I read about the "Big 3" upgrade and had a few questions...

The person who did the write-up I read said to leave the original OEM wiring in as well (after all electricity follows the path of least resistance). My question is, is this necessary? I'd ratehr replace the wires to give the engine bay a more clean look.

Also, When you upgrade the alternator to battery feed wire you should go through the fuse box to prevent battery explosion during a short. Must you go through the fuse box? Or can you just install an "in-line" fuse (don't know if thats the proper term) like the ones used on amp power lines near the battery?

Your answers are greatly appreciated!!

 

Also, if the alternator is rated at 105A for a TSX what should the rating be on the fuse I'd use? 110A?

 

1) I would lose the OEM wiring.

2) The fuse is to cover the ass of the writer. In all the years I've worked on cars I've never seen a fuse or fusible link on the battery/alternator lead. Besdies, you can't run that through the OEM Fuse Box. Routing the wire to a location where a fuse holder could be installed would actually subject the wire to more risk of damage/short than just going straight from the battery to the alternator.

3) No fuse. But since your fuse, if present, is there to protect against deadshorts, NOT against alternator output draw, I'd go like 200A. But that's just me...

 

yea the write-up i saw was not done on a TSX and it seemed like their OEM wiring went through a fuse box when it went from the alternator to the battery but they said an external fuse could be used and place it close to the battery end to protect the battery.

they seemed to know what they were doing but in the end it didnt look to pretty

i just plan on replacing the OEM wires with 4awg wire...do you think that will suffice or do you think i would want to use 1/0awg...it just seems so bulky

 

What's in there now? I expect 4Ga would give you a big jum up... but make sure you use the same on the ground side...

 

I think its 8 gage in there now...so yea... im thinking 2 gage or 4...the alternator is gonna be a pita to get to though......especially to remove OEM because Acura bundles a bunch of wires together after the power leaves the alternator

 

If it was easy anyone could do it : )

 

true

 

Ive seen someone use 1/0awg. Overkill IMO, but hey to each his own.

 

but it looks so damn good

 

the write-up i saw was 1/0 awg...looked kinda crappy imo...there were these three big thick blue wires running across the engine bay...wasn't an amazingly clean look

 

I hate blue power wire. Looks stupid for that purpose imo.

 

i think it looks good w/red

 

How many watts you planning to run. I would suggest 1/0 anyways. It won't hurt and it will be inplace just for any possible future upgrades. No you don't need to keep the factory wire. The writer did that because it could only help the current flow and let's be honest, he wasn't going for the cleanest look.

 

yea I understand the whole path of least resistance thing...my system will probably run at about 1000 watts but peak is 1400

ill be sure to keep the "big three" at least the same if not a bigger gage than the power for my amps