gauge of wire for Alternator to battery?

2percenter · 05-16-2012, 08:42 PM

What gauge wire would you guys use for a 1 wire 140 amp alternator lead to the battery positive side mounted at the rear of the car?
Is #10 gauge alright?

pmrphil · 05-16-2012, 09:15 PM

I believe that #10 wire will only carry 30 amps, can't imagine 140 going thru that small of a wire - maybe a #6 is enough? I would think that should be a lot closer.

Alan Roehrich · 05-16-2012, 09:42 PM

Six or eight gauge, minimum.

Chad Rhodes · 05-16-2012, 10:18 PM

I've got a #6 but my battery is in the front

Run to Rund · 05-17-2012, 01:04 PM

20' long wire for 140 amps would be 0 gauge. See the table in this thread on yellowbullet:
http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=47266

2percenter · 05-17-2012, 02:32 PM

Okay, so 6 or 8 gauge it is. I was lead to believe that 10 gauge was enough for the field stud from the alternator to the battery. Yes, the battery is in the trunk.

What type of wire is good? crosslink? solid strand?

Harry 6674 · 05-17-2012, 02:49 PM

Use copper stranded that is designed for automotive use. It's more flexible then equipment wire.

Tom Goldman · 05-17-2012, 08:37 PM

Be sure to use a fusible link or a maxi fuse on each end when using heavy gauge wire for the alternator. , you dont want to burn the car down if the wire gets pinched !

68camaroSS · 05-17-2012, 09:03 PM

I did a little research on this last year and ended up using 6 AWG fine stranded tinned marine battery cable boat wire on my 90 amp alternater, bought on ebay for 1.25 a foot.

2percenter · 05-17-2012, 10:41 PM

Funny thing is that I have been using #10 gauge on this connection for some time now with no problems, but I guess I got lucky with that one.
Could the car have not been getting full amperage to the electric fuel pump and electric cooling fan under full load?
I'm going for #4 or #6 to make sure it's right.

05-16-2012, 09:15 PM	#2
pmrphil Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CT Posts: 454 Likes: 1,789 Liked 345 Times in 149 Posts	Re: gauge of wire for Alternator to battery? I believe that #10 wire will only carry 30 amps, can't imagine 140 going thru that small of a wire - maybe a #6 is enough? I would think that should be a lot closer. __________________ Phil Molski PMR Performance S/C 1623

05-16-2012, 09:42 PM	#3
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,101 Likes: 1,557 Liked 1,780 Times in 405 Posts	Re: gauge of wire for Alternator to battery? Six or eight gauge, minimum. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

05-17-2012, 01:04 PM	#5
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 583 Likes: 8 Liked 54 Times in 27 Posts	Re: gauge of wire for Alternator to battery? 20' long wire for 140 amps would be 0 gauge. See the table in this thread on yellowbullet: http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=47266

05-17-2012, 02:49 PM	#7
Harry 6674 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 589 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: gauge of wire for Alternator to battery? Use copper stranded that is designed for automotive use. It's more flexible then equipment wire.

05-17-2012, 08:37 PM	#8
Tom Goldman VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Allentown,PA Posts: 2,473 Likes: 882 Liked 858 Times in 234 Posts	Re: gauge of wire for Alternator to battery? Be sure to use a fusible link or a maxi fuse on each end when using heavy gauge wire for the alternator. , you dont want to burn the car down if the wire gets pinched ! __________________ Tom Goldman 1500 SG , 1506 STK

05-16-2012, 08:42 PM	#1
2percenter Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 14 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	gauge of wire for Alternator to battery? What gauge wire would you guys use for a 1 wire 140 amp alternator lead to the battery positive side mounted at the rear of the car? Is #10 gauge alright?

05-16-2012, 10:18 PM	#4
Chad Rhodes VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Where the Green Grass Grows, AL Posts: 2,375 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: gauge of wire for Alternator to battery? I've got a #6 but my battery is in the front __________________ Chad Rhodes 2113 I/SA

05-17-2012, 02:32 PM	#6
2percenter Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 14 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: gauge of wire for Alternator to battery? Okay, so 6 or 8 gauge it is. I was lead to believe that 10 gauge was enough for the field stud from the alternator to the battery. Yes, the battery is in the trunk. What type of wire is good? crosslink? solid strand?

05-17-2012, 09:03 PM	#9
68camaroSS Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: columbia TN Posts: 88 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: gauge of wire for Alternator to battery? I did a little research on this last year and ended up using 6 AWG fine stranded tinned marine battery cable boat wire on my 90 amp alternater, bought on ebay for 1.25 a foot.

05-17-2012, 10:41 PM	#10
2percenter Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 14 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: gauge of wire for Alternator to battery? Funny thing is that I have been using #10 gauge on this connection for some time now with no problems, but I guess I got lucky with that one. Could the car have not been getting full amperage to the electric fuel pump and electric cooling fan under full load? I'm going for #4 or #6 to make sure it's right.