Upgrade The Big 3 - The Ford Focus Forum

**MillerTime** · 10-24-2009, 07:28 PM

I still have the stock wiring on my battery and I think it is causing a lot of dimming issues and idle problems (The cable looks fairly bad, the insulation is pealing off and cracked at the battery and a little corroded).

Question is what is the recommended size of wire to replace the cables with? I have some 4 Gauge power wire laying around and wanted to know if that would suffice. Or if I am going through the effort should I go with a 2 Gauge cable?

I don't have any kind of system or other type of electrical equipment that requires a large current draw if that matters...

**FordFociSHO** · 10-26-2009, 06:09 PM

Bigger the better far as grounds go.
The 4AWG is fine.

Use --> http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/am...uge-d_730.html to figure what the minimum size you'd need is.

**ROC585** · 10-26-2009, 06:24 PM

i used 1/0 for mine and personally wouldn't use anything less, but i am running 2k RMS for audio. however, you said you don't have a stereo, what are you using that has a high enough draw to cause dimming and idle issues?

**FordFociSHO** · 10-26-2009, 06:44 PM

^The ECU controls the voltage regulator. When resistance becomes too high the regulator control can become irregular or response can become slow.

Generally a good cleaning is all most need, but upgrading isn't going to hurt anything, especially if the stock wiring is deteriorated as the OP's is.

**MillerTime** · 10-27-2009, 08:37 AM

I think its due to the positive wires looking like crap, I might post a picture up latter of it. I would like to get back into the sound system deal but there are no dB drag comp. out in the Utah area.

I use to have a 3K RMS with 3-12" aulm subs and took 2nd place all the time in the street B class.... but that was back in 2003.

I mostly get frustrated because my lights dim more often then they should. I do have a SCT tune to turn the alt off at WOT but even past that my lights dimm down during mild acceleration (my guess is the way the cables look and with a small amount of shifting from a yellow top optima in a stock tray, is the cause). So by getting some new copper in and making the lengths a little longer for the taller battery things will be fine.

ROC585, where did you get your cable? I had 3/0 for power wire when I had my system (was in another focus and 5 years ago so no longer have it) and got that from a welding supply place online but ordered in lengths of 25' or more. Where are some good places that might have some high quality flexible 1/0 gauge wire?

**ROC585** · 10-27-2009, 11:52 AM

i personally buy everything from the shop i am associated with. all my power distribution is tsunami premium grade. i love everything they make.

as far as flexibility, quality copper and proper gauging goes, rockford, tsunami and knukonceptz are all top notch. rockford is easily the most flexible and knukonceptz is the cheapest (you can purchase directly from them).
stay away from monster cable. that stuff is more difficult to work with than welding cable.

www.knukonceptz.com try them out. great wire, and great distribution accessories. hint: check out their compression fittings. they make termination a breeze.

**ROC585** · 10-27-2009, 12:38 PM

also, i just noticed you are using a yellow top. those are not meant to be a starting battery. just something to consider as that may not be helping your situation.

**MillerTime** · 10-27-2009, 05:48 PM

the yellow top is fine, I have a red top in my jeep and the yellow in the foci, and I can't tell a difference when starting or running. The yellow top is also left over from the dB drag days.....

I will check out that company. thanks!

**ROC585** · 10-27-2009, 06:37 PM

just mentioning that about the yellow top because people are having major issues with them as starting batteries, but that's with the newer ones. if yours is from your DBDrag days, then it's from when optima still made a good product.

**MillerTime** · 10-27-2009, 08:10 PM

yea, the battery is on the older side, got it in 2003 I believe.

After looking at the www.knukonceptz.com web site they have a lot of good stuff at a good price.

How many feet are needed for the swap? 20 feet for Positive? 10 Feet for Neg?

**ROC585** · 10-28-2009, 11:13 AM

i think 10ft total will be more than enough. also, getting new batt terminals that have multiple ports for large gauge wire will make the job much easier.

**MillerTime** · 10-28-2009, 08:06 PM

I was looking at their KonFused battery terminals that will take in 3 x 1/0 gauge wire. I have a gheto riged negative terminal and a stock positive terminal, so I will need a new one regardless of wire size.

I gues the best way to find out how much I need os to just get off my butt and measure what's currently their.

**FordFociSHO** · 10-29-2009, 04:27 PM

I'm going to have to go see what this stuff looks like, but the price is very nice --> http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...5X-_-100341115

**ROC585** · 10-29-2009, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FordFociSHO

I'm going to have to go see what this stuff looks like, but the price is very nice --> http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...5X-_-100341115

that's only rated for 125 amps which is a safe load for 4awg cable.

here's a link with a true 4awg (150 amp max current carrying capability) cable going for 1.35 a foot which would be $68 for 50ft. much cheaper than that welding cable and it's better.

http://www.knukonceptz.com/productMa...lossus%20Kable

**FordFociSHO** · 10-30-2009, 06:02 PM

^125 @ 50' length and 30% duty cycle. That means maximum rating is about 225 amps at 50'.
You have to remember the rated amperage is based on resistance per foot.

