Buying battery cables in Europe

[Federico993]

I am building the Lithium system for my boat and I am looking for Marine cables. I was watching the Ancor battery cables but they aren't sold in Europe.
I am looking for the 3/0 AWG size since it is the bigger size I can use on my boat.
Does anyone know where to buy tinned battery cables in Europe at reasonable price?

Thanks!

[Pete7]

European cables will be sized in mm. These folk will give you an idea of prices:

https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/

I have used them alot and they always deliver quickly in the UK.

[GordMay]

See ➥ https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...d.php?t=103621

These guys sell tinned wire (not in Italy, though) ➥ https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/cable.html

3/0 AWG is roughly equivalent to 95 mm² (actually 84.97 mm²)


I see Pete beat me to it.

[DeValency]

https://www.nauticailliano.it/dettag...ato_20200.html

That's only one source. Google works in Europe as well . To get better results translate what you need to the local language and search

[Federico993]

Thanks for the prompt answer!

@Pete7: thanks, by now it is the cheapest that I found, the price is 25,8€/m buying 10 meters reel.

@GordMay: thanks, 12voltplanet seems to have good prices.

@DeValency: Yes, Google works, thanks for the link but that shop only sells size up to 50mm2.

I even found the Helutherm 145 but I still can't find a shop that sells it.
What do you think about it?

Are there cheaper cables?

[mikedefieslife]

Outside of the UK and Germany you will struggle a little.

One place I was impressed with in terms of electronics, was Lefkas in Greece. They had all the cables you could want all tinned, with the correct lugs and terminals, busbars etc... Spain and the Canaries, you'd struggle. There are exceptions but in general in Spain and the Spanish speaking countries I've been to, they tend to sell the cheapest lowest quality crap.

Whilst, I've been cruising in Italy, I don't remember seeing good tinned cable around, but I wasn't looking. I tended to just order the UK 12v Planet, and bite the bullet on the shipping.

[Federico993]

@mikedefieslife: Thanks, for the feedback! Have you bought the cables from 12voltplanet? If so, do you recommend them?

[mikedefieslife]

I bought rolls of cables from them, as well as bus bars and victron controllers. I had them delivered to Spain. Very happy with the service.

The cables I bought were much smaller in size than you want though.

your best bet might be find one of those small shops that repairs marine electronics, they can usually make the cables up for for. Or if there is a chain store like Accastillage diffusion, they will have tinned cable. They are 29 stores in Italy/Sicily/Sardinia

[Rapanui]

Furneaux Riddle in the UK also do tinned large size cable and ship
https://www.furneauxriddall.com/index.html

[Federico993]

Originally Posted by mikedefieslife

I bought rolls of cables from them, as well as bus bars and victron controllers. I had them delivered to Spain. Very happy with the service.

The cables I bought were much smaller in size than you want though.

your best bet might be find one of those small shops that repairs marine electronics, they can usually make the cables up for for. Or if there is a chain store like Accastillage diffusion, they will have tinned cable. They are 29 stores in Italy/Sicily/Sardinia

Do you mean that cables have smaller section that the declared one?
For example, a 95mm2 cable will be less?

Originally Posted by Rapanui

urneaux Riddle in the UK also do tinned large size cable and ship
https://www.furneauxriddall.com/index.html

Thanks, they sell the same Ocean Flex cable as "12voltplanet" but with a lower price!

[Rapanui]

When I redid the high current 12v cables on our boat, I bought a hydraulic lug crimper and loads of tin plated copper lugs and made my own cables. The crimper was cheap and easily paid for itself compared to buying pre made cables and is far more flexible
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-Ton-8-...sAAOSwphhfWJVG

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Federico993

Do you mean that cables have smaller section that the declared one?
For example, a 95mm2 cable will be less?

No, what he is saying is he needed smaller cables than you do.

Pete

[Federico993]

Originally Posted by Rapanui

When I redid the high current 12v cables on our boat, I bought a hydraulic lug crimper and loads of tin plated copper lugs and made my own cables. The crimper was cheap and easily paid for itself compared to buying pre made cables and is far more flexible
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-Ton-8-...sAAOSwphhfWJVG

Thanks, I'll make new cables by myself too, I already bought the FTZ 94284 crimp tool. I'll buy the FTZ Heavy Duty lug

Originally Posted by Pete7

No, what he is saying is he needed smaller cables than you do.

Pete

Thanks! I also wanted to ask about the Ocean Flex cable quality, is it great?

[mikedefieslife]

Originally Posted by Federico993

Do you mean that cables have smaller section that the declared one?
For example, a 95mm2 cable will be less?




Thanks, they sell the same Ocean Flex cable as "12voltplanet" but with a lower price!

No I mean I bought a smaller size. I didn't need 95mm2

[kas_1611]

I'll also recommend 12Volt Planet as they have been excellent with all my cables, fitments and equipment over the years.

Don't forget if you can't find the cable size you need you can double, treble or quadruple up cables to obtain an equivalent thickness. This can actually make it a lot easier to run cables than trying to bend thick ones round bulkheads or through small spaces. I've done this with my solar install where the "main" cable from the stern to the charge controller is made up of 3 runs of smaller cables (16mm2 if I remember right) to make 1 effectively 50mm2 (OK 48mm2 but what's 2mm between friends).