Electrical Positive Battery Cable Larger Than Negative.. Bad?

[DuderMcMerican]

Howdy,

My positive battery cable is 2awg and my negative is 4. Is that a problematic combo? I searched the online and I found some duders with the opposite (neg larger than pos) & consensus was that that's okay, but I couldn't find info re my question. Thanks!

 

[mikestang63]

4g is sufficient for the length you need unless the battery is relocated. Then you want at least 1 or 0. You should be fine..

 

[jrichker]

@mikestang63 is right on target. Unless your car has some magical way to make the accessory loads generate electricity, there is the same amount of current flowing in the negative cable as the positive cable.

Have any doubts?

In a series circuit, the current through each of the components is the same, and the voltage across the circuit is the sum of the voltages across each component. In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each of the components is the same, and the total current is the sum of the currents through each component.

Series and parallel circuits - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Series_and_parallel_circuits

 

[DuderMcMerican]

Ahh, okay. I was concerned that a thinner neg cable (relative to pos) might increase resistance in circuit, but your explanations make sense. I'll not worry about it. Thanks!