Basic Wiring. Anyone have suggestions?

[turbo39151]

I have recently had my stock alt crap out on me so I ordered the 200 amp upgrade kit. Also recommended was a new positive cable from Caspers. That thing is $90 bucks!!

So, I've decided to make my own. So far I've discovered that the ground and the positive cable to the starter are 4 gauge wire and that the wire to the alt is somehwhere around 8-10 gauge. I'm thinking of running 2 gauge in place of 4 gauge and a 4 gauge in the place of the 8 gauge, plus thicker wires for the ancillary wires attached to this assembly.

What if anything is the benefit of using thicker, newer wire? I'm assuming that there should be a benefit but I could be mistaken. While I'm not building a monster audio system or anything like that, I'd like to be sure that my electronics needs are well insured with the best wiring that I can do.

I only want to do this once...

BTW, I was going to add a switch to the battery so I don't have to keep disconnecting the battery every time I do something under the hood. Will the orange ECM wire be affected at all by splicing additional length to the existing wire?

Any and all advice is appreciated...

 

[onefastcar]

Everything sounds good the thicker wire will provide better current not exactly sure how you feel the ecm will be affected, if you have a chip like tt you will lose settings everytime you power down or stock chip will have to relearn settings, unless i am just not comprehending sounds good to me and i might just put a kill switch like you mentioned with the amount of times i stinkin work on this car it would be worth it BTW i would hide the switch while your at it for theft protection purposes.

 

[salvageV6]

I'd use the proper oil and gas resistant jacket automotive wire for the main cables and the alternator.

4-6 gauge for the HD alternator.

Add on grounds from the gas tank to frame and body to frame standard autosound wire will do.

Just my .02, when you price it all out with good solid copper connectors that can handle the current the Caspers stuff may seem reasonable.

 

[turbo39151]

I ended up buying 6 feet of 2 gauge and 6 feet of 4, along with some adapters to change the side post terminals for about $32 from NAPA. Then I purchased some gold plated (audio style) battery connectors that have inputs for 2 large and two small wires (I'd like it to look clean). They were Tsunami Brand and available for $5.99 a piece at Autozone. I found heavy duty brass connectors at Lowes for $2-3 bucks.

Thus far I'm at about $47 and I'm completely upgrading. While I like the fact that Caspars has the kit and it's all OEM looking, it still doesn't compare with my ability to upgrade not only the power but the ground wires for nearly half of the cost. And if I plan it right I'll have everything ready for a future stereo install. (since I'm riding silent at the present time)