Does the Big 3 Actually Do Anything?

[kicker06 10+ year member]

yes, same idea as the big three, upgrade the path b/c there is voltage drop between the batt and light...
if your headlights aren't dimming but your interior lights are, then it's not the fact there isn't enough power, it just is getting voltage drop on the way. So upgrade the path and it ought to help

Everything is dimming. Instrument cluster lights and such.

Maybe I should just do the big 3 and not get a battery. (Well find someone to do it.

 

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

Everything is dimming. Instrument cluster lights and such.
Maybe I should just do the big 3 and not get a battery. (Well find someone to do it.

start with the big three, and do the batt + to fuse box, it's worth doing while you are at it.... if everything is dimming (someone elses headlights weren't in this thread) then it's more than just that link...

IF the big three doesn't do it you can give another battery a shot but an HO alt would be better... it would actually FIX the problem, not just bad-aid it... you could also turn the gains down on the amp or downsize....

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

Here's what Im talking about...

wow...i understand now...that sucks

and i thought my alt was hard to get to.

 

[kicker06 10+ year member]

Yea Ill have a shop to the big 3.

Hope this will work out.

 

[thatsgonnahurt 10+ year member]

Is the big 3 beneficial with a stock alternator? Lets do some math. Lets say that we have a 100 amp alternator. Factory power wires are 6 awg which is rated for 101 amps with a resistance per foot of .0003951 ohms. Figuring 10’ of power wire gives us a total wire resistance of .003951 ohms. 100 ^2 * .003951 = 39.51 watts. Now compare 1/0 awg with a resistance of .000983 @ 10’. 100^2 * .000983 = 9.83 watts. The difference between 6 awg and 1/0 awg is 29.68 watts. This 100 amp alternator at 14 volts produces 1400 watts. The difference in power consumption between 6 awg and 1/0 awg is less than 2.5%. hardly seems worth it!

if your wiring is in bad shape go ahead and replace it. but if its in good shape and you have a stock alternator you gain little. what can be done for the wiring is to periodicaly clean the connections and apply a high temperature grease to prevent corrosion.

 

[kicker06 10+ year member]

So will a Yellow top be benficial or not?

BTW my stock alt is 130amps.

 

[thatsgonnahurt 10+ year member]

So I had my battery checked @ Autozone and it was charging at idle @ a voltage of about 11.5v and dropped down to 10.5v when it pulled 100amps.

the battery does not charge unless the alternator is supplying at least 12.6+ volts. the alternator supplies power when the engine is running. if you experience significant headlight dimming your alternator is inadequate and you need a bigger one.

 

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

So will a Yellow top be beneficial or not?
BTW my stock alt is 130amps.

just do the big three first... 130amps should do well up to say 1500w? maybe more... just do the big three before you blow any money on a battery