Big 3

[sgreer5 0]

My 1/0 gauge just came in and I was wanting to get started on my Big 3 upgrade. Just wanted to run it by you guys real quick to make sure I had everything correct. First off I read not to just crimp these wires but to solder them as well because it makes a much better connection. (Any tips on soldering? This will be my first time.) I watched a few videos on youtube and it seemed fairly easy but any tips will help. But I am going to run 0 gauge from the neg. of my battery to the chassis of my car. Then from the positive of my battery to the alt. I seen a few people put fuses in between this run.. Is that necessary to fuse between pos. of batt and alt? Then finally run 0 gauge from my engine ground to the chassis. Another question I had was do I leave the existing factory wires too? Or remove them? ANY advice with anything helps! Thanks

[j-roadtatts 1,129]

A fuse on the power wire is not nessecary, but is cheap insurance. I found the easiest way to soilder was to crimp the terminial first then soilder with a torch, don't forget the flux. I would run the engine ground to the battery. Definetly leave the factory wires in place.

[S.DeYoung 968]

You are correct in what to wire, except I would run the engine ground to the battery but I think it should work either way Leave your existing wires. I fuse the alternator to battery wire, it is there to protect the wire. It is not necessarily needed. Soldering is pretty easy. It helps if you have a vise or something that can help hold the wire so you can work with both hands. Heat up the wire terminal with your soldering iron and take the solder and place it on the wire and watch it melt into the wire. This is your first time so practice on some scrap wire first. Me personally, I use a small torch because it is faster and easier to me to melt the solder into the wire. Good luck

[sgreer5 0]

You are correct in what to wire, except I would run the engine ground to the battery but I think it should work either way Leave your existing wires. I fuse the alternator to battery wire, it is there to protect the wire. It is not necessarily needed. Soldering is pretty easy. It helps if you have a vise or something that can help hold the wire so you can work with both hands. Heat up the wire terminal with your soldering iron and take the solder and place it on the wire and watch it melt into the wire. This is your first time so practice on some scrap wire first. Me personally, I use a small torch because it is faster and easier to me to melt the solder into the wire. Good luck

What size fuse would you guys recomend?

[Notorious97200 339]

Is it really better to ground the engine to the neg pos on the batt ?

I did it to the chassis, but I can move easily if it can be better.

Nevermind, I will try it as soon as I can and will let you know the results !

[S.DeYoung 968]

You are correct in what to wire, except I would run the engine ground to the battery but I think it should work either way Leave your existing wires. I fuse the alternator to battery wire, it is there to protect the wire. It is not necessarily needed. Soldering is pretty easy. It helps if you have a vise or something that can help hold the wire so you can work with both hands. Heat up the wire terminal with your soldering iron and take the solder and place it on the wire and watch it melt into the wire. This is your first time so practice on some scrap wire first. Me personally, I use a small torch because it is faster and easier to me to melt the solder into the wire. Good luck

What size fuse would you guys recomend?

You have 0 gauge wire so I would use a 250-300 amp fuse.

[j-roadtatts 1,129]

Is it really better to ground the engine to the neg pos on the batt ?

I did it to the chassis, but I can move easily if it can be better.

Nevermind, I will try it as soon as I can and will let you know the results !

Yes. this is the path of least resistance. I recommend from the alternator case to the neg battery terminal as the very shortest path.