Battery in Trunk, min gauge wire to starter
11-22-2003, 07:20 AM
#1
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Hello,
I have stated on this board that running a battery in the trunk should require 0 ga from trunk to starter. Well, I know "THAT" would be enough but what's the minimum safe?
I have no idea what the starter in my car draws when cranking the engine. I know I only need a wire capable of about 110A if I only account for the alternator. I also know my Can. Tire bat. charger on "START" puts out 125A and it's not enough to start my car with no battery.
On a side note, anywhere online to get cheap power wire? My local welding shop has me held out by law temporarily until the legal stuff gets cleared up.
I have stated on this board that running a battery in the trunk should require 0 ga from trunk to starter. Well, I know "THAT" would be enough but what's the minimum safe?
I have no idea what the starter in my car draws when cranking the engine. I know I only need a wire capable of about 110A if I only account for the alternator. I also know my Can. Tire bat. charger on "START" puts out 125A and it's not enough to start my car with no battery.
On a side note, anywhere online to get cheap power wire? My local welding shop has me held out by law temporarily until the legal stuff gets cleared up.
11-22-2003, 08:19 AM
#2
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Posts: n/a
Ettore - what'd you do... 
meh - not my business anyway [img]tongue.gif[/img]
Try Princess Auto. They sell online and their wire is cheap.
A friend of mine bought a 'trunk relocation kit' for a battery once and it came with SIX guage wiring... We used 4ga and he was fine. I would probably use 0ga - what the hell eh and it looks cooler [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]
meh - not my business anyway [img]tongue.gif[/img] Try Princess Auto. They sell online and their wire is cheap.
A friend of mine bought a 'trunk relocation kit' for a battery once and it came with SIX guage wiring... We used 4ga and he was fine. I would probably use 0ga - what the hell eh and it looks cooler [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]
05-25-2004, 09:13 AM
#4
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Posts: n/a
Resurrecting this one:
I am running 1/0 ga to the back ... but I have a few distribution questions. I need to connect the starter and alternator up front, then make it connect to the 1/0 gauge. My alternator (according to Loud Brown Kicker Colt) is good for about 180A which I think will destroy my little fusible link.
In my Corsica, I used the battey as the distro. In this car, I would prefer to do it a little cleaner plus the battery is in the back now.
What should I be fusing and how big of fuses should I use?
I was thinking (here we go):
Notes:
- Main wire fuse is 150A, the screw in type fuse.
- Thick wires are 1/0, not-so-thick are something else.
- May or may-not implement the caps. More likely no.
[ May 25, 2004, 10:25 AM: Message edited by: Ettore Casagrande Jr. ]
I am running 1/0 ga to the back ... but I have a few distribution questions. I need to connect the starter and alternator up front, then make it connect to the 1/0 gauge. My alternator (according to Loud Brown Kicker Colt) is good for about 180A which I think will destroy my little fusible link.
In my Corsica, I used the battey as the distro. In this car, I would prefer to do it a little cleaner plus the battery is in the back now.
What should I be fusing and how big of fuses should I use?
I was thinking (here we go):
Notes:
- Main wire fuse is 150A, the screw in type fuse.
- Thick wires are 1/0, not-so-thick are something else.
- May or may-not implement the caps. More likely no.
[ May 25, 2004, 10:25 AM: Message edited by: Ettore Casagrande Jr. ]
05-26-2004, 06:47 PM
#5
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Posts: n/a
Oh, distro to starter will probably be 2 ga, alt to distro 2 ga and engine to ground 1/0 ga
Oh ya, and Dukk ... I was blamed for stealing a project from the university that was sponsored by the shop. I am still banned
[ May 26, 2004, 07:52 PM: Message edited by: Ettore Casagrande Jr. ]
Oh ya, and Dukk ... I was blamed for stealing a project from the university that was sponsored by the shop. I am still banned
[ May 26, 2004, 07:52 PM: Message edited by: Ettore Casagrande Jr. ]
05-26-2004, 08:06 PM
#6
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,783
I would put the cap on the other side of the fuse block. It's usefulness in theory is severly handicapped by having to supply current through fuses. Read any capacitor installation manual, and it will say to install it as close to the amplifier as possible.(although it's debatable weather caps make a difference at all)
The rest looks pretty good.
