I understand the Battery Negative to Chassis and Alternator to Battery Positve of The Big 3 but I'm am confused on what the Chassis to Engine wire is. Can anyone tell me what and where to connect it to??? Thanks!! Please Help!!
there should already be a wire, prob more then one, going from the engine block to the chassis. you just want to hook a larger wire from someplace on the engine block to the chassis.
block to chassis often doesn't look like a regular wire. It's typically just a braided strap. It can be hard to find - on my car it's attached at the very back of the engine around where the trans bolts on, and it's grounded to the firewall.
IMO it's not nearly as important an upgrade as the alt output and battery (-).
Hmm...it's not as important as the other two, sure.. But it's also your alternators ground.. That's why instead of doing an upgraded engine to chasis, I just do a wire from a ground bolt to my negative terminal..which in turn also does the same thing as upgrading my engine to chasis..
John Smith - the larger gauge wire you use, the longer it can be with the same (or less) resistance. It's not really the length of wire that matters, it's the overall resistance of the wire. (i.e. it'd be better to use 20 feet of 0 gauge, than a foot of 18 gauge)
Batteries are capable of taking any amperage load - as long as the voltage does not exceed the max listed in the batteries specs. (i.e. for optima's, it's 15v)
Jay B, if you use your alternators ground point, and connect that to your battery, it'll be like an engine to chasis, but better, actually.. as you're cutting out the chassis to go to your batteries neg.
I am still a little confused on the Chassis to Block there are 2 wires coming off of my alt., one to positive Battery post and the other i don't know what it is. Is the other wire the ground? I understand you connect one end of the wire to the chassis and i'm not sure where to connect the other end. Does it go to the mounting bracket that holds the alt.??? Thanks any help would be helpful!!
I got another ?, If your stock wiring could handle the voltage and amperage, when you upgrade, why does it send more voltage/amperage, would it just be better grounds? this is all being stock, sept for my battery...
if the alternator is stock, the 'big 3' really isn't any benefit to change. You change them if stock wiring is worn and frayed, or if you have a larger alternator capable of higher current delivery.
I am still a little confused on the Chassis to Block there are 2 wires coming off of my alt., one to positive Battery post and the other i don't know what it is. Is the other wire the ground? I understand you connect one end of the wire to the chassis and i'm not sure where to connect the other end. Does it go to the mounting bracket that holds the alt.??? Thanks any help would be helpful!!
Actually, your chassis to block can be surpassed by just doing a block to neg on the battery. This is even more ideal (assuming you're using a decent gauge wire) because copper wire can in general carry more current than the same distance of your cars chassis.
oh btw, the other wire isnt a ground..I'm assuming you're referring to the one connected to the plug. this wire tells the alternator basically when to turn on. If you leave it unplugged, your alternator simply wont charge, at any RPM.
(think of it as like a remote turn on for your amps) In general this is commonly connected to your ignition switch.
Also in regards to the alternators ground question - the ground point is normally the bolts that you attach it to your engine with. This can also be used as a spot to run (for instance 0 gauge) a wire to your batteries negative terminal, to avoid using an engine to chassis, (or better yet, to simply upgrade instead of replace the part of the big 3 commonly referred to as such).
My car is 10 years old, would it be a good idea to do the Big 3.. And my battery ground directly to my engine block, so i added a chassis ground. I thought it was kind of weird, any ideas on why?
