Big 3 wiring question

[Xtra 10+ year member]

I just finished the big 3 in my 96 Saturn and have a question.

I replaced all wiring with 4 gauge including:

- Battery neg to stock ground

- Battery neg to engine

- Alt to battery positive

- Battery pos to fuse box

My question is about the last one (Battery positive to fuse box).

Is doing/upgrading this just as good as fusing the wire from Battery pos. to Alternator? Are there any risks involved in this setup?

Thanks in advace.

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[I want SExxx 10+ year member]

Fuse the wire on the alt+ to batt+ because the one in the fuse box may not be high enough. If it doesn't blow though you should be alright.

 

[PhatTonyDeMarco 5,000+ posts]

You should not have REPLACE those wires, you should have just added the 3 wires, nothing should have been removed in this process.

That wires actually doesnt need to be fused. Mine is not fused, neither is UnderCoverPunk's, and a couple others on the forum. I, and they, are yet to have a problem. Just be sure the wire is not near any moving parts, parts that endure high temperatures, and make sure it is not rubbing on anything it should be.

 

[Xtra 10+ year member]

You should not have REPLACE those wires, you should have just added the 3 wires, nothing should have been removed in this process.

The reason I replaced the wires was due to the the way the stock wires were. The battery had 2 combination terminals with wires connected via rubber boot moldings running from each. The ring terminals with 4 gauge wouldnt fit under the connectors.

 

[PhatTonyDeMarco 5,000+ posts]

The reason I replaced the wires was due to the the way the stock wires were. The battery had 2 combination terminals with wires connected via rubber boot moldings running from each. The ring terminals with 4 gauge wouldnt fit under the connectors.

That is why you upgrade your terminal bolts... Doing what you did will not help as much as if you would have left the stock wiring. Also, since you are using only 4 guage wiring, I doubt there will be much of an effect on the electrical system at all.

 

[Xtra 10+ year member]

That is why you upgrade your terminal bolts... Doing what you did will not help as much as if you would have left the stock wiring. Also, since you are using only 4 guage wiring, I doubt there will be much of an effect on the electrical system at all.

I couldnt upgrade the terminals without upgrading everything as the stock wiring is molded into the old terminals and could not be seperated. Anyone with an older model Saturn should know what they look like.

 

[PhatTonyDeMarco 5,000+ posts]

Not the entire terminal, just the terminal bolt. That bolt comes out of the rubber boot, and can be replaced. I used these - http://www.cardomain.com/item/LITSMB1

 

[Xtra 10+ year member]

Not the entire terminal, just the terminal bolt. That bolt comes out of the rubber boot, and can be replaced. I used these - http://www.cardomain.com/item/LITSMB1

Ah now I see the light. I just assumed that the bolt wasnt removable //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif.

Would it be worth it for me to go back and add the stock wiring?

 

[PhatTonyDeMarco 5,000+ posts]

It would DEFFINITLY be worth doing that. The stock wiring should be around 8 guage, possibly 10... And you are just using 4 guage to replace it, which is a huge difference. So if you put that back in, then it would help greatly. It would also have been better to use 1/0 or 2 guage for the Big 3.

What amps are you running anyway? Alt upgrade yet?

 

[Xtra 10+ year member]

Yeah got the alt in. 200 amp. Dont have the sounds in yet but it'll be an Orion 8004 and a PG Xenon 600.1 next week to start.

Guess I'll get aroudnd to re-adding everything sometime this weekend.

 

[PhatTonyDeMarco 5,000+ posts]

I would have gone with something bigger than 4 guage, but you should be allright. What kind of subs are you gonna get?

 

[Xtra 10+ year member]

I would have gone with something bigger than 4 guage, but you should be allright. What kind of subs are you gonna get?

I'll be running a single 12w6v2 sealed. If push comes to shove i'll add another and swap the amp in a couple months. If my ears are pleased i'll just leave it be tho.

Thanks for the help! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/thumbsup.gif.3287b36ca96645a13a43aff531f37f02.gif

 

[PhatTonyDeMarco 5,000+ posts]

No problem man, anytime...