Electrical issues

[Wild one]

Seems like there's somebody with an electrical issue posting everyday,i wonder how many of these electrical issues would be eliminated or mininiumized if the owner upgraded the wiring a bit.It's common knowledge the trucks wiring leaves alot to be desired,and should be upgraded to handle a decent stereo,but i also think alot of electrical issues could be resolved if guys did the Big 3 upgrade,along with upgrading the hot side from the alternator to battery and from the battery to the fuse box.

 

[TC]

I could not agree with you more. Without tearing into the existing wire harness, what would be the easiest way to accomplish this? Run additional wires? Pictures would be greatly appreciated by anyome who has done this. I am somewhat imtimidated by electrical systems, hated second semester physics, but as a DIY and access to experts like some of you all, I'm becoming more comfortable working on the vehicles electrical system over time. Old enough I should have figured it out by now but lazy enough to keep asking others I guess. I purchased the following wiring kit a while back with intentions on doing the Big Three upgrade. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019EF1GJK?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Seems overkill but it was priced well at the time. I just replaced the original 56029764AB 160 amp alternatort with a new Duralast Gold DLG11477 - 180 amp alternator due to age and questionable performance, and thinking now is a good a time as any to do the Big three. Does one need to upgrade this fuse to accomodate the higher amperage alternator? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TRZGC5N?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

 

[Fast69Mopar]

Seems like there's somebody with an electrical issue posting everyday,i wonder how many of these electrical issues would be eliminated or mininiumized if the owner upgraded the wiring a bit.It's common knowledge the trucks wiring leaves alot to be desired,and should be upgraded to handle a decent stereo,but i also think alot of electrical issues could be resolved if guys did the Big 3 upgrade,along with upgrading the hot side from the alternator to battery and from the battery to the fuse box.

I have 5 Rams. 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and a 2011. All of them have an upgraded cable from the alternator to the battery. I make all of my own cables and I have a simple process to make them. I use 4AWG oxygen free cable. What I do is place a ring terminal in the vice and I heat it up and fill it with solder and then insert the cable. I place my large cable crimpers on the ring terminal and heat it up so that the solder is a liquid and then I crimp the terminal. Once the terminals have cooled I heat shrink each end and I only use the heat shrink with the glue lining to ensure it is sealed. I make all of my battery and ground cables this way.

Recently I have started making my grounds out of braided stainless.

 

[Wild one]

I could not agree with you more. Without tearing into the existing wire harness, what would be the easiest way to accomplish this? Run additional wires? Pictures would be greatly appreciated by anyome who has done this. I am somewhat imtimidated by electrical systems, hated second semester physics, but as a DIY and access to experts like some of you all, I'm becoming more comfortable working on the vehicles electrical system over time. Old enough I should have figured it out by now but lazy enough to keep asking others I guess. I purchased the following wiring kit a while back with intentions on doing the Big Three upgrade. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019EF1GJK?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Seems overkill but it was priced well at the time. I just replaced the original 56029764AB 160 amp alternatort with a new Duralast Gold DLG11477 - 180 amp alternator due to age and questionable performance, and thinking now is a good a time as any to do the Big three. Does one need to upgrade this fuse to accomodate the higher amperage alternator? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TRZGC5N?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

The fuse is okay,and i've never used that Big 3 kit,but it looks like it's a fairly decent kit to use.

 

[Wild one]

I have 5 Rams. 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and a 2011. All of them have an upgraded cable from the alternator to the battery. I make all of my own cables and I have a simple process to make them. I use 4AWG oxygen free cable. What I do is place a ring terminal in the vice and I heat it up and fill it with solder and then insert the cable. I place my large cable crimpers on the ring terminal and heat it up so that the solder is a liquid and then I crimp the terminal. Once the terminals have cooled I heat shrink each end and I only use the heat shrink with the glue lining to ensure it is sealed. I make all of my battery and ground cables this way.

Recently I have started making my grounds out of braided stainless.

I agree that's the only way to make a good cable end. I haven't used the braided stainless cable yet,as they're pricey as hell up here,but if i'm doing a long run under a vehicle,i run the cables inside garden hose.
I also upgrade the feed over to the fuse box,and ground everything

 

[Fast69Mopar]

I agree that's the only way to make a good cable end. I haven't used the braided stainless cable yet,as they're pricey as hell up here,but if i'm doing a long run under a vehicle,i run the cables inside garden hose.
I also upgrade the feed over to the fuse box,and ground everything

I totally agree with that garden hose method. I have mainly used garden hose on the 4wd trucks and on trucks in rainy/snowy climates. On a couple of southern trucks I have made a PVC setup to run battery cables through that worked really well.

When I am making battery cables for customers I give them the option of OFC or Braided Stainless Cables. The cost is a little bit higher but I believe the benefits outweigh the added cost especially for the 4wd trucks that see off road use.

 

[Mpgrimm2]

I could not agree with you more. Without tearing into the existing wire harness, what would be the easiest way to accomplish this? Run additional wires? Pictures would be greatly appreciated by anyome who has done this. I am somewhat imtimidated by electrical systems, hated second semester physics, but as a DIY and access to experts like some of you all, I'm becoming more comfortable working on the vehicles electrical system over time. Old enough I should have figured it out by now but lazy enough to keep asking others I guess. I purchased the following wiring kit a while back with intentions on doing the Big Three upgrade. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019EF1GJK?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Seems overkill but it was priced well at the time. I just replaced the original 56029764AB 160 amp alternatort with a new Duralast Gold DLG11477 - 180 amp alternator due to age and questionable performance, and thinking now is a good a time as any to do the Big three. Does one need to upgrade this fuse to accomodate the higher amperage alternator? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TRZGC5N?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

FYI
... That big 3 kit is apparently not pure OFC (oxygen free copper) but is Copper Clad Aluminum (CCA) based on a few of the reviews.
.

 

[Wild one]

I totally agree with that garden hose method. I have mainly used garden hose on the 4wd trucks and on trucks in rainy/snowy climates. On a couple of southern trucks I have made a PVC setup to run battery cables through that worked really well.

When I am making battery cables for customers I give them the option of OFC or Braided Stainless Cables. The cost is a little bit higher but I believe the benefits outweigh the added cost especially for the 4wd trucks that see off road use.

I like the homemade PCV conduit trick,that's hell'va an idea. I wired Propane Tankers for a bit as a kid and we ran alot of the wiring inside aluminium electrical conduit to protect the wiring

 

[04fxdwgi]

#4 welding cable has always been my go to.

 

[Fast69Mopar]

I like the homemade PCV conduit trick,that's hell'va an idea. I wired Propane Tankers for a bit as a kid and we ran alot of the wiring inside aluminium electrical conduit to protect the wiring

What I like to do with the PVC pipe is use the rubber caps on the ends and run the wires through the rubber. It seals up nice that way and it allows some flex for the wires.