Official CarAudio.com Big 3 Thread

[johnecon2001]

From what I can see, it's all your pictures so go ahead.

There was someone who actually grabbed my pics and used them without my consent awhile back until I banned the forum that was using them from my image hoster.

[evan]

I'm planning on doing the big 3 on my 1980 Malibu and I'm trying to figure out where the factory wires go.

There is only one wire coming off of the positive terminal of the battery and it goes to the starter.



The wire that looks like the power to the alternator runs into a loom that goes into the cabin under the dash.


I don't know if this helps, but here is the label on the alternator.



I wasn't able to get the car jacked up enough to see the starter, but is it possible that the positive cable goes from the battery, to the starter, into the cabin, and then back out to the alternator? Is that normal? Is there any harm in running a second wire directly from the battery to the alternator and leaving the stock wire in place?

[johnecon2001]

Honestly? Who cares where the stock wires go. Remember, you're just adding to the wire already there.
Follow the three points and add your own wire.

And just as an FYI, the Alternator probably goes to the fuse box, the power wire is fused and then runs to the battery.

[StealthKill]

My HU seems to flicker(lights flicker on/off) and I was noticing a slight voltage drop on the dash. Think the big 3 would fix this/help solve it?

[JunkTitleGolf]

How is your head unit grounded? The big 3 will help some with dimming. Or at least it did for me. For your headunit it could all be in the grounding itself. Heard that you should always ground to bare metal and not use factory ground unless it is a bolt or something of that sort.

[StealthKill]

Allright, thanks. Ill just ground it myself, it is using the factory ground atm...I think.

[Ruffy]

Question for all.

Everyone says Dont take away Just add.

What about on the alternator? What would be the point of fusing a 1/0ga cable going to the alternator if the original stock 8ga cable is still hooked up to it. If something goes wrong wont it fry the 8ga cable? Meaning id have to fuse that one as well to be safe. Or would it take the path of lest resistance ie the 1/0ga connection all the time.

[gymway]

Why do you need a fuse, or would want to put on a fuse? If the stock wires are not fused, why would u need to put one on with a bigger wire, and easier path for electricity to travel?

[Saucy]

I was reading and you guys say add 0 guage but leave stock wires and it will help more current flow. Do you think it is possible to replace the stock wires with 0 guage wire and also add the big 3 with 0 guage wire????? So you would have your stock wires 0 guage then also have the 3 extra. Is this possible? Will it help even more?

[lil azn 06]

Last time i checked, current will go more where the bigger wire is.

There is no point in changing out the stock wire for 0 awg and also doing the big 3 as well. Unless you are running tons of current past the 0 awg limit then i would see why you would need more wires/thicker ones.


Stock wires are fused, in the fuse box. Not putting a fuse and current is too high for the wire it could cause the wire to melt/overheat/fire.

[lil azn 06]

Question for all.

Everyone says Dont take away Just add.

What about on the alternator? What would be the point of fusing a 1/0ga cable going to the alternator if the original stock 8ga cable is still hooked up to it. If something goes wrong wont it fry the 8ga cable? Meaning id have to fuse that one as well to be safe. Or would it take the path of lest resistance ie the 1/0ga connection all the time.

The stock alternator wire is fused. Its said in the post above.

[phenryiv1]

I am SURE that somewhere in this thread, at least one of these questions are already answered. "Search" just led me to the thread as a whole...

1, Are crimp terminals just as effective as screw terminals for this "modification?"
2, Will changing my battery terminals help with this effort?
3, Are there any other grounding points that I might want/need?

[AJ²06]

I have officially laid the BIG 3 to rest now...
ITS officially done in my car with all top notch wiring...

14.45 voltage... [drops during beats of course]

[AJ²06]

PICS tommorow.

[AJ²06]