Some good info from Guss at Ohio generator

[sleazebagger 10+ year member]

I talked with this guy for a bit today about upgrading my alt in my 99 explorer and unfortunately found out that the limit on extra amps for my truck is 1 alt at 225 amps which equates to a maximum of 3000 watts:crying:

He told me that getting two alts on there would be very difficult and very expensive because of the design of this model. So my dreams of 5k in my explorer went down the crapper.

Anyway, He gave me some good advice on doing a big three using a stock alt and told me to use NO bigger than 4 gauge because of to little resistance and the alt burning up because of power/HEAT building up in the first terminal. Says he's seen it a thousand times. So I took the 0 gauge off and replaced it with 4 so it doesnt burn out before I get an HO alt.

He said its fine when going from HO alt to rear batts.

Hopefully this helps someone.

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[I Like Waffle]

Lol. Last i checked, resistance = voltage drop and current wasted through heat.

 

[sleazebagger 10+ year member]

Thats what I thought, but a stock alt isn't suppose to kick out that much power. That's why people cook them all the time, especially when you have a monster 0 gauge allowing to much current that the alt wasn't built to produce without over heating.

Dude's been in the alt/car audio business for 20+ years and that was his advice from seeing it a 1000 times

 

[Bumpin' Goalie 10+ year member]

Thats what I thought, but a stock alt isn't suppose to kick out that much power. That's why people cook them all the time, especially when you have a monster 0 gauge allowing to much current that the alt wasn't built to produce without over heating.
Dude's been in the buisness alt/car audio business for 20+ years and that was his advice

Yup.

Seldom thought about.

 

[twistedchild420 5,000+ posts]

That dude is a dumb fuk

 

[I Like Waffle]

I have a 40 amp alt on my 67 falcon running 2 gauge wire for all grounds and everything, and havent had an issue. On my daily driver i had 2 gauge big 3 for the longest time, with only a 63a alt. Never had any issues.

 

[Ali1 10+ year member]

I disagree. I believe most people cook their alts because they are trying to run a sundown-3500 on a stock alt with a single battery.

 

[Ali1 10+ year member]

I've had the big3 done in 0 guage on my stock alt and never had issues.

 

[sleazebagger 10+ year member]

Well sht... I don't know anymore.... so many opinions:crazy:

 

[Ali1 10+ year member]

I just don't see how a bigger wire can effect the alternator. If the wire isn't being used to its full potential, how is this a problem?

I have a feeling this thread will get super long.... n2audio and audiolife where you guys at !!!

 

[I Like Waffle]

I disagree. I believe most people cook their alts because they are trying to run a sundown-3500 on a stock alt with a single battery.

This.

 

[I Like Waffle]

Heres a fun fact, did you know your alt will burn up with insufficient wire too? It basically loads up with current and has nowhere to put it. Kinda like if you remove the battery when its running.

 

[Blasphemy 10+ year member]

I disagree. I believe most people cook their alts because they are trying to run a sundown-3500 on a stock alt with a single battery.

Word.

 

[sleazebagger 10+ year member]

Word.

even with 2 batts you would still be struggling.

So I changed out my 0 for nothing???

 

[norrizzle90 10+ year member]

I've had the big3 done in 0 guage on my stock alt and never had issues.

other then forgetting to zip tie the 0 gauge to a near by object and it getting caught/chopped up by the alternator belt....i never had a problem!