220a Alt... STILL getting voltage drops! WTF?!

[audioarsonal 10+ year member]

Yeah but that doesn't mean he doesn't require a smaller one.

 

[ProgMtl 10+ year member]

couldn't get much smaller than the one that came with mine...if he's running 3200 watts a 220amp alt isn't enough to begin with

 

[Andrew12 10+ year member]

couldn't get much smaller than the one that came with mine...if he's running 3200 watts a 220amp alt isn't enough to begin with

Why do people run 5k daily on 180 amp alts EVERY day?

You needs more than just your stock battery if you're getting the voltage drops and running the power you are. The alt is plenty, just upgrade your stock battery and throw a big one in the rear.

 

[audioarsonal 10+ year member]

Yeah you can get smaller then the 2" that comes standard on all HO alts.Its probably not an issue at driving speeds with the alt at 2000 engine RPM.If so then the alt is plenty its the low idle that is causeing trouble.Smaller pulley will solve that.

 

[ProgMtl 10+ year member]

not everyone has room or the needs for all kinds of extra batteries...he could've dropped another $100 and bought a 300amp alt. and had no need for an extra battery.

I have only a Red Top under the hood and I get no voltage drops at all...extra batteries are a little over-rated IMO

 

[audioarsonal 10+ year member]

Bullshit even with my 300a alt a 1 battery won't do the job playing music at full to 3/4 volume.

 

[ProgMtl 10+ year member]

well all I can say is from my experience (my systems only) I've never had a dimming or voltage drop issue with only 1 battery...including running the A/C almost all the time

 

[Andrew12 10+ year member]

not everyone has room or the needs for all kinds of extra batteries...he could've dropped another $100 and bought a 300amp alt. and had no need for an extra battery.
I have only a Red Top under the hood and I get no voltage drops at all...extra batteries are a little over-rated IMO

You're running 2k rms and they're sundown amps at that... He's doing 3200w with who knows what amps. I installed 2 1500's w/ a zapco 75.4 in my friends explorer and his stock 130 amp alt held up great and ran daily w/ minimal voltage drops, 13.2v was the lowest I've seen at full tilt after a few songs. O and this was all on a stinger 800 as his starter battery as well //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

My point is dont listen to what this guy is telling you.

 

[ProgMtl 10+ year member]

what does the sundown amps have to do with anything?

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

1500D's seem to be pretty efficient amps. I ran 2 of them with a stock alt and good battey up front and back and NO voltage drops.

He still hasn't said if it's dropping at idle or with the engine reved up. I'd drop in a good batt up front and if that doesn't stop it, then another in back...

 

[ProgMtl 10+ year member]

I must say that I'm happier with the Sundowns then I've been with any other amps...I run the SAZ-1500D at full tilt @ 1ohm and it doesn't even get past a little warm.

 

[ProgMtl 10+ year member]

Just wish I had more room behind the seat for another one.

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

first things first...

1) even with a 220a alt, of course you're going to get voltage drops. alts will put out their rated power at 12.6v or so. so when you're alt is trying to keep up and dumping power, you will see voltages around 12.6, thats completely normal. voltage drops are not a bad thing, they are normal. people treat them like they are an oddity that shouldn't happen (would be great if they didnt though lol). the only time they are bad, is when that component you have doesn't like low voltage.

2) HO alts produce current just fine at idle assuming they use good parts. i see people claiming this all the time. its simply not true if you have a decent quality alternator. this doest start to pertain to alts though that are in like the 300 amp range. some of them do have shitty idle amps buts thats just the nature of the huge alts. a good quality 220A alt should have no problems with shitty output at idle. btw...i REALLY doubt the 175A figure at idle...

3) you need to check your voltage coming from the alternator at idle (just check at the battery). if the voltage is less than about 13.8-14.4 (assuming you're alternator isnt regulated to less by one of the cars computers) then you need to address that first. check to see if when you slightly rev it up to 1k or so, does the voltage jump back up to what it should be. if so, you need to either A)get a smaller pulley B) up your idle speed a tad just to get it over the threshold C) give that shit back and buy another one if neither helps enough.

4) if number 3 isnt the issue, you need to have the alt benched to see if it actually does rated power

5) if the alt does rated power, but you still have this issue, check you're wiring

 

[Chode69 10+ year member]

what wrong with 14.3 volts...still really good

 

[ProgMtl 10+ year member]

nothing wrong with 14.3 volts...I'm not the one complaining about voltage issues