Aluminum Wire or Copper?

[btdickey99 5,000+ posts]

The biggest problem I have run into with the klm is the lack of flexibility. In that regard it is closer to welding wire. If you do not need flexible wire than the klm is just fine.

how bad is it?

 

[mokedaddy 5,000+ posts]

For a normal run through the car its not that bad. It may be a little tough to use for the big 3 though since that is mostly where flexibility is needed.

 

[btdickey99 5,000+ posts]

ok i think i am going to go ahead with it, and grab some diff wire for the big3

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

Ok, I thought we'd covered this enough, but I think I need to update the sites PDF - I'll post one image and I think that will sum it up BUT I will say this, if you have a solid Copper Clad Aluminum 4 gauge wire 20' long - it will not equal a solid 20' 4 gauge copper wire in terms of resistance per foot. Below is Stinger PRO Black 4 gauge (1666 strand) and right next to it is the KLM 4 Gauge - the two are not equal is size - This size compensation corrects the CCA's higher resistance per foot to yeild standard 4 gauge - DO NOT compare the KLM to the Kolossus, thats not the point of the KLM. Its an alternative and very, very popular at that. Not every one needs the best, and when you can get the KLM for half that Stinger wire sitting beside it, why not use it?

One other point - melting? Come on, if your getting the wire that hot, you need a larger gauge or have other serious issues.

 

[kmanian 5,000+ posts]

Ok, I thought we'd covered this enough, but I think I need to update the sites PDF - I'll post one image and I think that will sum it up BUT I will say this, if you have a solid Copper Clad Aluminum 4 gauge wire 20' long - it will not equal a solid 20' 4 gauge copper wire in terms of resistance per foot. Below is Stinger PRO Black 4 gauge (1666 strand) and right next to it is the KLM 4 Gauge - the two are not equal is size - This size compensation corrects the CCA's higher resistance per foot to yeild standard 4 gauge - DO NOT compare the KLM to the Kolossus, thats not the point of the KLM. Its an alternative and very, very popular at that. Not every one needs the best, and when you can get the KLM for half that Stinger wire sitting beside it, why not use it?
One other point - melting? Come on, if your getting the wire that hot, you need a larger gauge or have other serious issues.

I also thought the melting statement was a real stretch. You would have a bunch of other real problems if you got the alum. wire hot enough to melt.

In general alum. is 20% less efficient than copper wire. Also if you are running

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

You reminded me of one more point - Stinger fuses their amp kits with a 150A fuse on the wire you see above - we state a very conservative max of 100A on the KLM 4 gauge

 

[KINGDELL91 10+ year member]

cooper is more conductive.....

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

cooper is more conductive.....

maybe I assume people will take my post, process the information, and conclude the obvious. Your statement is true, but only for equal size conductors. The rather large image should indicate that is not the case with our cable vs Stinger, which even they advertise as true gauge (or some marketing along those lines)

Given the above, anyone doubting the cables safety, conductivity, cost savings, quality, design etc... is just ignoring facts.

 

[Trey803 5,000+ posts]

I recently re-ran wire with knu and had a big disaster........the wire was resting on the exhaust return pipe, melted through, shorted out, and caught fire. Luckily I pulled over and extinguished the flame before any damage was done......besides the hole that was melted in the exhaust return pipe which is what is being fixed right now. STUPID and CARELESS mistake

 

[Trey803 5,000+ posts]

o yea.....I had a fuse holder and was going to put it in the next day but I ran out of time during my install which is why all of this happened

 

[btdickey99 5,000+ posts]

I dont plan on running it under my car....And I have already bought some KLM

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

o yea.....I had a fuse holder and was going to put it in the next day but I ran out of time during my install which is why all of this happened

For the love of god, I would never run unprotected wire underneat my car...

nG

 

[btdickey99 5,000+ posts]

For the love of god, I would never run unprotected wire underneat my car...
nG

lmao thats what I was thinking regardless if its copper or aluminum

 

[Trey803 5,000+ posts]

For the love of god, I would never run unprotected wire underneat my car...
nG

it wasn't under the truck it was running over the supercharger which has an exhaust return somthin or other. The fault happened under the hood not under my truck

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

You ran power wire near exhaust, that's as simple as it gets. Not to mention WITHOUT a fuse.

Fail.