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Re: 3G 1 wire 130amp Alt with Centech Harness
Here's a link to one of the wire gauge tables Doug was talking about.
http://www.rbeelectronics.com/wtable.htm
For some reason, I've seen some slight variations on this theme. Probably one source trying to make it a little harder to sue.
Notice that the length of the wire plays a huge role in it. Your 10 ga wire would actually have been "adequate" but only if it was 3' or less in length.
Frankly, as was sort of mentioned, there's no such thing as overkill when it comes to this part of the wiring, so although your 4 ga idea would have been fine for such a short run, that 1 ga rules!!!
For convenience though, you don't need that large of a ground for your alternator. Your battery and engine block, yes, but for the alternator, no. It won't hurt anything, but it's not necessary. If you've already mounted it, leave it.
Stock wiring has the alternator ground running to the body and the battery ground running to the block.
In case you haven't added any yet, make sure to overkill your grounds too. Stock was one wire to both the body (fender) and the engine block. Run your main ground (the one from the battery that is) to the engine block, and then a separate jumper (at least 8 ga) to the body somewhere convenient. Then run another from the engine to the body. Tie the frame in there somewhere too. Those braided ground wire jumpers that you can buy at the local parts stores come in handy for the frame and engine-to-body grounds.
Can't have too many grounds.
Paul
Here's a link to one of the wire gauge tables Doug was talking about.
http://www.rbeelectronics.com/wtable.htm
For some reason, I've seen some slight variations on this theme. Probably one source trying to make it a little harder to sue.
Notice that the length of the wire plays a huge role in it. Your 10 ga wire would actually have been "adequate" but only if it was 3' or less in length.
Frankly, as was sort of mentioned, there's no such thing as overkill when it comes to this part of the wiring, so although your 4 ga idea would have been fine for such a short run, that 1 ga rules!!!
For convenience though, you don't need that large of a ground for your alternator. Your battery and engine block, yes, but for the alternator, no. It won't hurt anything, but it's not necessary. If you've already mounted it, leave it.
Stock wiring has the alternator ground running to the body and the battery ground running to the block.
In case you haven't added any yet, make sure to overkill your grounds too. Stock was one wire to both the body (fender) and the engine block. Run your main ground (the one from the battery that is) to the engine block, and then a separate jumper (at least 8 ga) to the body somewhere convenient. Then run another from the engine to the body. Tie the frame in there somewhere too. Those braided ground wire jumpers that you can buy at the local parts stores come in handy for the frame and engine-to-body grounds.
Can't have too many grounds.
Paul
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