4/0 welding wire.

[elchemo1986]

I got 25f of 4/0 welding wire. Thinking of using it for the big 3. Good or bad idea? Also do regular 0 gauge terminals fit? Please help thanks.

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[72Impala 10+ year member]

Good idea, but you need 4/0 terminals, 1/0 are way too small

 

[elchemo1986]

Where to I get them?

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

If you have a big *** HO alt and a batt bank in the rear yes, if just stock then not necessary...

 

[elchemo1986]

Alternator and batteries coming soon..How come when doing the bi 3 some people use a fuse between the alternator and battery? And some don't. Is this require? Today my brother brought me another 25ft. Of black 4/0. Can this size of wire be use for the amp runs?

 

[Dub7sonoma Premium Member]

Alternator and batteries coming soon..How come when doing the bi 3 some people use a fuse between the alternator and battery? And some don't. Is this require? Today my brother brought me another 25ft. Of black 4/0. Can this size of wire be use for the amp runs?

The fuse is preference with a little bit of safety. I didn't fuse my alt to battery wire cause its only about 1-1.5ft away from my battery. But if you had a battery and alternator on different sides of the vehicle, you have more of a chance of the wire shorting to ground (melting through, rubbing through, things like that)

 

[elchemo1986]

Yea my alt and batt. Are like 1.5f away. That answers that's question. Thank you.. how about using the 4/0 for the amp run? Is there a fuse for 4/0 wire?

 

[Popwarhomie 5,000+ posts]

Tractor supply sells big ring terminals. I bought a bunch of 3/0 terminals from car quest for the cheapz. Sky high car audio does as well. They sell fuse blocks for oversized wire as well. I would ALWAYS run a fuse on your power wires. Fires are not fun.

 

[elchemo1986]

In other words I'm guessing it's OK to use 4/0 for amp runs lol. I'm gonna have to wait on the fuse holders till next week. $60 for one 2/0 it's more then I can afford right now.

 

[Popwarhomie 5,000+ posts]

Well yea. Its just bigger wire. Have no idea what amps or electrical you are running.Probably pretty overkill. Going to need reducers to fit into 1/0 amp inputs.

Get the ring terminal style fuse blocks for $8

 

[elchemo1986]

I'm powering a ampere3800.1. Yellow top under and two in the trunk for now. I found some this https://www.vtewarehouse.com/content/electromech/fuse/html/anl/anb753.php

 

[Dub7sonoma Premium Member]

I'm powering a ampere3800.1. Yellow top under and two in the trunk for now. I found some this https://www.vtewarehouse.com/content/electromech/fuse/html/anl/anb753.php

Also im pretty sure sky high 2/0 ring terminals fit 4/0 welding cable. And there is nothing wrong with using 4/0 for power and ground runs, especially if you are getting it cheap or for free

 

[bbeljefe]

You can buy heavy gauge lugs at a welding supply house. As for fusing the power wire between the alternator and the battery, it's a good idea. If your regulator fails, which is subject to happen more with PCM controlled alternators, the alternator can send in excess of 50 volts through the electrical system.

If fuses were $50.00 each, it would be worth it to me.

 

[elchemo1986]

Any body familiar with this ? I'm really close to the place that makes them or supply them. I'm thinking about getting some as fuse holder's I mean that's what they are fuse holders lol.

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

Got that same thing from VTE warehouse for my 4/0 run to the back, works great...