Biggest battery to fit my 81 Caddy?

[8v-of-fury]

Lots of older American stuff routed the full charging current of the alternator through an in-dash ammeter (Chrysler stuff in particular)... So there definitely have been quite a few vehicles manufactured where his statement would be 100% accurate.

I didn't take those in to account, however I do not believe that was what he was talking about either.

Furthermore, how could upping the alternators ability to produce a higher amperage damage that wiring? The in car components are not all of a sudden pulling more amperage, and causing more amperage to pulled through the ammeter .

Just because the car has a higher amperage alternator does not mean all of that amperage is going through the ammeter does it?

[8v-of-fury]

I guess the only problem is now the alternator may want to push more amps to the hungry battery..

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

If I want to make my own battery cables, what are good ends and where to buy them for the battery terminals. I want ones that can be crimped and soldered. I have some MIL spec aircraft grade 2 or 3 AWG cables that should work well.

[ToddA1]

Just because the car has a higher amperage alternator does not mean all of that amperage is going through the ammeter does it?

No.  Whatever accessories are behind an ammeter (or no ammeter) will still draw the normal amount, that its able to.

Having a higher amperage alternator just means more accessories may be run simultaneously it overtaxing the alternator.

-Todd

[8v-of-fury]

Right. You could turn on all the accessories from factory and not fry the wiring, so unless you add more draw.. a bigger alt isn't going to fry anything. Except maybe because of the battery now being able to pull a bigger load if it was drained down.

If I drain my battery down for whatever reason, my 120A alt charges it back up in short order. Awessomee.

[DogDiesel]

1.9TD AAZ with Serpentine in 81 Caddy.

I replaced all my cables with welding cable (actually huge wire from junk NATO Army Slave cables) and used copper "00" soldier ends.
Then fabricated a ground strap from engine/tranny to body of same.
That ended my flashing glow-plug light symptoms. 
Plus I use only AGM batteries, no corrosion anymore.  My God, she cranks.

Just wired my LED headlamps with relays and 10 Gage to relay and HL.

WOW! EWwhat lights!

I now convert all my diesels to this big battery cable and run only AGM.  If you are going to keep her (my Caddy) longterm, AGM pays off.
Here in VA, you are rust free for the most part. And she's rust free.

"00" (@ 13mm - 1/2" ends, bare wire size is 11mm -7/16".  Pretty big ends.  Buy WELDING cable ends.

Wayne

If I want to make my own battery cables, what are good ends and where to buy them for the battery terminals. I want ones that can be crimped and soldered. I have some MIL spec aircraft grade 2 or 3 AWG cables that should work well.

[hillfolk'r]

This is an awesome website. All kinds of good stuff i have reffered to for years

http://www.madelectrical.com/catalog/tm-1.shtml

http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/howitworks.shtml

Oh,btw i dont recommend ammeters. Ever seen one catch on fire?
Yea when i was in tech school i read an article in car craft about it. I told my buddy who had a cutlass with an ammeter in it. He laughed. Well a week later he wasnt laughing when i was riding shotgun and smoke rolled out from under the dash. Yup the ammeter took a crap. We reacted fast and pulled the + off the battery. Then we rigged the charge lead without the ammeter to get us home. He said he woulda never believed it if i didnt tell him.

[GEE-BEE]

Custombatterycables.com

http://www.custombatterycables.com/

best battery, iam running a 1800 amp

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kinetik-HC1800-KHC1800-1900-Amp-12V-High-Current-Car-Audio-Power-Cell-Battery-/360656881409?pt=US_Car_Audio_Video_Capacitors&hash=item53f8d34701&vxp=mtr

very small

cnc mount can be welded in place

[Gizmoman]

If I want to make my own battery cables, what are good ends and where to buy them for the battery terminals. I want ones that can be crimped and soldered. I have some MIL spec aircraft grade 2 or 3 AWG cables that should work well.

http://www.delcity.net/
Best prices I have found anywhere.
Just ordered four #6 solder terminals and a covered fuse holder for my glow-plug pimp job. They have serious crimping tools as well but I'm going to stay with solder only. I figure if the lug gets too hot for solder alone, something is wrong with the circuit.