[1410]

I am using the EZ wiring kit number 21? The gauge for the starter to battery, battery to ign switch is all 12 gauge. My question is for the alternator, battery and ign system is gauge adequate to carry the load?

Thank,

Sid

 

[SteveInColorado]

There are charts for determining what gauge wire you need based on amps and length, but I can't seem to find any. Based on my experience with a whole lot of wiring on a whole lot of different stuff, I'd say no, though. Assuming you're coming off of the battery cable connection on the starter solenoid, I'd want 8 or 10 gauge from there to the ignition switch, back to the small terminal of the starter solenoid (12 can be OK there, depending on solenoid), and over to the big lug of the alternator. Sometimes there's even a light battery cable between the alternator and solenoid. If the wire is too big, the only danger is loss of space and money. If it's too small, you lose power through resistance, resulting in heat.

Steve.

 

[Danger_Dave]

Call EZ Wiring and ask - they'll probably need to know some basics, like how many amps you're pulling. I'm sure they'd much rather tell you "you need heavier wire" than have one of their kits burn down a rig.

One of the issues with a standard wiring kit is that you're going to have to make some assumptions about what load the wiring is going to be dealing with - if you're running a heavy-duty alternator or something, you might have some problems. But the advantages of a modern wiring harness & fuses should outweigh the disadvantages.

 

[dave]

It's my understanding that the EZ wiring harness is very similar to a GM harness. Based on what I know about GM vehicles here is what I can add to this post. GM used 12 ga. wire for most of the 70's and some of the 80's vehicles for the alternator. When GM started using alternators with more than 64 amps the wire size changed. The GM police cars of the early 90's with 140 amp alternators used 8 ga wire from the battery to the alternator. Starting in the 70's GM vehicles use a fusiable link between the alternator and battery to reduce the chance of an electrical fire.
dave

 

[dfjeepster]

The wiring that comes with the EZ Wiring kit is more than up to the task of handling a Jeepster's electrical needs and the ignition wiring is much better after the kit because it no longer has so many other things fed off of it. I would have to look at my kit again to be sure but I remember the wires going to the ignition switch to be at least 10 gauge? I dont have the instructions to the EZ kit in front of me now but if you check them out you will also see that you should install a fusible link in the harness before the starter post (GM wiring diagram) and if you are using a high output alternator they include a heavier gauge wire to be installed off of the alternator. I have been running mine now for almost a year with no problems at all. I am also using a high output alternator on my 360 along with their included heavier wire and it has no problem keeping up with my draw: lights, radio, heater, etc...