**ROC585** · 11-01-2009, 01:10 PM

^it pays to read everything

10-24-2009, 07:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
MillerTime TEAM Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sandy, UT Posts: 712	Upgrade The Big 3 I still have the stock wiring on my battery and I think it is causing a lot of dimming issues and idle problems (The cable looks fairly bad, the insulation is pealing off and cracked at the battery and a little corroded). Question is what is the recommended size of wire to replace the cables with? I have some 4 Gauge power wire laying around and wanted to know if that would suffice. Or if I am going through the effort should I go with a 2 Gauge cable? I don't have any kind of system or other type of electrical equipment that requires a large current draw if that matters... __________________ 2001 ZX3 2.0L Zetec (On it's second life)- Motor - SVT Header, SVT High Flow Cat, SVT Flex pipe, SVT MagnaFlow CatBack, IceMan intake tube, FS coolflow Air Intake, FC 65 mm TB, Screamin' Deamon Coil & wires, FS 91 Octane Tune Trany - Steeda Tri-Ax/f shifter with RS shift knob, FS Alum Flywheel, Luk Gold Clutch, F2 TurnKey Tranny with 4.06 gears Suspension - FS Strut Bars, Eibach Sway bars, Koni Sport Kit, VF rear engine mount, LCR Camber Plates

10-26-2009, 06:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
FordFociSHO Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Minnesota, Darwin Posts: 1,829	Re: Upgrade The Big 3 Bigger the better far as grounds go. The 4AWG is fine. Use --> http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/am...uge-d_730.html to figure what the minimum size you'd need is.

10-26-2009, 06:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
ROC585 TEAM Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 186	Re: Upgrade The Big 3 i used 1/0 for mine and personally wouldn't use anything less, but i am running 2k RMS for audio. however, you said you don't have a stereo, what are you using that has a high enough draw to cause dimming and idle issues? __________________ www.powerbassusa.com Have a common sense question?

10-26-2009, 06:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
FordFociSHO Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Minnesota, Darwin Posts: 1,829	Re: Upgrade The Big 3 ^The ECU controls the voltage regulator. When resistance becomes too high the regulator control can become irregular or response can become slow. Generally a good cleaning is all most need, but upgrading isn't going to hurt anything, especially if the stock wiring is deteriorated as the OP's is.

10-27-2009, 08:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
MillerTime TEAM Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sandy, UT Posts: 712	Re: Upgrade The Big 3 I think its due to the positive wires looking like crap, I might post a picture up latter of it. I would like to get back into the sound system deal but there are no dB drag comp. out in the Utah area. I use to have a 3K RMS with 3-12" aulm subs and took 2nd place all the time in the street B class.... but that was back in 2003. I mostly get frustrated because my lights dim more often then they should. I do have a SCT tune to turn the alt off at WOT but even past that my lights dimm down during mild acceleration (my guess is the way the cables look and with a small amount of shifting from a yellow top optima in a stock tray, is the cause). So by getting some new copper in and making the lengths a little longer for the taller battery things will be fine. ROC585, where did you get your cable? I had 3/0 for power wire when I had my system (was in another focus and 5 years ago so no longer have it) and got that from a welding supply place online but ordered in lengths of 25' or more. Where are some good places that might have some high quality flexible 1/0 gauge wire? __________________ 2001 ZX3 2.0L Zetec (On it's second life)- Motor - SVT Header, SVT High Flow Cat, SVT Flex pipe, SVT MagnaFlow CatBack, IceMan intake tube, FS coolflow Air Intake, FC 65 mm TB, Screamin' Deamon Coil & wires, FS 91 Octane Tune Trany - Steeda Tri-Ax/f shifter with RS shift knob, FS Alum Flywheel, Luk Gold Clutch, F2 TurnKey Tranny with 4.06 gears Suspension - FS Strut Bars, Eibach Sway bars, Koni Sport Kit, VF rear engine mount, LCR Camber Plates

10-27-2009, 11:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
ROC585 TEAM Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 186	Re: Upgrade The Big 3 i personally buy everything from the shop i am associated with. all my power distribution is tsunami premium grade. i love everything they make. as far as flexibility, quality copper and proper gauging goes, rockford, tsunami and knukonceptz are all top notch. rockford is easily the most flexible and knukonceptz is the cheapest (you can purchase directly from them). stay away from monster cable. that stuff is more difficult to work with than welding cable. www.knukonceptz.com try them out. great wire, and great distribution accessories. hint: check out their compression fittings. they make termination a breeze. __________________ www.powerbassusa.com Have a common sense question?

