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'Big 3' electrical upgrade.. advice needed

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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 06:36 PM
  #1  
mak's Avatar
mak
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Default 'Big 3' electrical upgrade.. advice needed


Hey all,

I'm getting ready to do the 'Big 3' upgrade on my 91 accord ex, and I'm wondering if anyone here could tell me about how much cable I'm going to need for it.

I'm guessing around 10 feet of 0/1 awg, just to be safe.. but I don't want to buy more than I need.

Also, does anyone know what the stock battery/alt wires are, in terms of awg? They appear to be between 2 and 4 awg.. but it's hard to tell.

TIY,

-mak


 
Old Mar 28, 2008 | 09:37 AM
  #2  
falkore24's Avatar
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From: Wayne, NJ
Default RE: 'Big 3' electrical upgrade.. advice needed

I'd buy extra since wire isn't that expensive, but if you want to save a couple bucks, measure the existing ones with a taylor's tape measure, then add a foot. This will give you 2" on every end to play with. 2" * 3wires * 2 ends = 1 foot
 
Old Mar 28, 2008 | 09:43 AM
  #3  
00AccordLX5spd's Avatar
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From: Brandon, MS
Default RE: 'Big 3' electrical upgrade.. advice needed

ORIGINAL: falkore24

I'd buy extra since wire isn't that expensive, but if you want to save a couple bucks, measure the existing ones with a taylor's tape measure, then add a foot. This will give you 2" on every end to play with. 2" * 3wires * 2 ends = 1 foot
Look at the engineer showing off his mad math skills!

I'm not sure what the stock wires are either though. Sorry
 
Old Mar 28, 2008 | 10:13 AM
  #4  
falkore24's Avatar
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Default RE: 'Big 3' electrical upgrade.. advice needed

I think they are smaller than 4AWG.

If you'd like, I can scan a calculation that I had to do last week that took 2.5 days (including plan takeoffs and learning the system). I had to figure out the weight of ammonia in a deep freeze facility, measuring pipes down to 3/4" with ammonia in mixed gas and liquid phases at temps between -24 deg and +95 deg ..... the total was almost 55,000 lbs.
 
Old Mar 28, 2008 | 10:38 AM
  #5  
00AccordLX5spd's Avatar
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Posts: 4,322
From: Brandon, MS
Default RE: 'Big 3' electrical upgrade.. advice needed

ORIGINAL: falkore24

If you'd like, I can scan a calculation that I had to do last week that took 2.5 days (including plan takeoffs and learning the system). I had to figure out the weight of ammonia in a deep freeze facility, measuring pipes down to 3/4" with ammonia in mixed gas and liquid phases at temps between -24 deg and +95 deg ..... the total was almost 55,000 lbs.
Sounds like we need to add another gold star to your name! haha just picking.
I started incollege as a mechanical engineering major (kept at it for a year) so I know how complicated thatstuff can get. First year would be merely the tip of the iceberg. I was alwaysreally good at math, so I figured I might be an engineer.
Then I figured out that even thoughI wasreally good at it, I didn't really like it all that much haha. So I switched to accounting (bad choice.) I figured out quickly that would rather dig ditches for the rest of my life than be an accountant. Then I finally got into insurance and liked it. At least I never had to take business cal. haha we covered all of that in one month!
 
Old Mar 28, 2008 | 10:58 AM
  #6  
falkore24's Avatar
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Posts: 6,213
From: Wayne, NJ
Default RE: 'Big 3' electrical upgrade.. advice needed

I don't necessarily like math, but it is a necessary evil of my profession. Thankfully I don't have to do those kind of calcs that often. I do enjoy research on a decent topic though.
 
Old Mar 28, 2008 | 12:29 PM
  #7  
finch13's Avatar
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From: St. Paul, MN
Default RE: 'Big 3' electrical upgrade.. advice needed

Wouldn't it be much cheaper just to get an eBay grounding kit for $25 rather than spend all that money on overkill 4AWG or bigger? I bought an "HKS" (lol) earthing kit and it had 6 or 7 varying length leads on it with a new battery terminal. Great investment because 30 feet of 4AWG copper isn't cheap.
 
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