Still can't make sense out of the 1st post
Fusing & the big three
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 960
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From: Trussville AL
Fusing & the big three
On the big three upgrade, the wire from the alternator to the battery. Since a short could occur anywhere along that length of wire an?d if the car is running there is a power source on each end (battery & alternator) shouldn't we fuse each end?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
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What are you trying to say/ask here?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Rockledge FL
On fusing, all of the write ups on how to do this say that one fuse is good enough.
Last edited by baxsom; Apr 20, 2012 at 02:37 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
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why dont you go actually look this up before you get all crazy with the negativity. It is common knowledge that low voltage on these things can cause issues and there are countless posts on this site about how the big three can cause a substantial increase in voltage. Most people are saying .2-.5 increase in average voltage.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 960
Likes: 1
From: Trussville AL
One fuse still concerns me. If it's fused at the battery and shorts the fuse pops and isolates the battery but 1 its paralleled with the factory wire which is still supplying positive to ground (the ground being a worn spot in the insulation touching something) & 2 if the car is running voltage from the alternator up the length of the wire to the blown fuse. Am I just overly paranoid?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
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One fuse still concerns me. If it's fused at the battery and shorts the fuse pops and isolates the battery but 1 its paralleled with the factory wire which is still supplying positive to ground (the ground being a worn spot in the insulation touching something) & 2 if the car is running voltage from the alternator up the length of the wire to the blown fuse. Am I just overly paranoid?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,335
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From: Western NY
I seem to recall I read someplace where it's an increased gauge battery positive cable, negative cable, and alternator to starter wire....or something like that.
If for no other reason, it's a big deal with the "thumper stereo" crowd.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
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Doug, if you follow ANY other car discussion sites, you'll find that people, in some instances, are having electrical issues that are potentially tracable to marginal current supplies. This "big three" is a well known modification, although I think the OP has his wires confused.
I seem to recall I read someplace where it's an increased gauge battery positive cable, negative cable, and alternator to starter wire....or something like that.
If for no other reason, it's a big deal with the "thumper stereo" crowd.
I seem to recall I read someplace where it's an increased gauge battery positive cable, negative cable, and alternator to starter wire....or something like that.
If for no other reason, it's a big deal with the "thumper stereo" crowd.
Any aftermarket equipment that goes directly to Battery + will have it's own fuse to protect it or will want to connect to a fuse in the fuse block.
It sounds like he wants to add another wire from the alternator to the battery.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
The BIG 3 is a good upgrade and if done correctly, can help with providing the car with proper current. However,, you have to understand that many of the issues (electrical) that involve under-voltage are a result of a defective ignition switch.
Its a very common C5 issue and growing as time ticks by.
-C5 ignition Switch repair - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ch-repair.html
2) Use the following table to determine the maximum current for whatever wire gage is being used.
3) Take the maximum current value obtained from the table and find the largest fuse you can find that still falls within the limitations. DO NOT EXCEED THE VALUES ON THIS TABLE! Common automotive blade-style fuses exist at 5A-20A in 5A Increments. Ex: 5A,10A,15A,20A
Check out where GM puts there fuses in the main power circuits:
The starter is not fused on the main power wire from the battery to the solenoid but it is from the solenoid to the alternator:
I get my battery power from this point on the under hood fuse box. Its easy to get to and maintain.
If you are going to upgrade the power,, DO THE GROUNDS also!
I added a ground wire to the case of the alternator directly to G-101. 
Its a very common C5 issue and growing as time ticks by.
-C5 ignition Switch repair - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ch-repair.html
2) Use the following table to determine the maximum current for whatever wire gage is being used.
3) Take the maximum current value obtained from the table and find the largest fuse you can find that still falls within the limitations. DO NOT EXCEED THE VALUES ON THIS TABLE! Common automotive blade-style fuses exist at 5A-20A in 5A Increments. Ex: 5A,10A,15A,20A
Check out where GM puts there fuses in the main power circuits:
The starter is not fused on the main power wire from the battery to the solenoid but it is from the solenoid to the alternator:
I get my battery power from this point on the under hood fuse box. Its easy to get to and maintain.
If you are going to upgrade the power,, DO THE GROUNDS also!
I added a ground wire to the case of the alternator directly to G-101.
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Apr 21, 2012 at 11:05 PM.