Copper Clad Aluminum--The True Story

Things aren't always what they seem to be.

Take jumper cables, for example. If you go shopping for jumper cables you'll find prices all over the place. But they all look pretty much the same. So what's up? 

There are some really inexpensive jumper cables out there. And they look pretty good at first glance, in fact they look pretty much like the expensive ones. But, they don’t weigh as much, and that’s the first clue. 

If you look closely you’ll see they are made of aluminum cable.

But it doesn’t look like aluminum. It looks like regular copper wire. 

You might be able to look in the clamps where the wire is cut and see the ends. You'll see shiny aluminum in the center of the wire. It may have been painted with copper paint or actually plated with copper, but it’s still aluminum wire. 

Is someone trying to pull a fast one on you, making it look like copper? Maybe, maybe not. 

Aluminum tends to oxidize pretty easily, so copper coating helps prevent that. That's a good reason to plate it. But they also may be trying to fool the customer.

What’s wrong with aluminum cable? 

Actually, there’s nothing really wrong with it. It just doesn’t have the same current carrying capacity as copper in the same gauge sizes. 

To get roughly close to copper’s current capacity, you’d have to go up at least one gauge size in aluminum cable. So to get the starting current capacity of 8 gauge copper booster cables you would have to use 6 gauge aluminum cables; to match 2 gauge copper cables you might have to go all the way to 1/0 in aluminum, depending on temperature.

But that isn’t how aluminum cables are packaged. They are packed to look just like copper in the same gauge sizes. That's the way they keep the price down. Unfortunately, the price and the performance are both down when they do that.

Here’s the critical consideration: When it’s cold out, and you’re trying to jump start a car with a dead battery, you want to get all the power possible from the good battery to the weak one. You’re not trying to limit the available power, you’re trying to maximize it.

The good news is Rescue booster cables from Quick Cable are copper. So you get the power you need when you need it. No games, no tricks.

To learn more about copper and aluminum ampacity, click here.

B The Crimper

It’s your moment of Zen.

It’s that moment that you realize that you don’t have to take your hammer out and beat that battery connector into submission.

You don’t have to settle for the flattened, squashed look.

You don’t have to hand a customer a cable that looks like it was made in a shed on an anvil.

You can sell a top quality replacement battery cable that looks just like the one that came from the factory.

You can charge the customer a fair price without guilt.

We call the tool a B-Crimper because from the end, the finished crimp kind of looks like a capital B. Part number 4265M on our catalog page 77.

With it, you can put OEM lead-free connectors on cables just like the big boys do.

Only you don’t have to pay the big boys.

You can pay yourself.

You CAN Always Get What You Want

Especially if you want a fully-customized kit of battery cable clamps, lugs, heat shrink and terminal protectors.

If you look at the opening pages of the Quick Cable catalog you see lots of kits—kits we developed over the years working with customers in all sorts of industries, trying to get to some optimal selections of products they use and need.

We even have a customizable field service kit that you can configure.

But we still can’t please everyone. Some people love the idea of kits but they balk at buying them because they don’t want to be stuck with a bunch of parts they don’t use.

Enter the Quick Cable KitFigurator. Building on our popular QuickFigurator and our Containment System Configurator, our KitFigurator is an online application that allows you to create a custom kit including the terminals, protectors, shrink wrap, etc. that you need. Pick the drawer you want (12 slot, 24 slot, or customizable) and set it up the way you want it. We’ll ship it to you, we’ll store your info online so you can reorder kits or components to restock them, and we’ll give you a pdf of the kit layout for you to print out and include with it.

Buy what you need, and need what you buy. KitFigurator, by Quick Cable.

A Robust Video Library

Lots of companies talk about added value. We actually do something about it.

A good example is our QuickHowTo website.

Our vision for this site was to create the industry’s most comprehensive resource for information and training on topics and products important to the battery service and DC power industries. With more than 120 video training programs, technical data sheets, product instruction manuals, and a growing library of white papers and related resources, QuickHowTo provides ready access to technical, safety and compliance information that is available 24/7.

All of this information is free for you to use and share. We believe that information on selecting and using products in these industries is critical to delivering proper performance and working safely. 
Our videos are designed to be short and focused so they can be used for individual study and review, and as programs for group training.

Feel free to use these resources and be sure to come back often and see what’s new. This site is dynamic and continually updated and reviewed for the most current information on products, applications, and support materials.

What’s New at QuickHowTo.com?

* B-crimping Tool 
* Ratcheting 500 MCM Cutter
* How to Crimp a Battery Terminal
* Replacement Ends Preassembled Battery Cables
* Rescue Battery Chargers

A Baker’s Dozen Ideas for Impulse Purchases

Here’s the challenge:  What do you put up in the front of your store, by the checkout area, to try to get impulse purchases? We’re not talking about gum or candy—something that your customers might really need and want, and something that costs enough to put a few bucks in your pocket.

That little area of real estate is extremely valuable, and it’s worth putting some thought into it. 

And it’s worth changing it around frequently so people see new things when they come in.

We kicked this around and came up with 13 ideas to generate some extra cash flow before the customer leaves the building. 

1. Flashlights. Our rechargeable LED flashlight/worklight is lightweight, bright, and rechargeable. 604200.
2. Heat guns. We have the big hair dryer sized ones (4271 and 4272) but the average guy might really want a flameless butane model (4273). Better than a torch!
3. Inverters. Might not be on everyone’s wish list, but if you put it out on the counter, who knows what will happen? Start with the 150 watt model 303203 that plugs into a cigarette lighter.
4. Battery maintenance kit. Cleaner, protector, terminal brush, washers and a wet nap. 120145.
5.  iStart portable power pack. Low price point, lots of features, fits on the counter. 604049.
6. Battery box. Quick Cable battery boxes are great, locking lids, easy to mount. Put one up where people can see how much better they are. Group 24 model 120171.
7. Digital voltmeter. Everybody needs one. The price is right. 303118.
8. Battery tool set. These are really nice battery tools, pro quality. 120290.
9. Battery carrier. We have strap versions, scissors types and the old standard side lift. 120154.
10. Terminal caps. The customer is buying a battery, more than likely. Sell the caps. 5723.
11. Fuse kit. Who doesn’t need a fuse kit? And who remembers to buy one? 509115.
12. Carded terminals. Add “-2007U” to these part numbers:  5566, 5577, 5588.
13. Spool of primary wire. You probably stock this someplace. Put a spool out where people can remember to buy some. 230200.