momofx76 Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 I did a quick resistance check between the main power wire on the alternator terminal and the battery terminal and got 2.4 Ohms. Is that very bad? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wicks Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Yep, very bad. At a mere 1amp of current, you'll get 2.4V of drop. What'd you measure it with? Touch the meter leads together, what do you get? Should be 0.3ohms or less. Any corrosion or oxidation on wires? This post sent with 100% recycled electrons. 2004 BMW M3Mechman 280A 2 - XS Power XP30001 - XS Power D375 500F of Maxwell SuperCaps (soon to be 1000F) iPadMini2Dash mounted O-scopeAudison bitOne (Remote DRC MP) Highs Amp - PPI Art A404 Hertz HSK130 (HSK165 waiting...) DC Audio DC9.0K 2- DC Audio XL12m2LEGAL - 147.3dB @ 41Hz OUTLAW - 150.2dB @ 45Hz OUTLAW - 145.7dB @ 30Hz JUNE 2014 SOTM WINNER 2014 COLORADO PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER SOTM BUILD:http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/141656-wicks-e46-m3-build-bass-turbo-button-and-a-big-new-addition/page-68#entry2802026 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momofx76 Posted January 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Yep, very bad. At a mere 1amp of current, you'll get 2.4V of drop. What'd you measure it with? Touch the meter leads together, what do you get? Should be 0.3ohms or less. Any corrosion or oxidation on wires? Hi, I am measuring with a Fluke 87 DMM Yes you are correct, when I touch the test leads together it measures around 0.3 Ohms. I dont see any oxidation on the wire - the vehicle has around 55,000 miles on it but then again that wire looks like a 8 ga... I am thinking leaving it on there and adding a 0 awg from the alt. to the battery with an inline ANL fuse ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wicks Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 2ohms is a bit high. If it is oxidation or something you could use the meter and just measure the resistance across one of the lugs and then work your way through the cable, looking for a spot of higher resistance than the rest. Is the cable connected to the system? If its powered that may interfere with the meter... 0gauge would be a great upgrade idea, along with the rest of the big 3. This post sent with 100% recycled electrons. 2004 BMW M3Mechman 280A 2 - XS Power XP30001 - XS Power D375 500F of Maxwell SuperCaps (soon to be 1000F) iPadMini2Dash mounted O-scopeAudison bitOne (Remote DRC MP) Highs Amp - PPI Art A404 Hertz HSK130 (HSK165 waiting...) DC Audio DC9.0K 2- DC Audio XL12m2LEGAL - 147.3dB @ 41Hz OUTLAW - 150.2dB @ 45Hz OUTLAW - 145.7dB @ 30Hz JUNE 2014 SOTM WINNER 2014 COLORADO PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER SOTM BUILD:http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/141656-wicks-e46-m3-build-bass-turbo-button-and-a-big-new-addition/page-68#entry2802026 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momofx76 Posted January 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Hi, I will do a more "thorough" test later on. Yes the cable was powered / live when I was testing it. I will isolate it and do the resistance checks then (ring terminal to crimped cable, cable to batt. terminal, etc.) Although I am gonna do the 0 ga. upgrade anyways, I am just curious about this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momofx76 Posted March 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 Well I cleaned the terminals, etc. and the resistance dropped to .05 ohms from the Alt. to the battery - well I went ahead and did the big three as follows... 1. Alternator to battery wire - added a 0 Ga. together with the oem wire and an inline fuse on the 0 Ga. 2. Battery to body Ground - 2 Ga 3. Battery to engine block ground 4 Ga (I just used whatever I had left)... now I must say, it did not help sadly. My headlights are still dimming but I am assuming my stock alternator can't handle the Hifonics 5 Channel (1000W RMS into 1 Ohm sub channel and 60W RMS Into 4 Ohm, 4 channels)... I am thinking I need a bigger alternator right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve volz Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 u need to make all 3 wires the same size http://www.stevemead...new-xfl-pg6-57/americanbass hd 12d22 audiopipe 1800.1ppi s580.4rockford p1653 frontpolk audio 6x9 rearbig 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 Wires have to be the same size. The big 3 won't eliminate dimming, it will just help minimize it. You're pulling over 100 amps through a stock alt that's probably 100 amps itself. You will have dimming even if you drop .1v. Only way to solve it is to get a bigger alternator, but it's honestly not really worth it for a 1000w amp. Unless you plan on upgrading later. If you're really that worried, get an extra agm battery in the trunk or replace the one under the hood with an agm style. Edit: oh yeah, never take out the stock wiring for the big 3. ALWAYS add onto it with the larger wire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprkn_ranger Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 Yea get some more 1/0 and finish the big 3 with all 1/0. If your still getting voltage drop then upgrade your alt or add a battery. Check out my build log! 4 Havocs in a blowthrough http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/187506-sprkn-rangers-blowthrough-build/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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