upgrading alternator wires

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ergoaudio

Member - Posts: 11

Joined: March 22, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: May 02, 2003 at 9:21 PM / IP Logged

hello all,

this may be a stupid question but that's what these forums are for. can anybody tell me if it safe to upgrade the wire from your battery to the alternator? i want to run 4 ga. from the positive post to the alternator but i have heard some say it's safe but i have had some say it's not because the stock wires are the size they are to offer "some" resistance. i'm just not sure and i'm trying to get as much out of my stock alternator as possible. if anybody can enlighten me on this ii would appreciate it.

If your ears aren't bleeding... it's not loud enough.

bberman1

Gold - Posts: 2,314

Joined: March 11, 2002

Location: United States

Posted: May 02, 2003 at 10:13 PM / IP Logged

It’s completely safe to do but with a stock alternator it’s not going to benefit you at all. If you feel that you are using more power than the charging system puts out then I would suggest that you get a high output alternator. But for anyone with a high output alternator I would defiantly suggest you upgrade the power and ground cables to accommodate the new load. But I wont discourage you from upgrading if you want to do it go ahead you have noting to loose.

Big Purds

Silver - Posts: 574

Joined: November 25, 2002

Location: Canada

Posted: May 04, 2003 at 3:49 AM / IP Logged

be sure to upgrade more than just the positive wire from the alt to your battery...you have to upgrade any grounds there as well, with equal or bigger size wire than you use for power...an electrical system can only be as strong as its weakest component, so upgrading just the power wire will do you little good...

there is absolutely nothing "unsafe" about upgrading the wires unless you screw something up in the process...

bberman1

Gold - Posts: 2,314

Joined: March 11, 2002

Location: United States

Posted: May 05, 2003 at 9:12 AM / IP Logged

One more thing to add is that on most cars there is the main cable and a few smaller ones that connect the battery terminals. Be sure to connect all of them or your car may not work correctly. So what every you disconnect in the process be sure to reconnect.

greenbroncoguy

Copper - Posts: 299

Joined: March 27, 2003

Location: Florida, United States

Posted: May 06, 2003 at 6:22 AM / IP Logged

your stock alternator cannot put out enough power to harm the wires. the stock wires were put there to handle all the power you alternator could put out and a little more.

Search for other posts by greenbroncoguy

donkason

Copper - Posts: 189

Joined: December 27, 2002

Location: United States

Posted: May 06, 2003 at 9:13 PM / IP Logged

I left my stock wires alone and hooked up secondary wires. One straight off the back of my alternator to my pos. term. on my battery and one right off of my batteries negative terminal to a second ground. I bought special battery terminals from stinger to accomplish this. I used 4 gauge wires as well. I left the stock ones alone because I didn't feel like fabricating anything new. And now I have 2 power and 2 ground. It works for me I don't see why It won't work for you. I would also upgrade my alt. as well if you are really concerned about big power.

greenbroncoguy

Copper - Posts: 299

Joined: March 27, 2003

Location: Florida, United States

Posted: May 07, 2003 at 5:12 AM / IP Logged

i would also reccommend getting a high output alternator, but if you stick with the stock unit, leave your alternator wires alone and they will be fine.

Big Purds

Silver - Posts: 574

Joined: November 25, 2002

Location: Canada

Posted: May 07, 2003 at 9:58 AM / IP Logged

I disagree bronco...

for sure upgrade the stock wiring at least...those wires were designed to be used with the vehicle in stock form, not for your aftermarket stereo needs...I have pulled some pretty heavy draws with even a small stereo, so you dont want to skimp out on this for how cheap and easy it is to do...

the stock wires werent meant to carry enough current to run your stereo, they were meant to carry enough current to allow the car to run in normal conditions for that vehicle in its stock original form...

greenbroncoguy

Copper - Posts: 299

Joined: March 27, 2003

Location: Florida, United States

Posted: May 08, 2003 at 3:17 PM / IP Logged

it doesn't matter if your stereo is going to pull 200 amps constantly, if your alternator can only supply your battery with 100 or so amps, then that is all your battery is going to get. your battery can supply your stereo with that 200amps, but only until the battery runs dead and your alternator is still going to be putting out 100 amps or so at full output.

so, you will need to have large wires running from your battery to your amp.stereo or whatever that is oulling 200amps, but since your alternator is only sullpying your battery with 100 amps, then your wires that were put there from the factory will sustain all the pwoer that your alternor can put out

bberman1

Gold - Posts: 2,314

Joined: March 11, 2002

Location: United States

Posted: May 08, 2003 at 4:53 PM / IP Logged

Greenbroncoguy if your system is pulling 200 amps then so is the ground cables going from the alternator/battery to the chassis. So when you say that the load is not increased on the stock cables that’s not true.

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