The Big 3

[Damaso87 10+ year member]

The Big Three (aka The Big 3)

1. Negative battery wire to ground - Just replace the negative batt. terminal and wire and ground it to the factory location.

2. Engine block to ground - replace the ground wire from the engine block to the chassis with a bigger wire (maybe 4 gauge).

3. Alternator to battery - add a fused wire from the postive post on you alternator (the one coming from the battery) to the postive terminal on your battery. DO NOT exchange wires just add a extra one. Make sure it fused the same size as your factory fuse.

Taken from SSA

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[johnecon2001 5,000+ posts]

The Big Three (aka The Big 3)
3. Alternator to battery - add a fused wire from the postive post on you alternator (the one coming from the battery) to the postive terminal on your battery. DO NOT exchange wires just add a extra one. Make sure it fused the same size as your factory fuse.

Taken from SSA

No... fuse for the size of the wire you use. if its 1/0awg.. use a 200-300A.

 

[ighettoboyi 10+ year member]

^^ i thought you used a fuse that would equate the total of the fuse ratings of all your amps

 

[LightningStryk7 10+ year member]

the only reason you fuse the wire, is so that ur amps dont pull to much current through it and cause it to heat up and melt. That is why you fuse with the highest fuse for ur particular wire, and anytime you downsize ur wire you need to add another fuse e.g. going 1/0 awg into a distro and out 4 awg.

 

[lotas 10+ year member]

but if you have an alternator that is rated at 225amps then wouldnt you ahve to use OVER a 225amp fuse and under a 300amp (or whatever 1/0awg's capacity is) ??

 

[LightningStryk7 10+ year member]

yeah it would have to be over the alternators ampere but under the 1/0 gauge. going a bigger fuse then ur amps or alternator is not bad, just dont go under it or you will blow fuses left and right. Just make sure you don't have a to big of fuse for your wire to handle.

 

[Logikalliquid 10+ year member]

Should you bother fusing your alt-batt+ that you add if your stock wire isn't fused?OR fuse both of them while your down there? I know most older GMs aren't fused.

 

[95Prober 10+ year member]

The Big Three (aka The Big 3)
1. Negative battery wire to ground - Just replace the negative batt. terminal and wire and ground it to the factory location.

2. Engine block to ground - replace the ground wire from the engine block to the chassis with a bigger wire (maybe 4 gauge).

3. Alternator to battery - add a fused wire from the postive post on you alternator (the one coming from the battery) to the postive terminal on your battery. DO NOT exchange wires just add a extra one. Make sure it fused the same size as your factory fuse.

Taken from SSA

i have some questions..

in #1. aren't you ONLY to ADD on to the original wiring instead of replacing it???

in #3. isnt the fuse supposed to be 18 inches from the BATT. side NOT the alternator side??

 

[johnecon2001 5,000+ posts]

yes and yes

 

[ruckus]

ok Im running a stock Alternator ATM 115amps and I go with 1/0 from battery to alt (4 guage from battery to the amp in the trunk, and stock t the rest of the car, what size fuse should i put? 115, 300, or something in the middle?

 

[guy022077 10+ year member]

are these the same place?

1. Negative battery wire to ground - Just replace the negative batt. terminal and wire and ground it to the factory location.

2. Engine block to ground - replace the ground wire from the engine block to the chassis with a bigger wire (maybe 4 gauge).

i only had 1 gorund wire on my oem location are you saying add another?

im gonna redo that piece with metal when i do the power side

i did 8 gauge to the valve cover X2 from the battery terminal . i left the original four gauge intact and added another 4 gauge to it. I did 4 gauge to the alt and abs from the dist block. so i guess i did the big "6" . i will do the alt power to battery when my new amps show up. hifonics bx1500d and zx6400.

 

[osokrayzay 10+ year member]

Why cant i replace it? Why do i add instead of replacing please explain.

I happened to get 30 ft of 1/0 gauge wire

 

[req 5,000+ posts]

Why cant i replace it? Why do i add instead of replacing please explain.I happened to get 30 ft of 1/0 gauge wire

because someday, you will prolly sell that car, or want to remove the wire without destroying the electrical.

and why remove EXTRA current flow options?

1\0guage > 4awg

IMO - its best to wire the big3 with the biggest wire you plan on using in your regular install. if you only have 8guage, its not even nessicary.

 

[ruckus]

please answer

ok Im running a stock Alternator ATM 115amps and I go with 1/0 from battery to alt (4 guage from battery to the amp in the trunk, and stock t the rest of the car, what size fuse should i put? 115, 300, or something in the middle?

 

[95Prober 10+ year member]

hi guys. well sorry bout this question coming up, but what are the purposes of the big 3?? i mean, what does it try and solve/ prevent??