About the big 3

[saltystix]

Well today I had to change my alternator again cuz it hit the big one (thank God for lifetime warranties) Anyhow, I was planning on doing the Big 3 to my car, but I want to know if this maxes out the alternator. I plan on gettin a High Output alternator, but I would only like to do the big 3 if it doesnt cause the alternator to strain itself like my sound system does to my regular alternator without the big 3.

I'm only running 640 rms through my amps combined compared to some peoples 1200rms systems. Just wondering if their alternators die as fast as mine. Mine only lasted about 5 months.

To make this short. Does the Big 3 Cause any abnormal usage on the alternator, I don't want to get a HO one if its going to get destroyed like my regular alternators.

Thanks Ahead of Time!!!

[matts]

it's going to help before it will hurt.

[car audio dave]

yea...think of electricity as a Coka-cola. your system is drinking it from your battery, and the alternator is the tap thats refilling your battery. right now the alternator is refilling the battery through a coffee stirer (tiny straw), and your system is hopefully drinking from the battery with a regular sized straw. if you give your alternator/battery connection a bigger straw, it wont have to suck as much.

also, when you reground your battery, it just allows it to output more of its power faster. the battery can only put out as much power as it can ground, so that tiny 10 gauge wire wont do much when its powering your headlights, interior lights and your system. youre basically allowing more current flow when you use larger wires...allows it to use more if its potential. itll possibly keep you from needing a lartger alternator.

[saltystix]

is 4 guage fine for the big 3? I'm using a 4guage wire run to the back to a distribution block, then I have that split up into two 8 guage wires for my amps?

Or do you think I should use 0 guage?

[matts]

4 ga. should be sufficient if you're adding it. if you're replacing it (taking out factory wire and putting in all new wire) 4 ga would still be an improvement, but i would go with 1/0 gauge. but i usually go more for overkill :D


that's an unusual way to describe it dave......but it works lol

[dutch]

Umm, excuse me for bein a little slow, but what is the Big 3?

[car audio dave]

use the search button....theres a few topics on it.

i agree with matts...4 gauge should do fine, but 1/0 is best. itll leave room for upgrades inthe future....you can never go too thick with cable.

[saltystix]

Yeah, I think im going with the 4 guage for the big 3 considering its alot cheaper and I dont plan on upgrading much. Maybe my 360rms amp to a 800rms... But that prolly wont ever happen cuz im saving up to move out next year.

[dutch]

Originally posted by car audio dave
use the search button....theres a few topics on it.

i agree with matts...4 gauge should do fine, but 1/0 is best. itll leave room for upgrades inthe future....you can never go too thick with cable.

well i figured since its the topic, and only takes a second to describe it, i figured i'd ask in the thread:???:

and i did search and what u get is a buncha nothing.

sheeeeeeeesh

[Dave C]

It'd be nice if someone could write a stickey on the big 3... I would but I don't know that much about it and have not done the mod.

[Pte Socks]

There has been some really good posts in the past about upgrading the big 3. Basically it has to do with your connections between your ground (chasis) battery and alternator. Upgrading the wiring of these greatly reduces the effect systems and neons have on the electrical of the car. More or less, if your running some neons and a decent stereo, your looking as upgrading the wires.

[robry]

Originally posted by saltystix
Yeah, I think im going with the 4 guage for the big 3 considering its alot cheaper and I dont plan on upgrading much. Maybe my 360rms amp to a 800rms... But that prolly wont ever happen cuz im saving up to move out next year.

I have 4 guage on my big3 in my grand am, and it really helped out. Although I dont have much of a system anymore, it still has helped out a good deal. 4 guage would be plenty.