10-27-2009, 12:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
ROC585 TEAM Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 186	Re: Upgrade The Big 3 also, i just noticed you are using a yellow top. those are not meant to be a starting battery. just something to consider as that may not be helping your situation. __________________ www.powerbassusa.com Have a common sense question?

10-27-2009, 05:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
MillerTime TEAM Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sandy, UT Posts: 712	Re: Upgrade The Big 3 the yellow top is fine, I have a red top in my jeep and the yellow in the foci, and I can't tell a difference when starting or running. The yellow top is also left over from the dB drag days..... I will check out that company. thanks! __________________ 2001 ZX3 2.0L Zetec (On it's second life)- Motor - SVT Header, SVT High Flow Cat, SVT Flex pipe, SVT MagnaFlow CatBack, IceMan intake tube, FS coolflow Air Intake, FC 65 mm TB, Screamin' Deamon Coil & wires, FS 91 Octane Tune Trany - Steeda Tri-Ax/f shifter with RS shift knob, FS Alum Flywheel, Luk Gold Clutch, F2 TurnKey Tranny with 4.06 gears Suspension - FS Strut Bars, Eibach Sway bars, Koni Sport Kit, VF rear engine mount, LCR Camber Plates

10-27-2009, 06:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
ROC585 TEAM Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 186	Re: Upgrade The Big 3 just mentioning that about the yellow top because people are having major issues with them as starting batteries, but that's with the newer ones. if yours is from your DBDrag days, then it's from when optima still made a good product. __________________ www.powerbassusa.com Have a common sense question?

10-27-2009, 08:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
MillerTime TEAM Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sandy, UT Posts: 712	Re: Upgrade The Big 3 yea, the battery is on the older side, got it in 2003 I believe. After looking at the www.knukonceptz.com web site they have a lot of good stuff at a good price. How many feet are needed for the swap? 20 feet for Positive? 10 Feet for Neg? __________________ 2001 ZX3 2.0L Zetec (On it's second life)- Motor - SVT Header, SVT High Flow Cat, SVT Flex pipe, SVT MagnaFlow CatBack, IceMan intake tube, FS coolflow Air Intake, FC 65 mm TB, Screamin' Deamon Coil & wires, FS 91 Octane Tune Trany - Steeda Tri-Ax/f shifter with RS shift knob, FS Alum Flywheel, Luk Gold Clutch, F2 TurnKey Tranny with 4.06 gears Suspension - FS Strut Bars, Eibach Sway bars, Koni Sport Kit, VF rear engine mount, LCR Camber Plates

10-28-2009, 11:13 AM	#11 (permalink)
ROC585 TEAM Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 186	Re: Upgrade The Big 3 i think 10ft total will be more than enough. also, getting new batt terminals that have multiple ports for large gauge wire will make the job much easier. __________________ www.powerbassusa.com Have a common sense question?

10-28-2009, 08:06 PM	#12 (permalink)
MillerTime TEAM Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sandy, UT Posts: 712	Re: Upgrade The Big 3 I was looking at their KonFused battery terminals that will take in 3 x 1/0 gauge wire. I have a gheto riged negative terminal and a stock positive terminal, so I will need a new one regardless of wire size. I gues the best way to find out how much I need os to just get off my butt and measure what's currently their. __________________ 2001 ZX3 2.0L Zetec (On it's second life)- Motor - SVT Header, SVT High Flow Cat, SVT Flex pipe, SVT MagnaFlow CatBack, IceMan intake tube, FS coolflow Air Intake, FC 65 mm TB, Screamin' Deamon Coil & wires, FS 91 Octane Tune Trany - Steeda Tri-Ax/f shifter with RS shift knob, FS Alum Flywheel, Luk Gold Clutch, F2 TurnKey Tranny with 4.06 gears Suspension - FS Strut Bars, Eibach Sway bars, Koni Sport Kit, VF rear engine mount, LCR Camber Plates

10-29-2009, 04:27 PM	#13 (permalink)
FordFociSHO Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Minnesota, Darwin Posts: 1,829	Re: Upgrade The Big 3 I'm going to have to go see what this stuff looks like, but the price is very nice --> http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...5X-_-100341115

10-30-2009, 06:02 PM	#15 (permalink)
FordFociSHO Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Minnesota, Darwin Posts: 1,829	Re: Upgrade The Big 3 ^125 @ 50' length and 30% duty cycle. That means maximum rating is about 225 amps at 50'. You have to remember the rated amperage is based on resistance per foot.

11-01-2009, 01:10 PM	#16 (permalink)
ROC585 TEAM Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 186	Re: Upgrade The Big 3 ^it pays to read everything __________________ www.powerbassusa.com Have a common sense question?

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