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My Mechanic's suggestion
Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 5:55 pm
by dscoobydoo
I was discussing my alternator issues with my mechanic shortly before I replaced it and the battery.
He suggested running a redundancy wire from the alternator output direct to battery positive terminal with an 8 gauge wire.
He said this would provide (more and) better charging because it would not have to go through all of the fuses and smaller wires Subaru uses.
Discuss.
Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 5:59 pm
by skid542
Well, I did notice a difference when I intalled a grounding kit so Subaru's wiring can't be that perfect. But what your mechanic is suggesting seems that it might just be a bandaid fix for another problem, albeit an effective one.
Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 7:43 pm
by Legacy777
Yeah you can do that....I did it a while ago.
Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 8:27 pm
by dscoobydoo
I don't think it would be a bandaid fix. Kind of like the grounding kit improves the negative side, this would improve the positive side.
Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 10:52 pm
by skid542
^^^ Good point, I retract my statement
.
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 12:03 am
by Threshld1
8 awg seems kinda small to me for that but it would work (8awg = 100amps max). i HIGHLY suggest you fuse that wire <12" from the connection atleast on the b+ side if not both. theres a reason they go through all those fuses, and they provide minimal resistance.
as if that wire shorts out anywhere along that run and you dont have it fused you can start a fire or fry your alt/bat.
our alternators only put out 70amps anyways so those small OEM b+ wires shouldnt be a problem, unless your running some amps or something extra off the b+ in which upgraded wires would help for those components.
if your having voltage drop problems check the alt first
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 12:13 am
by magicmike
yeah what he said but except for the need to upgrade the wire to something larger for any reason. The alt will never supply more than 70amps no matter what you have on your system so there is no need for thicker wire. With a run of about 16 inches or so anything larger would be impractical. oh yeah, you must also upgrade your ground from the motor to the chassis/bat in the same awg wire or its pointless.
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 9:39 am
by subawhatsubawho
O guage all the way!! Use a circuit breaker instead of a fuse. They do make 12 volt ones. Different amps too.
Kidding about the 0guage. You could use an oxygen free 4 guage if you wanted to kick it up a notch.