Table of Contents
- 1 How do you size a fusible link wire?
- 2 What size fusible link should I use for a 10 gauge wire?
- 3 Does an alternator need a fusible link?
- 4 How long should a fusible link wire be?
- 5 What happens if the fusible link is bad?
- 6 What happens when the fusible link goes bad?
- 7 How do you hook up an alternator?
- 8 What gauge wire for alternator?
How do you size a fusible link wire?
General practice has been for a fusible link to be 4 gauges smaller than the circuit wire. Example: if the circuit wire is 12 gauge, use a 16 gauge fusible link.
What size fusible link should I use for a 10 gauge wire?
For AWG sizes (wire gauges), each fusible link is four wire gauge sizes smaller than the wire it is designed to protect. For example: to protect a 10 gauge wire, use a 14 gauge link (or for metric, to protect a 5mm wire, use a 2mm link).
Do you need a fusible link between alternator and battery?
They are placed in-line between delicate harnesses and large sources of electrical current in your car—between the battery and alternator, for example. These links must transmit high-current electricity, but also protect the rest of the electrical system from dangerous spikes that could cause a fire.
Does an alternator need a fusible link?
Before about 1980, there were no fusible links on alternators, but after that it is common practice to have a fusible link between the alternator and battery to prevent fires and wire burning up in the unlikely event that someone installs a battery with the polarity reversed or if a diode in the alternator fails.
How long should a fusible link wire be?
9″
The length of a fusible link should not exceed 9″. Can a fusible link be used to replace a fuse that blows frequently? In general, a fusible link should never be used to replace an automotive fuse unless authorized by a vehicle factory service bulletin.
Is a fusible link just wire?
An electrical fusible link is a type of electrical fuse that is constructed simply with a short piece of wire typically four American wire gauge (AWG) sizes smaller than the wire that is being protected. Electrical fusible links are common in high-current automotive applications.
What happens if the fusible link is bad?
When it fails, it will break the continuity in the rest of the circuit, preventing damage to other components down the line. A fusible link typically costs a couple of bucks and can be replaced in 30 minutes.
What happens when the fusible link goes bad?
What size wire for 100 amp alternator?
Generally, they recommend an 8-gauge wire for our 100 amp alternators and step up to a 6-gauge if the battery is in the trunk so there is no power loss. A 140-amp unit should use a 6-gauge wire, and 4-gauge to the trunk; 200-amp units should have a 4-gauge wire and a 2-gauge to the trunk.
How do you hook up an alternator?
Connect a 10-gauge wire from the output stud on the alternator back to the positive battery terminal. Make both connections with a solderless ring terminal. This connection can be made at the starter relay also, as long as it connects to the same terminal as the positive cable from the battery. Reconnect the negative cable to the battery.
What gauge wire for alternator?
Tuff Stuff recommends an 8-gauge wire for its 100-amp alternators, and a step up to a 6-gauge wire if the battery is in the trunk. A 140-amp unit should use a 6-gauge wire, and 4-gauge to the trunk.