[DeTomaso] Alternator found

[John Buckman]

Anyone care to guess how long the run is from the alternator through the ammeter and to the battery?


>>>Early cars:  ~25'  Alt to ammeter to starter solenoid.

>>>Later cars:  ~20'  Alt to ammeter to battery.

>>>The tap (splice) for the fuse panel, ignition switch, and headlight switch is ~9' from the alternator.

>>>The original ammeter wires (at least on the early cars) were 8 AWG.

>>>One must remember that, when sizing wires, heat generation / dissipation can be a major concern. 
The more current (amps) that passes through a given size wire, the more heat is generated, and the more
heat that is generated, the more the resistance (in that wire) increases, and as the wire's resistance increases,
so does the voltage drop.

Selecting a wire with a higher insulation temp rating is always a good idea, but NOT a good idea if you are
selecting that wire size based upon a given current (amps) at that (high) temp.  Wires in bundles have a much
slower heat dissipation rate than a wire that is run by itself.  

Tefzel (aircraft) wire is an excellent choice, although expensive.  It can withstand 200* C (392* F).

John