Wire hot to the touch

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by kobrabytes

Your wire is to small:

http://www.cerrowire.com/default.aspx?id=46
http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

I run a #8 from my alternator, although #6 would run cooler.

But those numbers are for steady current. My amp gauge, like most of our cars, shows its highest current right after starting the car while it's charging the battery -- and even then it's under 20 amps and only for a relatively short while. If your amp gauge is reading consistently over 5 amps all the time then you have a problem. The amperage running through the charging wire is usually very low almost all the time.

Afterthought -- The hghest amperage might be hit though when the fans are still running after the engine has been turned off.