36 replies to this topic

[eeae6000]

i bought a new 70 amp alternator and just installed it, my previous alternator was a 45 amp one, it had the standard 3 prong plug on it, on the new 70 amp one it has the 3 prong plug and also a batt + terminal, i plugged in the 3 prong plug and everything works fine, my question is should i run a big power wire from the terminal to the battery in order to get the full 70 amps or is it not required?

[brad-the-bear]

run another wire from one of the terminals to the starter solenoid

[eeae6000]

a big wire?

[tiger99]

Yes. otherwise the existing wire will be overloaded and present a significant fire hazard, because you will still get the full 70 amps.

[eeae6000]

why the starter tho? why not to the battery? or is it the same thing

what gauge wire should i use

you think the alt would of came with instructions saying to do this lol

[Big_Adam]

If its anything like my one from an age back, its a stereo wire to stop feedback.

http://www.theminifo..._hl__alternator

[brad-the-bear]

2 lengths of 20amp should do the job, you can buy it from halfords.

and the reason to take it to the solinoid is because thats where you battery positive cable goes to, and where all your power comes from.

[eeae6000]

2 20amp wires??

big adam, i removed my supressor from my old alt and mounted it on my new one, if you look at the big from your topic, im talking about the threaded post sticking up out near the single terminal

nbba.jpg

[tiger99]

Please ignore bad advice. You should run a single 70 amp wire, not multiple thinner wires, which will not current share properly, and a "stereo" wire is pure nonsense. Sadly we often get this sort of stuff where electrical problems are concerned. It goes to the starter solenoid because the main battery feed to that point is more than capable of carrying 70 amps.

Be very, very sure that the terminals are properly crimped to the wire, as if one fails with the engine running you are vety likely to destroy the alternator. Do not use a cheap crimp tool.

Your cable should be 80/0.40 mm, preferably brown, and is available here:

http://www.autoelect.../66/category/11

[eeae6000]

thank you, any chance you can give me a link to somewhere with good connectors//crimp tool

[eeae6000]

nevermind, found what i needed on site

[cooperrodeo]

If its anything like my one from an age back, its a stereo wire to stop feedback.

Stereo wire to stop feedback?? What are you talking about?

[tractor]

Please ignore bad advice. You should run a single 70 amp wire, not multiple thinner wires, which will not current share properly, and a "stereo" wire is pure nonsense. Sadly we often get this sort of stuff where electrical problems are concerned. It goes to the starter solenoid because the main battery feed to that point is more than capable of carrying 70 amps.

Be very, very sure that the terminals are properly crimped to the wire, as if one fails with the engine running you are vety likely to destroy the alternator. Do not use a cheap crimp tool.

Your cable should be 80/0.40 mm, preferably brown, and is available here:

http://www.autoelect.../66/category/11

Tiger you've been right about this sort of stuff in the past so i trust what you say but i just want to make absolutly clear your talking about the spade connector yeah? not the post conector eeae is talking about? as far i know nothing connects to the post conector?

the reason i ask is because i've just bought a new 70amp alt and i was stumped as to what connects to the spade conector as there wasn't anything on the older type alt.

with regard surpressors i thought they were built into modern alts nowerdays, or am i wrong?

trac

[Big_Adam]

If its anything like my one from an age back, its a stereo wire to stop feedback.

Stereo wire to stop feedback?? What are you talking about?

Thought it might of been the same thing, stops stereo making odd noises. Never had a stereo, so never bothered with it.

[lrostoke]

If the 70amp is like the one I brought, you've two ways of connecting the main power output,

The usual 3 spade plug...small and 2 large...small being the ignition light , the 2 large being outputs. I could be wrong but I think these are joined inside anyway.

And also I had a seperate 6mm threaded lug which is also an output.

The 2 large spades and 6mm lug do the same job, just different fittings.

It's worth double checking with a multimeter , because I seem to recall theres another threaded lug which is earth, wouldn't want connect that to the battery.#

Going back to what Tiger said about multi cables, Pretty sure my mini had 2 brown wires coming from the 3 spade terminal going to the solenoid. And Haynes shows 2 in the wiring diagram.



Threaded lug top of picture (B = Battery) that and the 2 large spades which are also B terminals

Edited by lrostoke, 26 August 2012 - 10:50 PM.