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Thread: What size lugs for amp-battery hookup?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
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    So Cal
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    4,341
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    1997 M3 Sedan

    What size lugs for amp-battery hookup?

    I want to make my own amplifier power cables, but I'm wondering what size lugs to get. What size are the stock bolts on a battery cable? (specifically for an E36, but I imagine they are all the same). I'm guessing the lug size is 5/16 or 3/8
    97 Estoril/Black M3/4/5

    "Although we've experienced an M3 sedan with an automatic, our test car came fitted as God intended, with a 5-speed manual ..."
    Road & Track May 1997, testing the M3 Sedan

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
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    West London/Heathrow - UK
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    03 530dT - Ex Police Car
    Hi,

    Look at your battery terminals and decide if you need bigger connectors for the current draw. You'll need to look at your amplifier/s to then determine the full load current draw they'll require and then look at upgraded terminals and then the right fusing and protection and thus, thickness of wire (guage) needed. That will then determine which size lugs you need.

    Cheers, Dennis!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
    Location
    So Cal
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    My Cars
    1997 M3 Sedan
    I'm asking what size bolts are on a stock battery cable. Lugs come in different diameters (3/8, 5/16) to fit different size bolts.

    Lugs also come in different wire gauge sizes, but I already know what wire gauge to use.

    https://www.batterycablesusa.com/copper-lugs-terminals


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Last edited by M3 Pete; 10-16-2017 at 12:54 PM.
    97 Estoril/Black M3/4/5

    "Although we've experienced an M3 sedan with an automatic, our test car came fitted as God intended, with a 5-speed manual ..."
    Road & Track May 1997, testing the M3 Sedan

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
    Location
    So Cal
    Posts
    4,341
    My Cars
    1997 M3 Sedan
    It turns out that they have 5/16" bolts. I purchased one of these cables to power the amp, just cut the cable and used one lug for the battery, and the other lug for the negative connection to the frame. A lot cheaper and better quality than some of the amp-specific cable sets out there, some do not even have lugs installed. I only needed 8-gauge, but they smallest they had was 6 gauge. They seem like very good quality.

    https://www.batterycablesusa.com/6-g...able-with-ends
    97 Estoril/Black M3/4/5

    "Although we've experienced an M3 sedan with an automatic, our test car came fitted as God intended, with a 5-speed manual ..."
    Road & Track May 1997, testing the M3 Sedan

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