Electrical: What is this wire for?

[ColoradoHawk]

I’m in Wisconsin working on my Dad’s ‘64 Hawk, and he has a wire running from the positive battery terminal running to the alternator. It’s a Powermaster Chrysler like unit that I got him for Christmas many years ago. It has 3 other wires connected to it as well, so I’m not sure what it’s there for. It’s circled in yellow in the photo. Ideas? Also, can I remove it?

[altair]

There were kits available some years ago where as you could connect the alternator in a manner to attain 110 volts to run small drills or a small saw. Some factory trucks (not Studebaker) were contractors models and the alternator was prewired for 110 volts with external plugins.

[ColoradoHawk]

Turns out from doing some research that this wire is there to handle the increased amp rating of the Powermaster alternator which is about 100-125 amps if I remember. The wire my dad put in was about 10 gauge solid wire. I replaced it with 8 gauge stranded.

[StudeRich]

So the charge is not going through the Ammeter? That's got to cause some weird readings on the gauge or none.

[ColoradoHawk]

That explains why my dad took out the ammeter and put in a voltmeter instead.