Ok, I posted this in another thread of mine where it was mentioned, but the thread wasn't really about this upgrade and I wasn't getting any responses related to this particular question so I decided I'd try putting it in it's own thread.

What is the benefit of the Big 3 upgrade?? I mean, I understand that the wires are bigger and will carry more current and also typically not get as hot, but how is that all that helpful to have bigger wire to the starter and alternator and to ground?? It's obviously big enough to do the job cuz our trucks run and start fine. I ask cuz it seems a lot of money for wire and I don't see the necessity of it...I still want to add a second battery for future stereo upgrades and such, and I understand wanting massive wire to that, and to amps or other power hungry accessories...but not the rest.

Thanks

 

The Big 3 upgrade is actually the Alternator - Battery, Battery - Ground, and the Engine - Ground.

For stock needs the charging system works perfect as that was what it was designed around. When you start adding more loads on the system (ie. lots of offroad lights, big stereo, snowplow, charging trailer accessories, etc) you are upping the current demand.

If the load you are adding is big enough your factory charging wires cannot handle the increase in current. Adding heavier guage wiring will reduce the electrical resistance and therefore ease the load on your charging system allowing your alternator to keep up.

Most cases the big 3 is not needed unless you have a BIG stereo. I've done installs with ~2000wrms and that's around where the Big 3 comes into play. Obviously though it depends on the vehicle as some vehicles have beefier charging systems than others. For example if you have the tow package vs. regular package. Tow package charging system is beefed up so it might not be needed but on a regular truck it might be.

You mentioned you wanted to install a second battery for a stereo in the future? How big of a stereo are you planning on running? Adding a second (or more) battery isn't really needed unless you are putting something significantly big in. And in which case when adding another battery you should do the Big 3 upgrade since adding another battery is adding another load into the charging system.

Big 3 on your truck wouldn't be much at all. ~$50 for wire and maybe ~$10 for some ring terminals.

 

Well, as of now I want to have a 1200 watt power inverter hooked up that will run my sump pump, as I recently had a power outage and basement flooded. I had an 800 Watt hooked up and it ran the pump with truck running, but not off...it'd try to run the pump, but it kept overheating and shutting down, the pump would kick on for a few seconds, then back off, and on and off...start the truck, the extra ~2 volts gave it what it needed. So I figure a bit bigger inverter would be good, and I want a second battery so I can have it hooked to the truck all night, and the second battery will help it last longer.

 

I guess I thought it'd cost a lot more from reading Weedahoe's post from a while back in another thread about his upgrade...I guess we don't always have to do things to his specs...That, and I mistook 1 awg for 1/0 and priced it out using 1/0 wire cuz that's what I need for my power inverter, and thought that's what I read from Weedahoe...but it was that he just used a lot of 1/0 lugs, to fit 2 wires in.

 

any vehicle will benefit from upgraded power and ground wire.. It may not be needed until large amounts of current draw from aftermarket electrical stuff is added.. but either way making your vehicles charging system more efficient is never a bad idea.

if you want to have extended periods of time using something electronic with the vehicle off then an extra battery is a great idea. But if you thought process is that the battery supplies extra current for when you are driving around listening to a large aftermarket system or for extra lighting.. that's not really what they are good for. Many people believe that adding extra batteries is a huge help to the amount of current being supplied to a vehicle... but really that's not the case.. all your doing is placing a bigger load on the alternator and in many cases extra batteries will lead to early failure of an alternator that is already being taxed by extra electrical loads.

any custom shop around you should be able to sell you some battery terminals, ring terminals, and wire by the foot, get some loom from a hardware store or lowes to cover all the wires for added protection and you're good to go.

 

For me it was about more power and better grounds. I do like to run a lot of electrical gear. But welding the cables I bought from Jones Welding did not cost very much per foot.

 

the big 3 upgrade will help ANY vehicle, even factory simply because companies will scrounge anywhere they can to save a penny. Ever notice if your heat is on full blast, and you have all your lights on, radio up, and try rollin the windows down, things will dim?

granted some of us take upgrading to a whole different level due to our needs, but like was already said, it'll run you $50 max for some runs of 1/0 and some terminals. just make sure your grounds are on CLEAN metal.

i'm curently running 3 http://www.odysseybatteries.com/battery/pc2150.htm of these batteries (and need a few more) with multiple runs of power/ground etc etc etc. (7,000watts rms for the system). I'm a quite a ways past the big 3, BUT it all started their and the less voltage drop, and the less resistance, the better your truck will work.