I am building an 86 Camamro drag car and want to run an alternator to run all my electonic components.
My question is what guage wire is safe to run from the alternator to the battery mounted in the rear, for recharging the battery. I don't want to use a portable charger.
Thanks, graemlins/clonk.gif

0/0, 1/G or 2/G should do just fine. 2/G is more common for available connectors. You can pick up 'Oxygen Free, fine strand' welding cable from GS Parsons welding supply in Kerney Mesa (there are other locations throughout San Diego) for about $1.75 a foot. All the stereo stuff will cost three times that and honestly, the welding cable has a better insulating jacket and is just as, if not more flexable than the stereo stuff.

If you are just using it for a starter/charging cable for a drag car 2/G should do it. I ran 4/G for a number of years and there were times that the current surge was a little too much for the 4/G.

Thanks for the info.
graemlins/hurray.gif

A 10 gauge wire should be sufficient to handle the output of a racing alternator. Are you running a 2-pole disconnect switch?

Yeah a 10 gauge.......

I just got out of the hottub and my brain was a little cooked and I really didnt read the alt to battery statement. I was thinking battery run from the trunk.....

No more Team C after a few margies and the hottub for me !!

If you're interested, here is an ampacity table:

NEC Ampacity chart (http://www.starlitepro.com/wire_ampacity_right.htm)

I ran 8 gauge when I put my battery in the trunk and admittedly its slightly overkill - but I got a 50' piece for about $20 at the local electrical supply shop.

Just don't forget that the cut-out switch has to kill the car to be track legal. I just hard-wired the alternator to the battery and put the cutout switch in the cable running from the battery/alternator circuit to the fuse box. (8 gauge from alternator to battery, 8 gauge from battery to the cutout switch, then 8 gauge back to the fuse box)

ps. I used a Ford solenoid mounted right on the side of the battery box, that way my heavy 2 gauge battery cable is only hot when the car is being started.