Big 3 upgrade question.....
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,785
Likes: 8
From: Sacramento California
Big 3 upgrade question.....
I'm about to do th "Big 3". My question is about the inline fuse that I will put to fuse the battery from the Alt. What size fuse should I go with? The factory Alt is 150?
Night Owl for life
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 24,725
Likes: 4,564
From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
if i remember correctly, you shoud put a fuse that is rated for the gauge of wire you're running from the alternator to the battery.
for example, if you run zero gauge wire that is rated at 300A, you would be choking it off if you tie it in with a 150A fuse.
i am no means an expert, but i believe the smaller the wire the smaller the fuse needed.
this is a pic of my zero gauge alternator-battery wire:
for example, if you run zero gauge wire that is rated at 300A, you would be choking it off if you tie it in with a 150A fuse.
i am no means an expert, but i believe the smaller the wire the smaller the fuse needed.
this is a pic of my zero gauge alternator-battery wire:
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
I ran 4ga wire for both my engine to chassis and chassis to battery upgrade. I still need to do the alternator to battery. But already I am getting 14.5 volts up from 14.1. I was wondering about the fuse size too. I thought a 150 amp fuse would be enough since there is no way you would be pulling that much from the alternator. But I don't know for sure. 
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
From: Mililani Hawaii
Without droning on, as jdmvette said the fuse is there to protect the wire so you need to install a fuse that is under the load rating of the wire so that in a overload condition the fuse pops first. You can search google for a "awg wire gauge chart" to give you an idea of what gauge wire and fuse would be suitable for your situation.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
if you have to do anything, get a fuse breaker thats slightly more resistance than the main wire. Honestly I wouldnt' worry about it. for added protection, I put wire loom around my big-3 power and ground wires
Knu terminal FTW!
Knu terminal FTW!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 363
From: Midland TX
Some guys enjoy running around and spending hours shopping for the right size connectors, fuses, wire lengths, getting everything crimped, etc. so they can brag about how the saved a buck. While I would not personally spend a ridiculous amount for a pre-configured kit, it would certainly be worth some extra money to have a plug-n-play tested and proven solution. If it saves me a few hours of running around, looks professional and solves a problem is has to be worth something extra? Just depends on what someone's time is worth.
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
Some guys enjoy running around and spending hours shopping for the right size connectors, fuses, wire lengths, getting everything crimped, etc. so they can brag about how the saved a buck. While I would not personally spend a ridiculous amount for a pre-configured kit, it would certainly be worth some extra money to have a plug-n-play tested and proven solution. If it saves me a few hours of running around, looks professional and solves a problem is has to be worth something extra? Just depends on what someone's time is worth.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,718
Likes: 20
From: Dyer IN
Cruise-In IX Veteran
problem with a kit is everyone has there own way they want to do it. Some want fancier connectors, some want it fused, some want to use a different ground, some want to run the wiring a different route. it really isnt that hard to order or pick up some ring terminals, 2 sidepost adapters, 4ga wire, and some loom
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
For those who are more curious about that the big three is you can search on youtube. There are some how to videos there with other cars. Like a lot of upgrades like this its just a weak point from the factory. Espcially if you are running a uprgaded stereo. With all the electronics on this car it's a good idea either way. A couple hours tops once you have all the parts laying there.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,785
Likes: 8
From: Sacramento California
Are you guys removing the stock cables and just adding the 0 awg/ 4 awg to add to it? Or are you removing them and replacing with the larger cables???
I did this on my 02' Dodge Ram when I bought the truck new. I replaced all the cables though rather than add to them.
I did this on my 02' Dodge Ram when I bought the truck new. I replaced all the cables though rather than add to them.