A new alternator or a trunk battery

[The_Grimy_One 10+ year member]

Ok, so I have a 2003 Dodge Neon SE and I am deciding whether I should upgrade my alternator or put a battery in my trunk. The alternator I will be upgrading to is a stock 120 amp PT Cruiser alternator. Yes I know, only 120 amps, but my stock is only 85 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif So this would be a quite an upgrade. My system will be drawing around 1500 watts, maybe a little more, of course this is with perfect electrical. My other option is add a battery to the back, some kind of smaller AGM, since I already have a yellow top up-front. Which would be more beneficial? Should I do one, and then later do the other? What are some good, small-ish AGM batteries for the trunk? And do I just run it in parallel with the front battery?

Thanks for your help.

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[benzmansl65amg 10+ year member]

alt

 

---------- Post added at 10:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:37 PM ----------

 

then battery

 

[The_Grimy_One 10+ year member]

alt 

---------- Post added at 10:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:37 PM ----------

 

then battery

Ok, thanks. Ideas on a batt?

 

[i2ain2thunder 10+ year member]

Both Alt first

 

[outsideshot23 10+ year member]

alt... lets just close this thread now.. and if anyone says kinetik on the batt im going to take you outside and beat the **** out of you with a bar of soap and a tube sock... and then im going to pistol whip the next person who says shinanigans

 

[The_Grimy_One 10+ year member]

alt... lets just close this thread now.. and if anyone says kinetik on the batt im going to take you outside and beat the **** out of you with a bar of soap and a tube sock... and then im going to pistol whip the next person who says shinanigans

So what batt then? Lol.

 

[ejschultz 10+ year member]

I definitely did my alternator before I thought about putting a second battery in. I actually upgraded my front battery and did the HO alternator and upgrading all of my factory charging/starting and ground wires. I don't plan on adding a battery in the rear unless I upgrade either of my amps.

 

[The_Grimy_One 10+ year member]

I definitely did my alternator before I thought about putting a second battery in. I actually upgraded my front battery and did the HO alternator and upgrading all of my factory charging/starting and ground wires. I don't plan on adding a battery in the rear unless I upgrade either of my amps.

Ok, thanks bro.

 

[i2ain2thunder 10+ year member]

Get a HO and big 3. then when u can upgrade ur battery up front, I like running yellowtops up front and xs,batcaps in the back. but I would buy a HO first most important.

 

[The_Grimy_One 10+ year member]

Get a HO and big 3. then when u can upgrade ur battery up front, I like running yellowtops up front and xs,batcaps in the back. but I would buy a HO first most important.

Sounds good. I have a yellow top up front right now. I have a special plug alternator so its almost impossible to upgrade that wire, but I did upgrade my 6 grounds, (yea my Neon has 6 grounds!).

 

[reallyxxxxloud 10+ year member]

Just the factory 120a will be way more than enough ffs your only running 1500w. But if you want to waste money....

 

[BlactimusCrime 10+ year member]

alt... lets just close this thread now.. and if anyone says kinetik on the batt im going to take you outside and beat the **** out of you with a bar of soap and a tube sock... and then im going to pistol whip the next person who says shinanigans

kinetik hc600 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

shenanigans //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

bring it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/naughty.gif.94359f346c0f1259df8038d60b41863e.gif

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

I agree both. A larger alternator (larger than 120A) would definitely be beneficial, but a bare minimum I think you should get the 120A and another battery.

1500 watts of output, assuming 80% efficiency is 1875 watts drawn from the system. At 14V that's approx 134A.

 

[reallyxxxxloud 10+ year member]

Yeah but we don't drive around with sine waves playing. Music will use 20% of that and only peaks will pull upwards of the 130a's. Well unless hes doing SPL comps but if hes just listening to music that should be enough.

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

Yeah but we don't drive around with sine waves playing. Music will use 20% of that and only peaks will pull upwards of the 130a's.

Anytime those peaks come it will drag the system voltage down which is hard on the alternator and amplifier.