It is possible that you may not need a distro block in the engine compartment. Some vehicles route a positive run directly from the alternator to the starter already.
Most starters have a draw current rating, check in an OEM part replacement catalogue to see if the spec is there for your vehicle. I'd hate for you to blow that inline ANL fuse when you try to start your car. (it would especially suck in the winter)
Adam
The rest looks pretty good.
It is possible that you may not need a distro block in the engine compartment. Some vehicles route a positive run directly from the alternator to the starter already.
Most starters have a draw current rating, check in an OEM part replacement catalogue to see if the spec is there for your vehicle. I'd hate for you to blow that inline ANL fuse when you try to start your car. (it would especially suck in the winter)
Adam
05-26-2004, 09:06 PM
#7
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Engine distro is just a bolt actually, much like a Camaro has.
Alternator wire to starter is very small, maybe 8 ga being generous. Same as the wire in my Corsica and my Corsica wire melted off the sheath with 105A alt. I would just upgrade that wire EXCEPT that my starter is on the front of my engine at the bottom. This means that ALL water off the road is splashed right onto my car's 'power distribution' point (ie: bolt on alternator). So, my 1/0 ga connectors would be getting hosed all the time; I don't like that. Plus, I like the look of a bunch of thick wires coming into one spot.
The 150A fuse is my worry ... that's my main concern. Cap isn't going into my system anyways ... not even sure why I put it there. It uses up all the hoels in my distros if I put it though
[ May 26, 2004, 10:09 PM: Message edited by: Ettore Casagrande Jr. ]
Alternator wire to starter is very small, maybe 8 ga being generous. Same as the wire in my Corsica and my Corsica wire melted off the sheath with 105A alt. I would just upgrade that wire EXCEPT that my starter is on the front of my engine at the bottom. This means that ALL water off the road is splashed right onto my car's 'power distribution' point (ie: bolt on alternator). So, my 1/0 ga connectors would be getting hosed all the time; I don't like that. Plus, I like the look of a bunch of thick wires coming into one spot.
The 150A fuse is my worry ... that's my main concern. Cap isn't going into my system anyways ... not even sure why I put it there. It uses up all the hoels in my distros if I put it though
[ May 26, 2004, 10:09 PM: Message edited by: Ettore Casagrande Jr. ]
05-27-2004, 07:15 PM
#8
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,783
I'm thinking the price of 2 awg versus 1/0 awg is pretty small. Get a big piece of 1/0 and use it for everything in the car asside from direct amp connections. Put a little slack into all your runs, and you should have a wire "kit" that you can move to your next car as well. 1/0 awg = 325 amps continuous current capable, you should be able to power just about anything off of that. I run 1/0 for everything in my car and use 300 amp ANL fuses for it. There is no difference in price between a 100 amp and 300 amp ANL fuse, so go big! (provided it's with the correct wire)
Have fun,
Adam
Have fun,
Adam
05-27-2004, 08:01 PM
#9
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I have to get more wire I think ... and for the price I got this stuff, I might be selling it and buying all matching stuff off GCA.
We'll see, my main fuse is 150A only because it came with the holder I bought. I would have preferred a breaker but begger's can't be choosers. I bought the holder for cheap because it was missing o-rings or something. I went to CanTire and replaced em for like $1.
Thanks for the input ... I am chinging my design a little, my friend made the point that it's somewhat stupid to put main power through a distro. It made sense to me so I changed it:
We'll see, my main fuse is 150A only because it came with the holder I bought. I would have preferred a breaker but begger's can't be choosers. I bought the holder for cheap because it was missing o-rings or something. I went to CanTire and replaced em for like $1.
Thanks for the input ... I am chinging my design a little, my friend made the point that it's somewhat stupid to put main power through a distro. It made sense to me so I changed it:
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