calculating wire size

[cygvan]

very cool...i would have liked to shoehorn that into my build but with standard wheelbase and the face that i am a large mammal kinda killed it <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">

 

[arizonatruck]

The alternator on my 2000 superduty has at least a 100 amp alternator.

 

[daminc]

Talked to my retired electrician friend today....he told me he has a bunch of 1 ga welding cable in his garage. He said he would give me what I need for my van.... sometimes it pays to know people. That'll save me some bux.<br>&nbsp;I did find that the cable that comes from the alternator travels along the cowl<br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/conversion van build/IMG_2590_zps09d1617b.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br>Makes a right turn along the drivers side fender<br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/conversion van build/IMG_2588_zpsbb45eebf.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br>and connects in its own Alt box, and then heads towards the passenger side out the other side<br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/conversion van build/IMG_2586_zps52c4844c.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><br><br>

 

[daminc]

I'm thinking 130a is about average for an alternator from all the replacements on the web I have found<br><br>

 

[Guest]

# 8 wire is all you will need, unless you are going to use them for starting. if you look at the factory charge line it is only #8. just because the alt says 130 amps does not mean it puts out the many amps at once otherwise your factory charge line would be 001 gauge wire.almost all rv's use 12 to 8 ga wire fore charge lines.that is all it is a charge line, the voltage regulator will regulate&nbsp; the charge rate.&nbsp;

 

[daminc]

I do plan on using the house batteries to emergency start the van if needed... it only takes 1 time to leave your lights on in the middle of nowhere, to leave you stranded until someone comes to help. I always try to plan for the "what if"... hopefully, my "what if" plan will have charged house batteries too.&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">