Alternator Ground Wire Gauge?

[MrSharky]

So...going to replace the ground strap for my alternator. Well, replace isn't the right term since there isn't one there now. Just need to know what gauge wire I should be looking to use? I've read some past posts on where to place the wire - but suggestions on that are welcome too.

Thanks,

Matt

[eurotrash]

The Brown little jumper to the timing cover bolt? Its only a 16, maybe 14..

[ought2]

Handy Dandy Chart

Typical Low Voltage Wire Sizes

Air Conditioning- 10 GAUGE

Heater Switch- 10 GAUGE

Alternator- 10 GAUGE

Horn Button- 13 GAUGE

Ammeter- 10 GAUGE

Horn To Relay- 10 GAUGE

Cigarette Lighter- 14 GAUGE

Ignition Switch – 12 GAUGE

Clock- 18 GAUGE

Low-Amps Circuits- 18 GAUGE

Coil Wire- 16 GAUGE

Parking Lights- 16 GAUGE

Dome Lights- 16 GAUGE

Radio To Fuse Blocks- 14 GAUGE

Driving Lights- 14 GAUGE

Single Bulbs- 18 GAUGE

Gauges- 14 GAUGE

Starter To Relay- 16 GAUGE

Generator (Charging)- 10 GAUGE

Stoplights- 16 GAUGE

Generator To Starter- 16 GAUGE

Tail Lights- 16 GAUGE

Headlight Circuit- 14 GAUGE

Turn Signals- 16 GAUGE

Headlight Switch To Fuse Block- 12 GAUGE

CD To Fuse Block- 14 GAUGE

Heater Leads- 16 GAUGE

Windshield Wiper & Washer- 14 GAUGE

[Scott Sislane]

I ran 2 16 AWG lines together, over to the chassis ground point near the battery. Been working great for 2 years.

[allbim]

I don't know how much your alternator puts out, but it takes a 10 gauge wire to carry 55 amps continuously in open air according to an engineering manual I have in front of me.

[nbcbird]

For my rewire, I used 8 gauge--to match the wire from the battery to the alternator (the bigger the better).--Jim

[MrSharky]

Interesting input - I'll go with brown. Surprised to find that I never had this ground without more problems. And only recently the L light came on.

Anyone got pictures handy??

Thanks,

matt

[Tommy]

Surprised to find that I never had this ground without more problems.

Me too, well it was broken for quite awhile. But now when I'm going through the wiring loom I noticed the brown wire between alternator and regulator is melted quite badly inside the cover. I think it's consequence from missing heavier ground.

Tommy

[Scott Sislane]

this ground wire was also missing on my 76 when I rcv'd it. Not really sure what it's actual function is. The factory wire was quite thin.

[eurotrash]

Oooooooo..nice. That IS handy.

[Mike Self]

pretty dodgy route, as it's grounding through the flat washers that bridge the rubber mounts. If all is well, it will ground, but obviously the factory felt a ground wire was necessary. The original wire looks like 10 gauge to me, but you can't go too large in this situation, only too small.

You'll encounter the same situation when mounting driving lights on the bumper or its brackets. You can ground 'em through the bumper/brackets, but you'll get much brighter lights by running a separate ground wire.

BTW to do it right, solder the terminals to the wire vs crimping. Much lower resistance joint that way.

cheers

mike

[HBChris]

The US wiring diagram says same size as input wire so 10 it is. I could have sworn it was smaller but I would have been wrong.

[eurotrash]

The US wiring diagram says same size as input wire so 10 it is. I could have sworn it was smaller but I would have been wrong.

WOW.. I remebered it much smaller also, and brown not black.. but its been a while.

I hung a 16g between the water hoses and down next to it, for scale.

[Scott Sislane]

my 75 had a brown wire.

[yellO2]

IF this is an upgraded alternator use a braided ground strap.if it's original then i'll agree with mike use at least 10 gauge.don't skimp on grounding points...