Official CarAudio.com Big 3 Thread

[regal8r]

i had a question. OK for the big 3 can i use power wire also for ground.

power and ground wire is the same exact thing

copper is copper is copper as long as it is the same AWG size

[Mac11]

Just got a new car so I'm doing this all over. Only this time I am having a bit of a problem. On this car (04 Mazda RX-8) My line runs from the alternator to the main fuse on the underhood fuse block then to the (+) battery terminal. So I have 2 different runs for this. Ok, no big deal. I have all the wire in place and I'm ready to button everything back up and when I re-connect the (-) terminal to the battery the main fuse that I just spoke of blows and sparks jump from the terminal. Anybody have any advice or ideas?

[funkdoktor]

i wish this had pictures on page 1.

[Mac11]

i wish this had pictures on page 1.

its easy if you just get under your hood and look. it becomes pretty obvious. big single wire that goes from your alternator to your battery (or main under hood fuse block), big wire that goes from negative battery terminal to the chassis, and big wire (or braided strap) that goes from the motor( or intake manifold) to chassis. If you don't under stand this, you probably shouldn't be under the hood of your car.

[tremor1127]

its easy if you just get under your hood and look. it becomes pretty obvious. big single wire that goes from your alternator to your battery (or main under hood fuse block), big wire that goes from negative battery terminal to the chassis, and big wire (or braided strap) that goes from the motor( or intake manifold) to chassis. If you don't under stand this, you probably shouldn't be under the hood of your car.

x9

[nawgee]

ok so im confused...my stock amp only pushes out about 85-90....if i do the big three will this increase my ampage

[SyKo13]

Current, not amperage

[hasa68mustang]

Current, not amperage

actually I gained 7 amps at 2k... I only had a 8-10 gauge wire running from the alternator though. I did the same test earlier in the day and managed 98 amps, twice and reded it again after I did the 2 gauge to the battery and it came up to 105 both times. I dunno if thats freak of nature or what but both times all acc. were off as well as air and such. Im gonna go do the grounds now that I have the terminals, and see if it does anything else?

[cotjones]

I don't suppose anyone carries those power distribution terminals, for the side mounted terminal GM batteries ?

scoche makes them! i had to get them they screw in! you can get them at walmart just look hard for them

[jesse59672]

Well i'm fixing to do this on my girlfriends saturn. Luckily, this will only be a 5 hour project or something. The idiots at Saturn (gm's practical joke) decided to put the alternator under the motor behind the power steering pump.

Anyways my question is where do i get crimps? She also has the side post battery..

[Jacobman]

Alright my alt does ~100 amps and i wanna do the big3 with 1/0 wire. I am confused on what size fuse to get, how high can my alt spike? Would a 200amp fuse be fine?

[Mesto]

any pics of the BIG 3 being done on a DODGE RAM TRUCK?!!?!

[funkdoktor]

quick question................why would i need a fuse from batt to alt???

[Ignatowski]

quick question................why would i need a fuse from batt to alt???

you dont need a fuse , I havent ever used one ALT to BAT

Keep in mind it is a hot wire,so try not to short it out

[Jacobman]

Well i am still stumped on the fuse size for the 1/0 run. My stock fuse for the alt is 100a so im just gonna go with 100a for the 1/0, any problems here?