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What gauge battery cable is on 5th gen 4R?

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by Cowboy59, Jul 14, 2021.

  1. Jul 14, 2021 at 4:40 AM
    #1
    Cowboy59

    Cowboy59 [OP] Enjoy the Adventure

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    I am adding a dual battery system to my 4runner and need to know the gauge of the battery cables used on my 2020 4R.

    Thanks in advance for the help.
     
    raimieb likes this.
  2. Jul 14, 2021 at 5:58 AM
    #2
    Agent_Outside

    Agent_Outside A Guy A Girl and A Trail

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    It’s not that black and white, wire gauge should be determined by amperage the wire will carry and length the cable needs to run.
     
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  3. Jul 14, 2021 at 6:09 AM
    #3
    Cowboy59

    Cowboy59 [OP] Enjoy the Adventure

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    I understand your reply. My dual battery system will be able to utilize the 4 AWG from the secondary battery to my control panel. As it is all less than 25 amps. However I need to run cables from the main battery to my RedArc controller and I want to match the AWG size of the main battery cables. So do you happen to know what AWG size the standard battery cables on my 2020 4R might be?
     
  4. Jul 14, 2021 at 6:11 AM
    #4
    Agent_Outside

    Agent_Outside A Guy A Girl and A Trail

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    Is your red arc “controller” a DCDC charger?
     
  5. Jul 14, 2021 at 6:28 AM
    #5
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy New Member

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    Dont know per the manual or anything, but likely a 4 or 6 awg wire. What also depends for your application is what you intend to do with it, specifically if you intend to have the ability to charge your starter battery from your house battery. In the5th gen nearly all dual battery setups will have your battery on the left side of the engine bay. To physically get that much power back to your starter battery is sort of irrelevant what the stock wire gauge is... You'll want 1/0 awg cable, or 2 awg at the very least so you dont fry the system.

    But just charging each battery is one thing, where if thats all you need then your 4 awg idea is sound for each run.
     
  6. Jul 14, 2021 at 7:47 AM
    #6
    Cowboy59

    Cowboy59 [OP] Enjoy the Adventure

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    Thanks - The secondary battery is for running our fridge and some usb ports. I will be using a RedArc DC-DC charging controller to keep the secondary AGM battery charged.
     
  7. Jul 14, 2021 at 8:01 AM
    #7
    Agent_Outside

    Agent_Outside A Guy A Girl and A Trail

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    If you’re using a redarc DCDC look in the manual that comes with it. It will tell you specifically what gauge wiring to run based on which version you have (25 amp, 40 amp, etc) and the distance from the actual battery you’ll mount it. There’s no reason to match the battery cable size because you’ll never see more than 25/40/50 amps pulled through it.
     
  8. Jul 14, 2021 at 8:50 AM
    #8
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy New Member

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    I would also like to add to this that RedArc should absolutely tell you which is appropriate, but be sure to double check AWG size charts for length of run with respect to amps supplied. 40A through 5ft of wire requires a different AWG than 40A across a 25ft stretch
     
  9. Jul 14, 2021 at 8:55 AM
    #9
    Cowboy59

    Cowboy59 [OP] Enjoy the Adventure

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    Thanks for that additional info. I should have the RedArc here by Friday and will check the specs for it.
     
  10. Jul 14, 2021 at 9:08 AM
    #10
    newlife

    newlife Not all who wander are ...... squirrel

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    All of them.
    Redarc suggests 6awg from charger to main battery and they use 6awg from redarc to the house battery. I personally used 4awg from my starting battery to my breaker to the red arc. As far as your other cable run you need to find out the amperage of the devices connected to it and then go from there. I have some pics in my build thread of my red arc install. If you need more help let me know. Also don’t forget it not just slapping the red arc in there. You need breakers or fuses for everything so you don’t forget those.
     
  11. Jul 15, 2021 at 9:18 AM
    #11
    Cowboy59

    Cowboy59 [OP] Enjoy the Adventure

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    You recommendation of 4awg from main battery to first breaker is what I planned on and then 6awg from then on, so I am only attaching low voltage items. I have ordered all the necessary Blue Sea breakers and a Blue Sea fuse box for the connecting the final switches.

    Thank you to all of you for the great help.
     
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2021
    newlife[QUOTED] likes this.
  12. Jul 15, 2021 at 11:08 AM
    #12
    Shnook718

    Shnook718 New Member

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    im actually going


    I am actually running the same setup however still waiting on some last minute items. I am very interested to see your setup once it has been completed.
     

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