Battery cable replacement/configuration
Thread Starter
Junior Member
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 200
Total Cats: 9
From: Chaparral, New Mexico
Battery cable replacement/configuration
I am going to be running an FD alternator, was considering replacing the oem 6ish awg wire and going to a 4awg or 2awg but think the 4 would be sufficient. Question being, is it worth it? I already have the cables out as IO am doing my wire tuck and will be moving the fuse box to the glove box.
If it's worth changing, I had a question about the configuration of the cables.
The stock NB goes:
Battery>Starter>Fuse Box>Alternator, I was thinking that as the terminals on the fuse box were meant for the smaller oem wire it may not be suitable for the extra amperage.
I was thinking maybe it was better to go
Battery>Alternator>Fuse Box>Starter, the other benefit of this is the easier mounting of the terminals, and then of course their would be a direct connection between the alternator and the battery.
If it's worth changing, I had a question about the configuration of the cables.
The stock NB goes:
Battery>Starter>Fuse Box>Alternator, I was thinking that as the terminals on the fuse box were meant for the smaller oem wire it may not be suitable for the extra amperage.
I was thinking maybe it was better to go
Battery>Alternator>Fuse Box>Starter, the other benefit of this is the easier mounting of the terminals, and then of course their would be a direct connection between the alternator and the battery.
Reply
0
0
If I was wiring things from scratch, I would go Battery -> Starter -> Alternator -> Fusebox. The Starter has the greatest load (more so than the Alternator) so you want the Battery to connect directly to it first for that reason. It's also why you normally don't normally put a fuse between it either.
That said, for your application, I would probably just follow how Miata did it from the factory unless there is some compelling reason to change it up.
As far as wire gauge. How far of a run and from where to where are you planning? Also what's the electrical load needed. My suggestions below are just total swags that I think would work, but there are charts that you can look up and figure out exactly what you need here.
Battery to Starter (with battery in trunk) I'd go 2awg. I think that is what is stock and it works fine, so no need to recreate the wheel here, but bigger won't hurt, but probably isn't a gain in anything but price & weight either.
Starter to Alternator (2 maybe 3 foot run) 6awg should work on a Miata...6awg is fine for up to 200amps at that length.
Alternator to Fusebox (since you are moving to glove box) that's a 4-5 foot run? 6awg would be fine for 150amps at that length. I don't know the amps of your fuse box, but my guess is that is fine.
Good Luck
That said, for your application, I would probably just follow how Miata did it from the factory unless there is some compelling reason to change it up.
As far as wire gauge. How far of a run and from where to where are you planning? Also what's the electrical load needed. My suggestions below are just total swags that I think would work, but there are charts that you can look up and figure out exactly what you need here.
Battery to Starter (with battery in trunk) I'd go 2awg. I think that is what is stock and it works fine, so no need to recreate the wheel here, but bigger won't hurt, but probably isn't a gain in anything but price & weight either.
Starter to Alternator (2 maybe 3 foot run) 6awg should work on a Miata...6awg is fine for up to 200amps at that length.
Alternator to Fusebox (since you are moving to glove box) that's a 4-5 foot run? 6awg would be fine for 150amps at that length. I don't know the amps of your fuse box, but my guess is that is fine.
Good Luck
Reply
0
0
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ChrisLol
General Miata Chat
12
Apr 3, 2018 03:13 PM
