Alt or Battery first?

[Davecubs14 10+ year member]

I'm about to upgrade my system a little more. Gonna run around 1500-1800 watts. Which should I upgrade first, the alternator or the battery? I have a 500 amp battery and a 105 amp alt.

For batteries, I was looking at the kinetik 1800 or something along those lines(or whatever I could fit in my car).

For alt. I was looking at the 160 amp alt. over at knukonceptz, it's only 225......is that a good price? Or can I get something cheaper and better?

- David

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[analyzenterpris 10+ year member]

I put a yellow top in my car yesterday. Before I did it my car was cutting off frequently...Now that I have the yellow top I get less dimming and things just run smoother. I also have shitty wiring throughout my vehicle and I have no BIG 3.

 

[thegreatestpenn 5,000+ posts]

if u have the money do the alt. if ur strapped for cash do a battery

 

[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

Do the battery first and an easy cheap upgrade is doing the big3, which I would do in your case for the RMS you will be running.

There is a thread in the wiring section on how to do it.

If that don't help and like Penn said, then do the alty.

225 is cheap for an aftermarket alty, but never heard anybody using Knu's site to get one. I know they do it, just haven't heard of anyone going that route.

I paid 400 sum dollars for my 200amp alty from Ohio generators years ago.

 

[snoopdan 5,000+ posts]

Battery first. Hell even a large wet battery from walmart with high CCA would be better than nothing.

 

[WOT]

For less than 2000rms I wouldnt even worry about an alternator man, I also have a 110amp alt and my car handles 2500rms and voltage never dips below 12.0

BUT, I do have a blue top under the hood, and the big 3 done.

Battery and big 3 gets my vote, alternator later down the road when/if you upgrade

 

[snb778 5,000+ posts]

if you do a batt first, and you still get dimming, you better do the ALT quick because its just going to kill your battery if you don't

 

[Davecubs14 10+ year member]

Thanks guys. I've already done the big 3 in 0 gauge wires a while ago.

Looks like battery wins. I'm just going to get one big one up front and see if I need another one after that. thanks.