I'm wanting to firm up my electrical charging system. I've read about upgrading the grounding straps and the charging strap to the battery.

That makes logical sense, but has anyone done a detailed write up on the process?

I've added lights and accessories to the excursion and plan to add more options for camping. I want to ensure I get the best voltage I can from the alternator. A 160 amp alternator will be in the upgrade at some point.

 

It's not hard to do. Take a ground cable (make your own or buy the correct length battery cable at the local parts store) and put one end under a mounting bolt for the alternator Attach the other end to the negative battery post.

Then take a charge wire and attach it to the large post on the back of the alternator where the factory wire hooks up and attach the other end to the positive battery post.

Many say it's wise to fuse this additional charge wire.

In this photo, you can see the black ground wire attached to the alternator and the red charge wire coming from the back of the alternator.



Here's a shot of the back of the alternator showing where to attach the charge wire.



Wrap them in split wire loom so it looks purty (optional)

 

Thanks Chris! It's always nice to see what others have done. Any benefit in add additional motor grounding straps?

What gauge wire is recommended?

 

Use the B+ on the Alternator with and adequate wire size to power accessories through Relays on a separate power distribution bar for accessory lighting.

I don't know how much you plan on adding. But, a few years ago we had five Ambulances with the 6.0's which were killing the Batteries and dimming Headlamps, dropping the Volt Meters below 12 VDC periodically (ford shipped the chassis to the ambulance body manufacturer who in turn sublet the electrical install for components).

After several (more than a few tickets for the same thing), we called the Ambulance Manufacture who put us in touch with the electrical company who sent us a engineer schematic of their install. It was a basic supply with low voltage relay switching from a separate power distribution bar.

The problem which fixed all was that the main wire feeding the lights was attached to the Battery + Post.

The drawing showed it attached to the B+ of the alternator. We moved the wire (cut off about 36") on one and returned it. There was no additional problems. So, we did the other four. Haven't seen them for that problem since.

The only thing we could figure it was easier for the install technician to attach it to the battery with a long cable rather than the Alternator Post with a short cable.

 

Nice write up! Such a simple mod.