutral.

Diana

[shorty943]

Tell me I'm stupid, however isn't the Voltage either 415V or 240V

415V flex usually has 4 core = 3 phase + earth and sometimes includes a 5th core for a control lead or Neutral.

Diana

It's a bit more "flexible" than that in practice.

From memory, it is a bad "dodge".

Full, 415 volt 3 phase power, has 5 cores, R\W\B actives, neutral and earth.
Tapping into one phase will give 240v at high power.
Used to be used for big single phase welders etc, in a 3 phase powered workshop.

This is how small ships are wired, but you must be careful to keep the load balanced across all 3 phases or you will burn your alternator out.
Of course I'm talking about a "genny", that is spun by a 6 cyl Perkins or a Ford Lees 120 HP six.

At 12 volt DC? I'd use it.

In simple terms. The fatter the wire, the easier it is to push current. Multi-strand gives even more area per given circumference for current to flow. And has a certain "breakage resistance" that a thick single strand can never have.

[EchiDna]

consider trying double insulated welding cable for 200amps or more load... flexible enough, insulated enough, cheap enough....

[Killer]

Tell me I'm stupid, however isn't the Voltage either 415V or 240V

415V flex usually has 4 core = 3 phase + earth and sometimes includes a 5th core for a control lead or Neutral.

Diana


Usaually this is correct, but some industrial applications (where 3 phase is not available) use single phase 440V.

Cheers, Mick.

[LandyAndy]

It was Single Phase 440V.
Got a heap of 440V powerpoints stashed away to,somemwhere!!!!,already passed heaps on.
Andrew

[rovercare]

Usaually this is correct, but some industrial applications (where 3 phase is not available) use single phase 440V.

Cheers, Mick.

Or 2 phase 480V even;)

[Killer]

Or 2 phase 480V even;)

That could be it.

Cheers, Killer.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Tell me I'm stupid, however isn't the Voltage either 415V or 240V
Diana

Usually this is correct, but some industrial applications (where 3 phase is not available) use single phase 440V.
Cheers, Mick.
O.K. I'll accept that the stupid bit wins! :D:D
Diana

[rovercare]

That could be it.

Cheers, Killer.

Its generally called farm supply, in Vic atleast;)

480V between phases and 240 to N or earth

Never heard of 440 single phase:eek: