Amp cutting out, power issues, please help!

[grandam888 10+ year member]

I have a rockford t1500d, does 1500 rms @ 2ohm bridged I am running a FI Q 15" (1000rms)sub with dual 1 ohm coils wired in series for a 2 ohm load. I have all zero gauge wire ran from battery to amp.

First off, my amp bumps the sub hella hard, but the issue is when i turn it up it bumps for about 5-10 seconds then starts cutting out. My jeep Cherokee has a voltage gauge built in to the gauge cluster, i can watch it drop from around 14 volts to 10-11 volts as it hits, right when it hits about 10-11 volts it cuts out.

I know, that obviously i am having power issues. This amp is a monster and fuse rating on amp is 250 amps, so i know that @ 1500 watts rms i am pulling around 100-110 amps, that's just rms i am sure its pulling in the ballpark of 200 amps. This is not including the headlights, radio etc. so i am far exceeding the output of my alternator.

i am also afraid i will blow my amp from repeatedly starving it of power.

the issue here is not that i don't know i have a power issue, but what would be the best way to conquer it.

I am thinking a 250 amp alternator and a kinetik energy battery in the trunk, and checking big three and upgrading to 4 or 2 gauge wire as necessary.

All help is appreciated.

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[daboyfrumdabx 10+ year member]

You're going to fry your amp. DO NOT let voltage get that low. You need to fix your electrical asap. First off get to a local parts store and have them load test your alt and battery, they'll do this for free. Check all stock connections and the big3 and make sure all connections are clean and free from corrosion. 250A alt and kinetic in the back will certainly help, just make sure your starting battery is in decent shape also. I had power issues at one point, but I still needed to bump for more than 10 seconds, so I'd say either your alt or current batt are pretty close to their end. 4 ga. and 2ga. wire are smaller than 1/0. Now if you're talking 2/0 or 4/0, then that's an improvement, but that will be overkill for 250A of draw.

Do what you gotta do, in the meantime, keep the amp off.

 

[grandam888 10+ year member]

thanks for the reply, my battery is new, and my alternator has served me well outside of this new amplifier. so since i am buying a 250 amp alternator, i will leave the stock one be.

thanks for the advice and letting me know my suspicions were correct about a potential disaster with blowing my amp. i just bought the thing, and upon buying it, knew i couldn't push it. this thing eats power. i just didn't think it would be this bad.

i guess i will hook my old planet audio bb650.1 back up till i can afford the alternator. also, if you have any good websites for alternators, etc. let me know.

thanks

 

[daboyfrumdabx 10+ year member]

Not sure what you're looking for in terms of price. Here's a few though:

-On the cheap end is dbelectrical. They seem to have a few lower powered options for the Cherokee. No one will touch their prices, but they're generally lower power and their quality is sometimes questioned.

-Mechman seems to be leading competitor in the alt world at this point in time from what I've been seeing. Their site is undergoing construction, so you'll have to call. Prices are good.

-Irragi disappeared for a while but they appear to be back. Expensive but worth looking into. Site is also being worked on, you may have to call.

-DC Power. I don't think I've ever read of one of their alts failing or not meeting expectations(not saying it hasn't happened though). However, their customer service seems to have taken a spill. Many people have waited months(sometimes lots of months) for their alt to arrive. Difficult to get in touch with. People local to them seem to have their alts the next day. Take that as you wish.

-Excessive Amperage. You'll have to give them a call or email to find out your options. You will get a response from Nate, the owner. It's basically a one man show. Prices are a little steep in comparison to other companies but through my journey of looking for an alt, my customer service experience was best from him. Once again, he takes the orders and builds the alts. It'll probably take a little longer but if you have an issue, you immediately deal with him. Chances are I'll be buying from him