to fuse or not to fuse alt to battery wire, that is the question

[twistedmind 10+ year member]

So, talked to all 3 local shops today and every single one of them told me its a waste of a fuse and going to impeed voltage if I fuse my alt to battery wire.

So, whats the consensus? What are the pros and cons? I am just worried about my truck catching on fire.

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[x2o 10+ year member]

I don't have mine fused, but it's general consensus to fuse any positive battery wire within 18" of the battery.

EDIT : No fires so far on my end.

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

I'm going to guess there is a reason why most stock alt to batt cables are fused

 

[Enellz 10+ year member]

hell I would just because you never know. But then again I've seen people in comps who don't fuse they ish at all. I mean is 30 bucks for a holder is worth more than your truck

 

[x2o 10+ year member]

I'm going to guess there is a reason why most stock alt to batt cables are fused

Mine wasn't, figured no need to fuse it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif. Plus I didn't have a fuse holder at the time I did my Big 3, so bleh. If I start getting worried I'll add in a fuse at some point in time.

 

[Skip01 5,000+ posts]

I havent in either of mine

Just run it right and i dont think itll hurt nothing

But if ya got the extra fuse , why not....better safe than sorry

 

[KINGDELL91 10+ year member]

im fused

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

only bad part is, even if you fuse and get a short your going to have one side of the wire still hot, either from the batt or the alt...so it is kind of pointless in some respects

 

[joeboxer5876 10+ year member]

i would fuse it. i have seen 10 gauge wire unfused do some f**ked up shit in my work truck after it shorted. i wouldnt leave any wires unfused. espessially 4 gauge or bigger. a 300 amp fuse wont cut off much or any current at all

 

[FVCKHANGMAN 10+ year member]

So, talked to all 3 local shops today and every single one of them told me its a waste of a fuse and going to impeed voltage if I fuse my alt to battery wire.

So, whats the consensus? What are the pros and cons? I am just worried about my truck catching on fire.

they are right . its your choice if you **** at wireing id fuse it if not you dont need to

 

[shizzzon 10+ year member]

I seriously do not see why this is a hard question....

Do not fuse the wire running from the alt to the battery.

If the fuse blows, it will not only prevent the alternator from charging the car but an alt NEEDS to be connected to a battery to prevent voltage spikes. That's why it is dangerous to test an alternator by removing the power cable off the battery while the vehicle is running. It will lead to voltage spikes which could\can\will fry your entire vehicle's electrical system..... all because of a fuse that could blow without you knowing it....

 

[joeboxer5876 10+ year member]

I seriously do not see why this is a hard question....
Do not fuse the wire running from the alt to the battery.

If the fuse blows, it will not only prevent the alternator from charging the car but an alt NEEDS to be connected to a battery to prevent voltage spikes. That's why it is dangerous to test an alternator by removing the power cable off the battery while the vehicle is running. It will lead to voltage spikes which could\can\will fry your entire vehicle's electrical system..... all because of a fuse that could blow without you knowing it....

personally i would probably leave the factory alt to batt in addition to the big wire to the batt.

 

[x2o 10+ year member]

personally i would probably leave the factory alt to batt in addition to the big wire to the batt.

That's pretty much what everyone does. I've never seen anyone doing the big 3 that replaced the wires, they simply add on to the existing ones.

 

[dumpin907 10+ year member]

That's pretty much what everyone does. I've never seen anyone doing the big 3 that replaced the wires, they simply add on to the existing ones.

yeah i was just thinking that. i would fuse it just to be sure.

 

[Paul73 10+ year member]

I seriously do not see why this is a hard question....
Do not fuse the wire running from the alt to the battery.

If the fuse blows, it will not only prevent the alternator from charging the car but an alt NEEDS to be connected to a battery to prevent voltage spikes. That's why it is dangerous to test an alternator by removing the power cable off the battery while the vehicle is running. It will lead to voltage spikes which could\can\will fry your entire vehicle's electrical system..... all because of a fuse that could blow without you knowing it....

I could only see this scenario being possible if your voltage regulator were to go bad at the same time as the blown fuse //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

That's kinda the regulator's job....regulate voltage output by the alternator //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif