Question Regarding the Big 3

[InfinitePeace 10+ year member]

yeah its tough to when you have car payments and everything else too

**** it. lol. I can afford it, but I SHOULD be saving.

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

I posted this in the sticky, but I want more opinions.
I bought a 180a from Ohio General and they told me more than once, upgrade to the largest size of cable (Big 3) that you can for everything more or less EXCEPT the Alt to Batt Pos. They told me, which I confirmed multiple times, on a short run, 4awg (at least for upwards of 200a) is plenty and ideal; they don't recommend larger than that in that location because the size of the post on the alternator is too small to bind to the larger wire; ergo because of the size difference, the post on the alt heats up too much and can overheat it. That was their recommendation and I'm going to have the shop that is doing it for me talk to them and confirm with a detailed description of my specific engine.

The other interesting thing they said was do NOT fuse that wire. I confirmed this as well, DO NOT fuse this wire because if for some reason it does indeed blow, the alternator will no longer see the battery and think that it's dead, so it will kick into high gear and stay that way until it burns up because it will never see that battery again until you've changed that fuse, thus leaving you with a dead battery and a burnt out alternator.

Discuss.

Not quite, this would only happen if you removed the factory wiring, which should never be done when applying the big 3.......

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

And just so its clear, your alternator is not powering anything in your car, it is maintaining your battery, which in turn is the power source.........

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

I really wouldnt even worry about fusing the pos lead from the alt to the bat as long as you do it correctly. But, if you would like to protect the alt or bat in the event of a failure on one end, then by all means fuse it.

 

[InfinitePeace 10+ year member]

Not quite, this would only happen if you removed the factory wiring, which should never be done when applying the big 3.......

You're right, that occurred to me after I said it. I've talked about this too much and run the topic into the ground really, I just had it all professionally done completely to recommendations of the alternator manufacturer. I did not fuse that wire, and I left all existing wire intact. They did a really nice job.

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

^^^ Nice //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[blackbonnie 5,000+ posts]

alright sounds good

 

[timelessr1 10+ year member]

And just so its clear, your alternator is not powering anything in your car, it is maintaining your battery, which in turn is the power source.........

Hey Mikey....are you 100% sure about this? Since the alt. lead is going to the main fuse block, and at the block it splits to go to the battery, and to the rest of the car. So basically while the car is running the battery becomes a load just like the rest of the car. Now if the car (system) exceeds the power that is given by the alt, then the remaining amount will be supplied by the battery. When that extra large draw is finished the battery becomes a load again and recharges. So in essence the Alt is the power source. The only time it isnt the power source is when the car is off. So bascially when the cars running you can even pull your pattery out and the car will keep running as long as you never drain more then the Alt can supply

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

Hey Mikey....are you 100% sure about this? Since the alt. lead is going to the main fuse block, and at the block it splits to go to the battery, and to the rest of the car. So basically while the car is running the battery becomes a load just like the rest of the car. Now if the car (system) exceeds the power that is given by the alt, then the remaining amount will be supplied by the battery. When that extra large draw is finished the battery becomes a load again and recharges. So in essence the Alt is the power source. The only time it isnt the power source is when the car is off. So bascially when the cars running you can even pull your pattery out and the car will keep running as long as you never drain more then the Alt can supply

Trust me, an alternator doesnt work how most people see it to. Could you run your car without a battery in it? NO

 

[timelessr1 10+ year member]

Trust me, an alternator doesnt work how most people see it to. Could you run your car without a battery in it? NO

Actually I have ran cars with out the battery...I've started it up, then disconnected the battery...kept on running, same with my motorcylces.

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

Actually I have ran cars with out the battery...I've started it up, then disconnected the battery...kept on running, same with my motorcylces.

But you are far from running the electrical system to its demand, I guarantee you arent seeing the voltage required.....Why would you be starting a car and disconnecting the battery? jw

 

[timelessr1 10+ year member]

But you are far from running the electrical system to its demand, I guarantee you arent seeing the voltage required.....Why would you be starting a car and disconnecting the battery? jw

For racing....the battery is a pretty heavy add on. Also you can check if your alternator is shot. If the car keeps running, the alt is doing its job..if it dies..then the alt isnt. Basically your car should run on about 40-70 amps, which if you didnt have the battery wuld do juust fine, but if you decided to put your defroster on and your headlights, and your radio (not a system) and your heater defogger..then yes your car will die out b/c you exceeded the alts output. Which at this point...the battery would kick in and help supply the extra needed current

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

An alternator is not designed to power everything in your car, it is designed to maintain the battery and current draw off of it, from what I have read and understand to be true.

In drag racing I have seen several vehicles running off strictly battery for their passes and charging them after each pass.