Quote Originally Posted by mopar_ja View Post
Okay, lets say I'm a duh, duh and (drools). I know enough about electrical you can get little tickle when peeing on a spark plug. But, i also know there is a direct correlation between, gauge of wire, its resistance, and amount of voltage. the whole E-R-I thing. I want to know is there a formula to say if you have this much [ ? ] voltage = [ ? ] gauge of lead. exp: Say i have stock alt. 55 amp i should have this gauge of leads, then say i modify in a 135 amp. should i have this gauge of lead.
A AWG 10 OR 8 wire is what the ALt has. It's enough for 200Amp. You wont over load the wire. Now if it's some AWG 22 like the head lights have then I would worry about it. Electricity is lazy it will only push as many AMP as needed. As Voltage comes up the current / AMPs goes down.
When you crank the truck and it starts is the only time your going to put any strain on the Alt. It needs to charge the battery back up. Now turn on the head lights and that adds in a couple of more amp. But it's the battery that takes the most.
That's why a loose belt will sequel like a pig just after you start a car.
Then after a second or two they quiet down. That's because the large mp draw is gone.

Then you get into radio and a speaker will use a 24 or smaller. Unless you have one of them system where you like to crack the windshield glass your never going to use enough power to warrant going larger. Or you just want to go def.
If you need to turn the radio up past 1/2 then your truck must have a rod knock, LOL