What are the battery terminal small gauge wires for?
#1
What are the battery terminal small gauge wires for?
My hand-me-down '96 Dakota 4 x 4 3.9L 5 speed from Dad has every option available as far as i can tell (including trailer wiring harness). Well, it does not have remote or electric side mirrors, but everything else.
When cleaning the battery terminals, I broke off the connection to a small gauge wire (18 gauge or so) that connects to the negative battery terminal bolt. There is a corresponding red wire of the same small gauge connected to the positive terminal bolt. The battery terminal bolts are more like studs (see foto of battery bolt/stud and black wire), already set up to accept these smaller wires, so I am sure that are factory installed,
My question is, what is the purpose of these two smaller gauge wires connected to the battery? Do I even need them? Thank you.
When cleaning the battery terminals, I broke off the connection to a small gauge wire (18 gauge or so) that connects to the negative battery terminal bolt. There is a corresponding red wire of the same small gauge connected to the positive terminal bolt. The battery terminal bolts are more like studs (see foto of battery bolt/stud and black wire), already set up to accept these smaller wires, so I am sure that are factory installed,
My question is, what is the purpose of these two smaller gauge wires connected to the battery? Do I even need them? Thank you.
Last edited by Dibbons; 12-22-2018 at 01:12 PM. Reason: typo
#2
#3
In case the foto I posted is confusing, it shows the negative battery terminal bolt on the right, and the black wire on the left that attaches to the same negative battery terminal bolt in the foto. On the positive battery terminal there is similar style bolt and wire, only the small wire is red, not black. Of course, we also have the main large gauge positive and negative battery cables that we all know and love.
Last edited by Dibbons; 12-22-2018 at 10:52 PM. Reason: typo
#5
Trending Topics
#9
M'dear boy, I happen to be a 62 year old grandpaw with a hittin' sub right behind the back of the seat, an auto dim mirror with a compass, a GPS and dash cam wired into the ignition switch (so they get power when the engine is at RUN only), and a bit of a custom interior being finished.
OK - ranch truck. Any extra lights? Maybe it had a CB radio at one time? In any case, I bet it was a well done after market addition.
RwP
Last edited by RalphP; 12-23-2018 at 10:33 PM. Reason: Fixed sub location