[DeTomaso] Alternator found

[cengles at cox.net]

Dear John,


              An excellent comment with actual facts.   The Pantera 
seems to have *long* runs of wire between important points.   Is it 
correct that given a "normal" Pantera, the stock Pantera wiring harness 
is up the task?    I think that it is correct that if you significantly 
up the current (amps) with same diameter wire and the long distances , 
then you run the risk of increased heat from the resistance of that 
length of inadequately sized wire.  Is that right?

               Short of pulling the Pantera wiring harness and re-wiring 
the whole thing to tolerate any sized mondo amperage and alternator, 
what is the highest rational amperage alternator that one could use?

                Twenty feet?!?!

                                Warmest regards, Chuck Engles

On Thu, Sep 13, 2012 at 10:39 AM, John Buckman wrote:

> 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
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