Alternator power wire...where in the ****

[Bmxboy]

Ok...i am purchasing a new 200 amp alt. and was debating on upping the power wire coming off of it (i think its 4 guage, not sure)...however, when i try to follow it through my engine compartment, i get lost and have NO CLUE where it goes....does it go straight to teh battery, or does it power other things on the way there? Any help would be appreciated.

Also, when i have my subs on high, sometimes my entire vehical will cut out, my onboard computer will re-start, my subs will shut down and start up again. This only happens when i am driving...when i am in park, it has yet to do it. However, my alt (still stock) is so hot that literally you burn yourself touching it for a second. Is it just that my alternator isin't putting out enough power? It has only started to do this since it has gotten hotter out around here (never did it when it was like 40 or 50 degrees...its like 80 now)

Also, would i NEED to run a bigger power wire from the alt? Or could i slide by with the stock (2000 watts)

Thanks so much guys

Carleton

 

[RFR2212]

I dunno what yer alternator is like, but I bought my 175 amp from the Mechanical Man. It has studs built on to it for a direct set or wires to and from the battery. Both my positive and negative alternator wires are 1/0... If I remember correctly, the stock alternator had 1 er 2 wires, then a plug in part... the plugin is still used on mine, but I dont think the other wires still are... I've never heard about making a complete truck cut out-- but the only thing I can think of is a short some where
Pete

 

[PizzaRoll]

dont quote me on this.. but i think the alternator does not have a rectifer built on to it.. on my 97 sport there is a black cylender with 4 leads comming out of it.. and it is attached to left side of the engine compartment.. and is attached to the batter.. either is a solinoid or a rectifier..... or one hellofa massive relay... but i have bets on rectifier. take it for whats its worth.. also if this is ture... if you have a 175 amp alternator... it should have one built on... and the current rectifer would fry if you where to hook it up to it.

 

[B94Sport]

The rectifier is built in to the alternator, it's actually just a series of diodes... I found the wire Bmxboy is talking about once on my '94 when I pulled out the intake and battery. It is under there, just hard to follow with the battery in the way. I'm not familiar with the engine compartment of your truck, but if you pull out the battery I bet you can find it. Just get everything out of the way so you can follow the wire.

 

[Bmxboy]

Originally posted by B94Sport
The rectifier is built in to the alternator, it's actually just a series of diodes... I found the wire Bmxboy is talking about once on my '94 when I pulled out the intake and battery. It is under there, just hard to follow with the battery in the way. I'm not familiar with the engine compartment of your truck, but if you pull out the battery I bet you can find it. Just get everything out of the way so you can follow the wire.

Thanks man....also, you live in geneva? I live a few away from there...

 

[B94Sport]

Yeah, I noticed that... If I am ever back there while you are, we should meet up... I'd like to check out those neons in real life Only problem is that I'm either at school or work about 50 weeks out of the year. Hope you can find that wire though... I'm going to replace mine with 1/0 gauge pretty soon. Are you getting the new 200 amp from mralternator.com?