alternator and the big three
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=80755
Printed Date: June 10, 2024 at 5:26 AM
Topic: alternator and the big three
Posted By: 05z71crew
Subject: alternator and the big three
Date Posted: July 25, 2006 at 5:53 PM
First off, I love this freakin site! I thought I knew what I was talking about; at least a little bit. But now I feel like a kid back in kindergarten LOL Now to my questions: What ouput should I be looking for if I want to get a HO alternator? I have a (as you can guess by the screen name) 2005 chevy silvy crew Z71. I think the stock alt they put in is just not suited for much anything. Hell my lights dim when I put my windows up or down...even when I am driving!!! If y'all could help me with some names and amp ratings I would appreciate it... thanks Also, What size and where could I locate some cable to replace the big three?? Can I go to my local LOWE'S and pick up some 0 guage wire? How much will it run $$$?? ------------- lil nicky
06 Elantra (No more z71)
2 12" powerbass subs; 6x9's and 5 1/4's
Kenwood KAC-9152D
American bass SQ540
Replies:
Posted By: 05z71crew
Date Posted: July 25, 2006 at 5:56 PM
also, FYI chevy site says alt is already 145...
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lil nicky
06 Elantra (No more z71)
2 12" powerbass subs; 6x9's and 5 1/4's
Kenwood KAC-9152D
American bass SQ540
Posted By: aznboi3644
Date Posted: July 25, 2006 at 6:49 PM
My dad has a z71 chevy and if you look at the wire coming off of the alternator it is like crappy auto 8 gauge going to 4 gauge...upgrading this will definitly improve the system.
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: July 26, 2006 at 2:25 AM
Ignore the alternator for now. You need to make the current transfer as efficient as possible first. Upgrade the BIG 3 wiring to 0 gauge. Fuse the main feed from the alternator. Do not remove the factory wire as it can stay and pass current as well. Use a quality 0 gauge line for the power and ground connections that is rated for high heat and oils etc., this is one of the reasons as to why you want to use a high strand count car audio type of wire.
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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: 05z71crew
Date Posted: July 26, 2006 at 4:09 PM
Sounds good. Now, where can I get cabling like that? How much should I expect to pay?
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lil nicky
06 Elantra (No more z71)
2 12" powerbass subs; 6x9's and 5 1/4's
Kenwood KAC-9152D
American bass SQ540
Posted By: 05z71crew
Date Posted: July 26, 2006 at 4:18 PM
https://www.wiringproducts.com/?target=dept_40.html What does everyone think of this? ------------- lil nicky
06 Elantra (No more z71)
2 12" powerbass subs; 6x9's and 5 1/4's
Kenwood KAC-9152D
American bass SQ540
Posted By: 05z71crew
Date Posted: July 26, 2006 at 4:24 PM
What is the difference between 1 gauge and 1/0 guage? Which one is better? I didn't realize the link took you to the home page. I was looking at the battery cables and the braided ground strap. Is that a good idea? ------------- lil nicky
06 Elantra (No more z71)
2 12" powerbass subs; 6x9's and 5 1/4's
Kenwood KAC-9152D
American bass SQ540
Posted By: 05z71crew
Date Posted: July 26, 2006 at 4:43 PM
sorry bout one after another posts but I have lots o' questions. Like aznboi said the alt cable is crappy (just went and looked). Should I just upgrade the small wire that runs from the alt to the distro block or should I replace from the alt all the way to the battery? After the distro block the wire is pretty solid IMO.
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lil nicky
06 Elantra (No more z71)
2 12" powerbass subs; 6x9's and 5 1/4's
Kenwood KAC-9152D
American bass SQ540
Posted By: aznboi3644
Date Posted: July 26, 2006 at 7:22 PM
Well..leave the small wire and just add on another 0 gauge wire from the alternator to the battery...the factory wire is like crappy low strand stiff as hell 4 gauge...just leave it be
Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: July 26, 2006 at 8:46 PM
You probably won't find any 1 gauge wire. It is usually available in even sizes. 1/0 refers to 0 gauge wire, as opposed to 00 (2/0) or 000 (3/0) which are increasingly bigger. This is a weird thing, these wire sizes. At the time these numbers were thought of, 0 was supposed to be the thickest. Well, wire got bigger so they had to start adding more zeros. I guess that was done instead of using minus signs, which would have been weirder yet.
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Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.
Posted By: 05z71crew
Date Posted: July 26, 2006 at 10:16 PM
Is there a big difference between strand counts other than the number and thickness of the strands of the wire? Logically I would think to get somewhere around a medium strand count. Having smaller strands, while making it more malleable, would break easier due to how brittle the smaller strands are. And having a small strand count would make difficult to bend becaus the individual strand would be thicker. ------------- lil nicky
06 Elantra (No more z71)
2 12" powerbass subs; 6x9's and 5 1/4's
Kenwood KAC-9152D
American bass SQ540
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