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how bad is running unfused alternator wire

Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:52 pm
by pongo
how bad is it to run main wire unfused from alt to battery. have done it many times before on other cars, but not sure how my patrol will go with offraod abuse.

i Usually run it out of the way and run that corrogated tubing

Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:06 pm
by drivesafe
Hi pongo, both the alternator to battery and the battery to starter motor cables are “unfused” normally.

If you running new cable between the alternator and the cranking battery, try to run thick cable and keep the run as short as possible, but not tight.

Putting the cable in split tube is always a good way to give the cable a bit of added protection but is not mandatory.

Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:09 am
by -Nemesis-
Is the use of the thick battery/earth cables found in auto stores okay? I noticed my old OEM one was frayed at the connection, so I replaced it with a spare (new) earth strap, which looks to be much thicker (not just insulation) than the cable it replaced.

Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 3:26 pm
by drivesafe
-Nemesis- wrote:Is the use of the thick battery/earth cables found in auto stores okay?
The bigger the better, using larger cable in this sort of situation is always an improvement.

alt

Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 7:42 pm
by Hobzee
I had a 120 amp alt on my old GU ute. The wire that ran from the alt to the engine bay fuse box heated up and set fire to the fuse box itself. I now run a fusable link at the alt and run the wire straight from alt to battery and then to the fuse box. Yep stick with the biggest wire you can get

Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 4:39 pm
by pongo
Sweet, I just ran a 140 amp cable for the 100 amp alt and about the same for my 60 amp. There gunna be a bit long to avoid the turbo and manifold,etc. But still under a meter long. Managed to get my starter lead to about a foot long. should start better now than before, even though i have a 1000CCA truck battery feeding it.

Thanks for the help, Hopefully i can finish the gearbox this weekend