(Rant Alert) Why does copper battery cable cost $13.00 per foot?

[Barefootdog]

Doing some work on an older boat I bought. Decided to move the batteries so I had to make up some 5 foot battery cables. 1/0 copper battery cable is $13.00 per foot...WTH?

Wound up going to Amazon and getting a ready made 1/0 copper cable for under $30.00. They used welding cable but that's not an issue. The crimped ends are inferior quality compared to what I would have used.....and the ends are crimped rather than soldered.

But for me to make it up myself....$13.00 a foot for bulk copper battery cable...plus $8 for 2 copper ends. $73 in parts cost for one 5 foot battery cable that I would have had to assemble myself.

Went to the largest local wrecking yard and asked if they had a bin of salvaged battery cables....Nope.

I could have gotten copper welding cable for less but it was only available in black.

Maybe I'm just grouchy or cheap (probably both....)

Per the interwebs we have 48 trillion tons of copper reserves yet we only produce 50% of the copper we consume.

Permits for new copper refining/production facilities are taking 5-10 years.

How did we allow ourselves to fall so far from the manufacturing power we were....?

Rant over....

3 hours till Happy Hour.

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[Colt Carbine]

Have you tried to purchase wire from an electrical supplier?

When I installed a new 200 amp meter service and the electrical panel, 00 wire was $5/ft. That was a couple years ago.

 

[Nwcid]

Copper has gotten to be a terrible price.

Online I can find lots of sources for 1/0 wire for $3-$5/foot, which still sucks.

 

[Alexx1401]

As with ANYTHING that is made its how much of it is made.

 

[Colt Carbine]

I have a few feet of 00 wire left over, if needed. I'll give it to you.

 

[Barefootdog]

I did look around. Most of the less expensive 1/0 wire was copper coated aluminum. I've always stayed away from aluminum wire except when doing main service to a new or remodel house. I don't even use CCA for jumper cables. No reason other than I don't like it for most usages.

I did call a couple of local electrical suppliers I have used in the past and for some reason it was a no go.

So I ordered it in.

 

[Catfishmoon]

I use welding cable and install red shrink wrap on the ends and at intervals to signify that it is a positive cable.

 

[Tlock]

I just had a bunch stolen by tweekers if it makes ya feel any better....

 

[Barefootdog]

I use welding cable and install red shrink wrap on the ends and at intervals to signify that it is a positive cable.

That's what I was going to do but by then I was sick and tired of screwing with something that should be so simple. I decided to order it in and get on with something else.

 

[TereHanges]

Unless something has changed in the past couple of years the Coast Gaurd doesn't like welding cable on boats. My past life was as a battery Distributor, I made hundreds of cables for boats, something about the rubber sheath and not having battery painted on the it.

Funny thing the sheath on welding wire was fuel/oil resistant, and less prone to cuts. Of course if your boat isn't prone to inspections it won't be a problem.

 

[oa98pistol512]

I make copper windchimes out of large and small pipe. I salvaged years ago from a remodel on a giant store. I held on to it and made windchimes becaus scap was 73 cents a pound. I think its like $3.50 now. Heck brass is $2.10 a pound . They will sell it back to you for almost double that lol. So yes non ferrous has gotten quite expensive

 

[CougarMtn]

Also, marine wire should be tinned copper.

 

[Member 45541]

Yep, the two happiest days of a boat owners life. The day he/she bought it, and the day it mysteriously caught fire and the insurance company showed up with a check!

 

[Barefootdog]

Also, marine wire should be tinned copper.

Silly me....I didn't think it could get much worse.
You're not helping.

Yep, the two happiest days of a boat owners life. The day he/she bought it, and the day it mysteriously caught fire and the insurance company showed up with a check!

.....and then there was this time I thought it would be fun the buy an airplane.

 

[Catbox]

FYI
You mentioned junkyard.
When you are in the junkyard, look into BMW's, Benz, or other cars as they are placing the batteries into the rear of the cars.
This will mean that there is a long and large gauge wire running up the passenger side of the car typically in my experience that is waiting to be harvested.
I have made many new cables out of these from several cars.

Here is one such cable I pulled from a Beemer...

 

[Jay Walk]

Romex is under lock and key at the local Home Depot.

 

[Alexx1401]

Romex is under lock and key at the local Home Depot.

Last I heard they had to do that will all the copper, plumbing fittings, electrical, anything copper. Reason of course is the scum were just walking out the door with it since no one could do anything.

 

[Mark W.]

I had one heck of a time finding real copper jumper cables when I went to make up a special set for my Willys jeep (I have an Anderson Plug beside the grill to plug cables into like they do on a tow or service truck) I bought cables twice as long as I needed then cut them in half so I have a set made up for the Willys that is 10' long and material to make another set down the road.

On the actual Battery cables in the Willys I used high end Welding cable as it has finer strands and since electrons travel on the outside of the wire more stands is better for a given gauge. As to the Red and Black I covered my cables with TECH FLEX so I got the color I wanted that way.

 

[Joe13]

Romex is in locked cages at Home Depot now - that should say something….

 

[Joe13]

Romex is under lock and key at the local Home Depot.me to it

Beat me to it