The Big 3....

Discussion in 'Automotive Electrical' started by TheViking, Nov 13, 2006.

  1. TheViking

    TheViking Well-Known Member

    Hey magnum, thanks for the complimant, but i aint no smarter than anyone else really, Just happend to have been in the Industry for WAY too long!

    Beins how the battery is in back, this does create some issues with the Big 3. The power wire running from the front of the car to the rear of the car should be fairly large, because this wire will be what turns over your starter. So that wire should not need upgraded. I would look at the existing wire from your alternator, and follow it and see where it goes. May run to the starter or some factory power distribution area under the hood, such as a fuse box. If it appears to be less than adequate, (probably is less than adequate), I personally would look at running a wire from the alternator to the same location as the heavy wire from the battery in the back. Alos dont forget to reground the engine to the chassis, and the battery ground in the back!

    Unfortunatly the most I have ever seen from the car is from about 20 feet! so I am not familiar with how there electrical sytem wiring is layed out. I bet Ranger has a chlue on these!!!!! But generally speakeing, what i have told you is pretty basic and common. Might be similiar to the Viper, which i upgraded the wiring on years ago.
     
  2. magnum340

    magnum340 Full Member

    im not sure but the cable dose look a little bit thiker than just 10ga. is car wireing 10ga the same as say power audio 10ga. in other words is all 10ga the same no matter if its fore audio or grounding the cable from the battery to the frame? i would think the cable would have to be thiker already becouse its gotta run power all the way from the back to the front. thats a long travel thus a bigger size? ill chek to be sure. oh and viking thats a cool name but, big brother sounds better ur like the big brother in the audio world.helping me and lots of others. ( god that sounds gay)
     
  3. magnum340

    magnum340 Full Member

    now that i read it again 4 sure it sounds gay!!
     
  4. pedro quiroga

    pedro quiroga Well-Known Member

    AMC?:confused:
     
  5. aznboi3644

    aznboi3644 Full Member

    Big four some say it is the original factory wire from the battery to the fuse box or just bigger power wire...Not sure though
     
  6. psycho_maniac

    psycho_maniac Full Member

    very good info. before i would just skim through it just to find the main points, but i didn't this time. i read it ALL. one question What other things will i need to do to my cars electrical system if i'm pushing serious wattage? so i don't have to use a capacitor
     
  7. pedro quiroga

    pedro quiroga Well-Known Member

    DAVE you never came back to answer the big 4
     
  8. aznboi3644

    aznboi3644 Full Member

    I capacitor is never needed....read the capacitor stickey under general discussion...pretty long but you'll realize why they don't help
     
  9. psycho_maniac

    psycho_maniac Full Member

    i know a capacitor is never needed. hence why i asked what other things you could do so "i dont have to use" a capacitor.
     
  10. aznboi3644

    aznboi3644 Full Member

    Um...I just upgrade every ground wire I can find in my engine bay.

    This weekend I was working on my brothers new 02 camry and damn the grounds on his car are 12 gauge...so I replaced a few with 4 gauge to prep for the amp install
     
  11. darryle

    darryle Full Member

    On my FJcruiser its got at least a 4 guage wire running from alt to bat. I'm IMPRESSED specially since its to damn cold to upgrade now
     
  12. psycho_maniac

    psycho_maniac Full Member

    well I try to help people out but nobody ever listens to me I told a guy on another forum and this is what he told me
     
  13. rajinisback

    rajinisback New Member

    Thank you for the info. Hopefully this will stop my lights from dimming. :)
     
  14. aznboi3644

    aznboi3644 Full Member

    it may stop them...it will definitely help

    what is your vehicle and what is your setup??
     
  15. DMP

    DMP Full Member

    I just recently did this to my Sonoma. I upgraded to a 200 amp alternator, but im using 0 gauge instead. Just a tip that wasnt mentioned, use some dielectric grease on the grounds, battery posts, and any other exposed wire terminals.
     
  16. electrolytic

    electrolytic Full Member

    lol, oh man not this again. Ok check it out i have true 4 gauge wiring and some 1/0 gauge and my alternator charging wire is 4 gauge along side of the original. I can only play two songs cranked with my orion and both batteries start dying while i'm driving. I bought 0 gauge wire and haven't installed it yet, too cold out. Soooooo, say i bought a cap and put it in the back and it fixes my problem, would this prove anything? LOL I sold my nice cap i had because of this thread.
     
  17. aznboi3644

    aznboi3644 Full Member

    lol electro i remember that day you came here talking about your crap...err i mean cap lol.
     
  18. electrolytic

    electrolytic Full Member

    lol, ya the good ole days!!

    I don't see how it could possibly help my situation, the problem is the 4 gauge run to the back, the alternator still has to run down that line to charge the cap or battery and that's where the power is being wasted. Resistance.
     

    Attached Files:

  19. aznboi3644

    aznboi3644 Full Member

    You definitely need 0 gauge power wire.
     
  20. electrolytic

    electrolytic Full Member

    I agree, no need to waste precious voltage on crappy wiring. I wonder though...haha After i put 0 gauge all around if i replaced my back battery with this cap-bat it's 25 farad, do you think it's as powerfull as a car battery?