Alternator to Starting Motor

[tommin]

I have realized there is no direct cable from my starter motor to alternator? I have a live feed grouped cables (RED x5) running from my Batt Pos Terminal, one goes to the alternator, the remainder are then joined in a block just short of the starter motor with then just one lead joining on to the starter?






Welcome any advice or views on this.
Tom

[AdrianC]

Not really an issue. The alternator doesn't really need to be directly connected to the starter - it's just usually the most convenient way of doing it, especially when the battery's the other end of the vehicle.

So long as you've got a good stout permanently live connection between battery and alternator, capable of carrying up to 90A (or whatever capacity alternator you have), then everything's good.

The same goes for the starter, but capable of taking even higher current - could easily be 200A or so.

[itchyfeet]

alternator charges the battery so does not need to connct to starter, it does normally as just a convienient way of connecting to the battery via the starter

those 4 single cables to the starter are not ideal, if some become disconnected for any reason the remaining could get very hot melting the insulation and then could catch fire, also are they double insulated under the vehicle?

standard (70mm2 I think?) cable has very thick insulation to protect it, if one shorts to the body due to insulation getting damaged again could cause a fire.

maybe try and pick up a cable from a scrapped van?

[tommin]

Okay that is good news to my ears thanks gents, i will do a double check and probably renew some cables before the summer so they will be added to the list