Mr.JTurboII

Okay being that my car has drained 2 different batteries overnight. I've decided to pay some seriously needed attention to my cars electrical. tomorrow, i am going to buy a multimeter to find whats the draw that killing the battery. While am at it, hopefully my taurus alternator get delivered so that i can install it one time. Im going to do the big 3 upgrade. Now being that the Taurus Alternator is 130 amps, What gauge wiring and what size fuse should i use? I'm thinking 4 guage. Also is there anywhere or anything else that i should be worried about or check/clean while doing this?

dwb87

iTrader: (22)

Where exactly are you planning to use this 4 gauge wire??

Be sure when installing the Taurus alternator, not to grind that mounting ear down too far. You want to get it pretty damn flat and close, so that the pulleys line up. Misalignment of the alternator pulley may result in frequent belt replacement and damage to the alternator. To ensure that you have good connections, a Taurus alternator connector pigtail would be pretty useful.

Mr.JTurboII

I was going to use 4 gushes from the alt to the battery, ground to frame, and frame to engine

dwb87

iTrader: (22)

Not any of that is necessary. You definitely do not need a ground wire from the alternator to the chassis, as the alternator is grounded when it is mounted to the engine. You can always put a newer ground from engine to chassis.

With my Taurus alternator, I use the stock "B" alternator wire. It wouldn't be a bad idea to go with a bigger wire. 4 gauage seems a bit overkill, though.

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

yep, 4 guage is overkill. i would still pass it through the 80amp fuse in the box as well. too many people bypassing that SAFETY device. you can find the same style fuse in 100amps and i doubt you will ever be pulling that amount out to blow the fuse even with the 130 amp alternator, remember that the alt is only pushing what the car needs.

dwb87

iTrader: (22)

I actually use a 100A main fuse. I don't advise that anyone bypass the fuse box.

Mr.JTurboII

Your misunderstanding me, i wasn't going to ground the alternator, i meant to replace the wire that goes from the alt to the fuse then to the battery. i was thinking to replace it and put a fuse inline, sorta like the power wire to a system. and also do new grounds, since for the age it is, it should be corroded and just overall in bad shape.

I may try and see if i can run it thru the fuse box if i cannot find a way to fuse it inline. Running a direct wire just sounds dangerous and deadly lol. I know that it wouldn't be using the full 130 amps, but i just want to make sure im not overworking/overheating the factory wiring system since i believe the s4 alt was only good for 70amps? What guage should I buy since i haven't picked up any wiring yet?




My Taurus alt did come today and i started to install it. however mine did not come with that little ear to grind off, i thought that was weird, but i bolted it up quick just to see it it'll work and everything looks good. The pulley looks dead on with the rest so hopefully it'll work out good, just have to get some new bolts to hold it down tight.

I have another question. what is the right way to wire it up? my car had an fd alt but it is an s4. is there a diagram or something to refer to? i read the other 100 taurus alt threads, but they all have it different will take some pics in the morning of the install.

Mr.JTurboII

gushes? lol i meant gauge, my stupid phone and its autocorrect

dwb87

iTrader: (22)

Perhaps I misunderstood you. I didn't think you were going to ground the alternator with 4 gauge wire. You mentioned something about "...ground to frame and frame to engine." - I didn't know what that meant you were going to do.


Maybe 8 gauge would do...? I don't even know the size of the stock "B" wire. Instead of running wire straight the the battery with an inline fuse, run it to the 80A main fuse, then replace the 80A fuse with a 100A main fuse. Last, replace the wire from the 100A fuse in the fuse box to the battery.

Hmm... At least the pulleys line up. Can you post pics of the alternator?

(Akagis_white_comet diagram.) Bottom image:

Mr.JTurboII

This is basically what i had in mind. http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/...TID~73496~PN~1

only reason why i didn't think about going to the main fuse was because i dont know how much of a pain it will be to remove and connect to the wire there.

I don't have any pics on car as i was installing in the dark with drop light lol, but here's the image off the listing when i bought it



and thanks for the diagrams

Mr.JTurboII

ok, I've installed my taurus alt, here are the pics. Only thing i'm not sure about is the placement of the sensor (yellow) wire. it was in the same spot on my fd alt. Just with the install of the alternator, At idle with all loads on, i had 13.8-14 volts. but after the car got warm idling maybe 20 min, voltage dropped to around 12.5-13 at idle, What could cause that? i didn't upgrade the wiring or fuse yet as i didn't get a chance.

dwb87

iTrader: (22)

Clean engine bay. I like that...

Anyway, that yellow wire in the diagram (A) goes straight to the battery. I've heard people talk about using an inline fuse. That is probably your safest bet. I don't use one, but I definitely plan to install one. Did you use the stock B+ terminal wire? (The one with the rubber terminal boot over it.) It looks as though you've installed a wire on the B+ terminal... That wire looks way too thin. Is this what you're currently running from the 80A main fuse in the fuse box??

Mr.JTurboII

Thanks, yea the yellow wire is what goes to the battery, my old alternator had it on the b terminal so i figured it will work. i have the stock b terminal wire then the yellow wire then the nut. its not shown in that pic cause the alt was on my computer table. my car had an fd before. You think i should remove it from the b terminal and run it to the battery? You say put a fuse on the yellow wire? u know what kind or how much amp that fuse should be. once again man thanks for the help

dwb87

iTrader: (22)

I was referring to the yellow wire in the diagram... Not your yellow wire. I don't know why you have that yellow wire on the B+ terminal.

Is your alternator wired just as the diagram?

Mr.JTurboII

the yellow wire in the diagram is the yellow wire on my alternator, the yellow wire on b terminal is from the plug.

dwb87

iTrader: (22)

Ah, so you have the (A) wire on your alternator looped back to the B+ terminal... Got it. That is pretty much how it looks on the diagram. In your picture of the wiring, it looks as though the are two different wires and two different gauges.

Mr.JTurboII

Yup sorry bout the confusion. You think it will make a difference there or should I run it to the battery

dwb87

iTrader: (22)

You can always try running it straight to the battery. I have mine running straight to the battery, and I have absolutely no charging issues or voltage drops.

Mr.JTurboII

ok i will try that.

Mr.JTurboII

I ran it to the battery and im getting a solid, 14 volts. im starting to think maybe my fd alt was just miswired lol. anyways its running perfect with the new alt. thanks for the help

dwb87

iTrader: (22)

No problem... It's a great upgrade from the stock 70A alternator for sure. Post if you have any other questions, problems, or issues.