The big 3 caused more harm then good?

[GLN305 10+ year member]

Well the grounds with the stock wires work great. The ground with the extra cable on the same grounds doesn't work well what so ever. So it seems to be the upgrade its self. How is it impossible? I see it with my own eyes. It clearly performs way worse. If it were to help I feel like I'd see the difference.

Physics disallow for the wire upgrades to not work. Science says that a a larger conductor will have less resistance and cause less voltage drop. Now if they made the wire with bad crimps on the ends or used screw-down terminals improperly that might be the issue. Been doing this since I was 18 and I am 37 now, never seen a Big 3 upgrade cause anything but improvement if done properly.

Make sure they didn't use wire with a larger gauge appearance with a smaller conductor and definitely check all the connectors and contact points.

 

[Chriszle 10+ year member]

Agreed. Something is wrong. It is impossible for larger wires being added to the circuit, and having a lower voltage, if done properly.

 

[momax_powers 10+ year member]

even if the added wire was garbage it would still be adding to ur stock wiring and in no way should have adverse affects ....there is something you are doing when adding the wires that your not telling us or overlooking

go one by one doing the big three.....first change one wire then drive around and see what happens and then do another wire of the big three to find the problem through process of elimination

 

[NIHL8ION]

Macs electrics did the upgrade on the alternator? Why does that scare you, all they did was put a bigger stator in it, replace all bearing, and check the diodes? Pretty simple stuff.. I did not replace any wires just added to them. I didn't do anything wrong, trust be triple checked. My step dad is a electrician for nucor steel, a massive steel plant nation wide. He checked everything. I removed all the big three a moment a go and drove around and tested it, volts stayed up about 14 the whole time unless I was at idle at a red light. Problem fixed.

Sounds like you already know everything there is to know, so why do you come in here posting a thread where: Everyone who sees it will put in their 2 cents & strongly disagree with you including myself... But hey like I said, you seem like you are one of those people who think they know all there is to know and could never make a mistake, so I guess you're right "Problem fixed."

 

[™Caveman 10+ year member]

√√ ^^^^^^^^^ √√

Thats what im talking about. Mofo knows it all and is asking for help.

 

[AndrewHD 10+ year member]

Probably used bad connectors or didn't crimp or solder correctly. Tell us more on what wire you used and what kind of connectors (gold plated, platinum, ss, copper etc). Your average wire crimper will not work, you will need a large one specifically for 0 gauge. If you are soldering, you'd better be using a torch and not the iron. These details will make a big difference in the quality of your big 3. Don't Mickey mouse it or else you WILL be seeing voltage drop or far worse.

 

[sw3ll3r3 10+ year member]

Physics disallow for the wire upgrades to not work. Science says that a a larger conductor will have less resistance and cause less voltage drop. Now if they made the wire with bad crimps on the ends or used screw-down terminals improperly that might be the issue. Been doing this since I was 18 and I am 37 now, never seen a Big 3 upgrade cause anything but improvement if done properly.
Make sure they didn't use wire with a larger gauge appearance with a smaller conductor and definitely check all the connectors and contact points.

I did the big three myself, I would never pay someone to do such a thing lol. We used 1/0 Aluminum lugs. With 1/0 wire.

 

[sw3ll3r3 10+ year member]

Sounds like you already know everything there is to know, so why do you come in here posting a thread where: Everyone who sees it will put in their 2 cents & strongly disagree with you including myself... But hey like I said, you seem like you are one of those people who think they know all there is to know and could never make a mistake, so I guess you're right "Problem fixed."

First off I do not know everything or I wouldn't have posted. Second I hear and appriciate the replies I have received. But what you arn't getting is I have listened and I have done test with and without big three. Third I understand it should help me, but for some reason it is not helping.

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Possibly the old wire wasn't allowing enough current flow to even drop voltage?

 

[gckless 5,000+ posts]

Probably the reason you're getting higher voltage is because you're recieving less amperage. That bigger wire allowed more current to pass, the current that your amp demands and needs, so you were getting lower voltage numbers. Which is probably dead accurate as to what should happen.

Was that alternator actually tested by anyone other than the dude that made it? Might not be as good as you think. My guess is you are completely guessing as to what kind of supply you actually have, and those lower voltage numbers are what your system is actually capable of, with unrestricted flow.

Edit:

Possibly the old wire wasn't allowing enough current flow to even drop voltage?

Lol, posted the same thing before I even seen your post.

 

[Slo_Ride 5,000+ posts]

yeah sounds like another discount alt rebuild

 

[sw3ll3r3 10+ year member]

yeah sounds like another discount alt rebuild

The bigger stator is straight from GM guys. MACS is a well known car shop around here.

 

[gckless 5,000+ posts]

The bigger stator is straight from GM guys. MACS is a well known car shop around here.

Tenney was pretty well known too before he dipped. Turns out one of his "rebuilt" 240A alternators did 35A at idle.

 

[sw3ll3r3 10+ year member]

Probably the reason you're getting higher voltage is because you're recieving less amperage. That bigger wire allowed more current to pass, the current that your amp demands and needs, so you were getting lower voltage numbers. Which is probably dead accurate as to what should happen.
Was that alternator actually tested by anyone other than the dude that made it? Might not be as good as you think. My guess is you are completely guessing as to what kind of supply you actually have, and those lower voltage numbers are what your system is actually capable of, with unrestricted flow.

Edit:

Lol, posted the same thing before I even seen your post.

What you said about the larger current draw makes sense I guess, but it makes me nervous playing my system when I drive and my volts dropping to 13

 

[sw3ll3r3 10+ year member]

I'm not saying the alternator is better than a mechman build or anything, but 240 amp is a lot better than 140 amps.