4ga wire from alt to batt, fuse???

[whipsnapper]

Do you guys who put an additional 4ga wire from the charging post on the alternator over to the positive battery post put a fuse inline near the battery?

If so, what size or does it matter as long as it matches or is just higher than alternator's charge rating?

Also, for you Chevy guys with just sideposts on your batteries...How do you get all these wires onto the pos. terminal?

[linx]

If you upgrade your alternator, it is smart to upgrade the wire going from the alt to the battery. Some, if not most, high amperage alternator will not produce to their full capacity without the wire being upgraded.

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[busman]

whippersnapper, you can just make a stud and nut set up for your side post terminals or use a bolt, or go down to napa, they got all kinds of battery terminal do-dads that might fix you up.

[TwentyTwo-Zero]

Do you guys who put an additional 4ga wire from the charging post on the alternator over to the positive battery post put a fuse inline near the battery?

If so, what size or does it matter as long as it matches or is just higher than alternator's charge rating?

Also, for you Chevy guys with just sideposts on your batteries...How do you get all these wires onto the pos. terminal?

I don't have a fuse in the wire running from alternator to battery. As far as wiring at the battery when I purchased a new battery I bought one that has both side and top post terminals. My radio gear is connected on the top posts which are covered by plastic terminal protectors.

[85]

Do you guys who put an additional 4ga wire from the charging post on the alternator over to the positive battery post put a fuse inline near the battery?

If so, what size or does it matter as long as it matches or is just higher than alternator's charge rating?

Also, for you Chevy guys with just sideposts on your batteries...How do you get all these wires onto the pos. terminal?

I don't have a fuse in the wire running from alternator to battery. As far as wiring at the battery when I purchased a new battery I bought one that has both side and top post terminals. My radio gear is connected on the top posts which are covered by plastic terminal protectors.

Fuse the additional #4 wire from the alternator to the battery........just in case of a short in the alternator. Better safe than waiting on the Fire dept.

[Pillpopper]

whippersnapper, you can just make a stud and nut set up for your side post terminals or use a bolt, or go down to napa, they got all kinds of battery terminal do-dads that might fix you up.

I had to do the same to my chevy, Napa and advance should carry a longer bolt to fit. Good luck

[whipsnapper]

So, when fusing the wire, select a fuse size that matches the output rating of the alternator, or slightly higher?

[linx]

So, when fusing the wire, select a fuse size that matches the output rating of the alternator, or slightly higher?

Why are you wanting to fuse that wire? I would think a direct wire with no fuse would work great. I don't really see the reasoning behind a fuse.

[whipsnapper]

I was just concerned as a safety feature in case the post was shorted out at the alternator. I don't disconnect the battery to work on something like the coolant thermostat, but it's bolts are near the alternator. Get a wrench in there without a fuse, and you'll be in the hospital with a burned hands if you get in a bind. Or, you would pop the fuse.

It would take a massive fuse though. Just some thoughts.

[TwentyTwo-Zero]

I don't disconnect the battery to work on something like the coolant thermostat, but it's bolts are near the alternator. Get a wrench in there without a fuse, and you'll be in the hospital with a burned hands if you get in a bind. Or, you would pop the fuse.

It would take a massive fuse though. Just some thoughts.

The output stud on the alternator should have a rubber protective cap over it - or at least it did from the factory. You can pick one up at your local dealership's parts department for a couple of bucks. Just slice the very end off (where the wire goes through) so it will feed up over the lug and onto the larger wire. Connect your wire to the alternator, slap a little vaseline, dielectric grease, etc. on it to help protect from corrosion and slip the protective cover up over it until it snaps onto the groove in the insulator around the output stud. That way you don't have to worry about the stud being exposed.

[busman]

whippersnapper, also like 22-0 said, they got batteries with side and post terminals on the battery. got one in my bus as a matter of fact. or if you dont want to get a new battery you can do it the way a suggested first. either or will work.

[whipsnapper]

I ran a bigger wire to the battery from the alternator today, no fuse. I cut the rubber cover like you said, and then slipped it back over everything. Worked well.

I also ran a 4ga wire from the engine block from a stud where the negative battery cable connects to down to the frame. Also cleaned all the ground straps that were already from the frame to the cab and cab to engine block, and also negative battery cable end to fender. I made a custom ground strap (stripped coax shielding, 3 pieces braided together) and ran from the frame to the cab next to the strap that was already there just to beef it up a bit.

It seems like my amp doesn't pull the volts down near as much. But now I know the electrical system is in really good shape.

As always, thanks all for the good advice.