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Old 05-16-2012, 08:42 PM   #1
2percenter
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Default 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?
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Old 05-16-2012, 09:15 PM   #2
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Default 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.
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Old 05-16-2012, 09:42 PM   #3
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Default Re: gauge of wire for Alternator to battery?

Six or eight gauge, minimum.
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Old 05-16-2012, 10:18 PM   #4
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Default Re: gauge of wire for Alternator to battery?

I've got a #6 but my battery is in the front
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Old 05-17-2012, 01:04 PM   #5
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Default 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
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Old 05-17-2012, 02:32 PM   #6
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Default 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?
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Old 05-17-2012, 02:49 PM   #7
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Default Re: gauge of wire for Alternator to battery?

Use copper stranded that is designed for automotive use. It's more flexible then equipment wire.
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Old 05-17-2012, 08:37 PM   #8
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Default 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 !
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Old 05-17-2012, 09:03 PM   #9
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Default 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.
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Old 05-17-2012, 10:41 PM   #10
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Default 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.
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