big 3 wire question

[texasgmc]

Hey yall, new guy here! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif. Im fixing up my old 76 gmc longbed pick up truck and put a new system in. Put a kenwood mp735u head unit, phoenix gold ryval 1000w 2ch amp bridged to a 12" pioneer shallow mount sub in a sealed box, and cadence 6.5 components in the front doors. System sounds AWESOME in a reg cab pick up! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif But i do get a dip in my volt meter and dimming headlights that gets lower as the loud bass hits, 'specially at a stop. Right now i have the stock 64amp alt, but i have a 140 amp alt on order and an optima blue top battery waiting to go in. My question is, has anyone done a big 3 wire upgrade on a 76 model gmc/chevy pick up? Ive talked to a few car audio shops and im getting differant views on how to do it? I understand the battery ground to chassis/alt bracket/ground to chassis...but the alt pos to battery is where im confused. Do I JUST run a seperate 2ga wire from the alt pos DIRECTLY to the battery and leave the rest of the stock wire in place? OR swap out the stock wire from the alt, to the relay, to the starter with the 2ga? Some tell me swap, some say just run a seperate from alt to battery.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/verymad.gif.3f39c5c2fd57527b671fad3efdfac756.gif Also...is reg 2ga battery cable good to use on the upgrade, or is car audio power cable better?

thanks for any input yall!!! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

Oh...i used the search feature, but couldnt find what i was looking for

Click to read more...

 

[MTX520 10+ year member]

its way better using car audio wire....and welcome

 

[texasgmc]

its way better using car audio wire....and welcome

thanks!! car audio wire for both the grounds AND the alt?

 

[texasgmc]

thanks!! car audio wire for both the grounds AND the alt?

Anyone??//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif

 

[PaulThompson229 10+ year member]

2gauge is 2gauge wether it is audio wire or not, only difference is that not all wire is pure copper. And do a seperate run, leave all the stock wires alone.

 

[Davecubs14 10+ year member]

I don't know if you found any cheap, real good wire or not. But here's a link for ya, check it out.

http://www.knukonceptz.com/productMaster.cfm?Category=Power%20Wire

Though, they do not have 2 gauge. But still a good site all around for other needs.

 

[atlbraves]

yes

 

[texasgmc]

2gauge is 2gauge wether it is audio wire or not, only difference is that not all wire is pure copper. And do a seperate run, leave all the stock wires alone.

Thanks! So just go from alt pos to battery pos, and leave the stock hooked up as is, correct?

 

[nineball 10+ year member]

yep. electricity follows the path of least resistance.

 

[Torgus 10+ year member]

its way better using car audio wire....and welcome

wtf are you talking about?

op: buy some welding wire from weldingsupply.com and get 0 guage. you can buy your contacts there too and use a crimper or vice. no soldering or hammering. also fuse the wire 6 inches from the bat on the alt to bat run. you'll want an inline fuse with a rating of 250amps or so. and leave the factory fusable link in place.

 

[texasgmc]

wtf are you talking about?

op: buy some welding wire from weldingsupply.com and get 0 guage. you can buy your contacts there too and use a crimper or vice. no soldering or hammering. also fuse the wire 6 inches from the bat on the alt to bat run. you'll want an inline fuse with a rating of 250amps or so. and leave the factory fusable link in place.

0 guage? That sounds intense! I know bigger is better but im not running that much power, ill probably stick to 2ga. The factory fusable link on mine is on the starter itself, and another on the firewall by a relay the the stock alt hot wire is going to. Bridging a cable from the alt pos to bat pos wont fry the stock wiring or fusable links will it?

 

[Torgus 10+ year member]

no.