Sometimes called the "Big 3" or "Big 4" or "Big 5" or even "Big 7" wiring upgrade, the idea is to increase the wire size between high-powered components in the engine bay in order to carry extra current, or to carry the same current with lower voltage loss. This is necessary if you're planning to upgrade your alternator, or if you have accessories - a sound system, winch, lighting, etc. - that require more power than the stock components and wiring can handle. Big 3 - this is the "basic" upgrade; all three of these need to be done first,…
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Alternator, vehicle wiring, lighting, etc.
One of the most critical components in our trucks is the alternator. This little generator creates all the electricity needed to keep our cylinders firing, radios running, and gizmos charged up. Working as hard as it does, it's downright amazing how robust the stock alternators are, even if they only generated 60A-80A when they were new from the factory! In fact, the most common failure I've seen is that the brushes - a wear component - get worn down and stop making contact with the spindle. When this happens, the alternator stops working and the battery light on the dash…
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