Surplus of High Voltage DC cables rated at 300-400V 100A

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Surplus of High Voltage DC cables rated at 300-400V 100A - any use for your EV DIY or Boat?

RUKI

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#196132 20-May-2016 11:55

I have surplus of High Voltage Copper Insultaed DC cables with eye-round type connectors. Different length. Cables are rated for about 280-400V 150A from different Toyota Prius Hybrid Cars. Also copper bus-bars. Heaps.

Any use for EV DIY or Boaties? i.e. should I be bothered of listing those on Trademe or just dump at the scrap yard?

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#1556178 20-May-2016 12:18

Wonder what the scap price is maybe $8 kilo?

RUKI

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#1556257 20-May-2016 13:28

gzt: Wonder what the scap price is maybe $8 kilo?

$6.8 clean copper more or less.

But if you try and buy that kind of cable online - you'll be looking at something like $25/ short pigtail.

Scott3

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#1558980 24-May-2016 22:04

Boats with electric bow thrusters or big anchor winches (typically at 12V, sometimes at 24V) always seem to be having issues with burnt out cables or switch gear. No idea if your cables would be the right length (often boats with bow thrusters will sometimes have a bow mounted battery or battery bank to avoid issues with long distance high current wiring runs), No idea how you would contact boaties looking for High current DC cables.

Would the cables be usefully for the DC wiring in a solar PV system?

Sidestep

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#1559025 24-May-2016 23:13

Any idea of Gauge or mm size?

I've just finished wiring up an HD electric recovery winch. Had to purchase welding cable to do the job as standard auto gauges of DC cable were too light.

Try selling them on Trademe. They may be just what someone needs.

icekayak

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#1559628 25-May-2016 20:29

Got a photo? what sort of length range? looking to wire up a dual battery in the 4wd so possibly overkill but could work.

dickytim

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#1559770 26-May-2016 06:07

Maybe car audio.

I used to use welders flex in mine.

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RUKI

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#1559851 26-May-2016 10:11

Scott3:

…Would the cables be usefully for the DC wiring in a solar PV system?

My Solar install is scheduled for the next week - I will be able to see what are they using...

Sidestep:

Any idea of Gauge or mm size? …

Will check - I'll cut one and measure it.

icekayak:

Got a photo? what sort of length range? looking to wire up a dual battery in the 4wd so possibly overkill but could work.

Planning to measure all of them, make photos and a list.. From memory (was working on 15 Land Cruisers a while ago) - should be be perfect. And if length is OK, then no need to redo the end points..

Mattmannz

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#1559854 26-May-2016 10:16

I am another winch/dual battery installer who could be keen dependent on size and length and price.

Cheers

Matt.

RUKI

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#1563268 31-May-2016 19:36

Scott3:.....

Would the cables be usefully for the DC wiring in a solar PV system?

Just observed what the Vector installers use: DC 4mm Square which are much smaller cables.

MikeAqua

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#1563650 1-Jun-2016 13:42

Boat cabling should be fully tinned (will eventually corrode internally otherwise).

Bus bars should tinned for marine use also otherwise you can end up with corrosion between terminals and bar - which is a nuisance and on a negative bus can cause equipment failure due to voltage spikes.

Mike

RUKI

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#1567422 7-Jun-2016 19:49

MikeAqua:

Boat cabling should be fully tinned (will eventually corrode internally otherwise).

Bus bars should tinned for marine use also otherwise you can end up with corrosion between terminals and bar - which is a nuisance and on a negative bus can cause equipment failure due to voltage spikes.

Very busy lately - got to check just one - the shortest pigtail (#1). It is fully tinned.

Cable without insulation is 5mm diameter - but very flexible as it is multi-thread.

Other cables are longer than those #1.

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SepticSceptic

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#1599421 27-Jul-2016 11:06

Are these cables still available ?

Anything around 3 meters in length ?

For an electric start 50Hp outboard motor ..

Cheers

RUKI

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#1600024 28-Jul-2016 09:27

SepticSceptic:

Are these cables still available? Anything around 3 meters in length? For an electric start 50Hp outboard motor ..

Sorry for not updating the post. Did not have time to dig into boxes and compile a list of those.

Cables I have are less than 3 m. Would need junction boxes for that length. I do not know the maximum length, a meter maybe more or less.

In EVs like Leaf (2013) main cables going from on-board charger to the battery are short - 1/2 meter See on my video here: Nissan Leaf Charger - dismantling

In Prius/Camry hybrid two main wires which are going from Invertor to the battery in the back are the longest ones you can source from the wrecks.

They will still be less than 3 meters each. And I do not have those invertor-battery ones.

RUKI

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#1674824 21-Nov-2016 10:35

Finally got my hands on cables - all sorted on the floor. Will measure and make photos tonight. Design as in the photo above. Copper. Tinned. Isolated. Rated for 100A 500V. The length is different.

There are also few Automotive 125A 500V DC fuses with enclosure (made by Littelfuse Inc for Toyota):

MikeAqua

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#1674866 21-Nov-2016 11:11

SepticSceptic:

Are these cables still available ?

Anything around 3 meters in length ?

For an electric start 50Hp outboard motor ..

Just be sure you are getting suitable cable. Marine cable is supposed to meet requirements for tolerance of petroleum, heat and movement. Permeability of the insulation to moisture is an importunate consideration as well. They way the terminal have been crimped is important - ideally a compressive crimp, rather than a punch crimp.

IMHO it's worth buying certified marine cable.

As an example the winch cable on my boat is 28 years old and still absolutely fine. If I was to replace it all with certified marine cable it would cost me about $200.

Mike

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