Alternator Wiring
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 11
From: Schaumburg IL
Alternator Wiring
At a part show I talked to the Powermaster alternator people about a C3 upgrade to a 140amp unit. Their suggestion for install wiring is to run a 6-8ga wire directly from the alternator to the starter "B" terminal.
My question is -- ok that makes sense in wiring terms, but do you strip out the current red wire that runs from the starter "B" to the horn relay tied into the red wire to the alternator which I believe is also a fuseable link? A parallel run to this line seems to be made ineffective by the new heavy gauge wire run.
How has others wired this in?
Thx
My question is -- ok that makes sense in wiring terms, but do you strip out the current red wire that runs from the starter "B" to the horn relay tied into the red wire to the alternator which I believe is also a fuseable link? A parallel run to this line seems to be made ineffective by the new heavy gauge wire run.
How has others wired this in?
Thx
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,870
Likes: 3,544
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
That's the correct way to go- just make SURE the wire is protected as it is routed to the starter-secured- not able to rub up against anything- split loom will work as well.
Electricity is LAZY- it'll take the path of least resistance- having both wires will NOT hurt anything-and actually be better-where as the electricity will have a "wider path" so to speak to "go to work."
HOWEVER- if your car has an amp gauge (I think through 77-and used in ALL newer cars) it WILL NOT read correctly-where as the resistance in the original factory wiring acts as a shunt- which is changed by your new larger less resistance wire.
I've seen several out there that have swapped the gauges- the voltmeter is super easy to hook up-and some companies have the faces that match to older years looks.
Here's a link-
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...voltmeter.html
Richard
Electricity is LAZY- it'll take the path of least resistance- having both wires will NOT hurt anything-and actually be better-where as the electricity will have a "wider path" so to speak to "go to work."
HOWEVER- if your car has an amp gauge (I think through 77-and used in ALL newer cars) it WILL NOT read correctly-where as the resistance in the original factory wiring acts as a shunt- which is changed by your new larger less resistance wire.
I've seen several out there that have swapped the gauges- the voltmeter is super easy to hook up-and some companies have the faces that match to older years looks.
Here's a link-
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...voltmeter.html
Richard
