battery question

[adevster8]

i have a coach bus which has 2 stock batteries with 370 amp hours. does that mean i still need an alternator if i am putting 3000+ watts of power in the bus.

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[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

the bus already has an alternator, your next step is to figure out how much output it has at idle and high RPM.

then take the amplifiers into consideration (is 3,000 a RMS or Peak value).

do you plan on cranking music while the bus is parked and idling or parked and off?

the alternator is responsible for powering the vehicle and charging the batteries. as you add load to the system, power needs to come from somewhere.

 

[adevster8]

probably not stopped and off but definitely stopped and on. 3,000-4,000 RMS i was told i needed to upgrade my alternator but i just realized how large this buses batteries are and might not need it anymore. But i might still get another one just to be on the safe side.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

probably not stopped and off but definitely stopped and on. 3,000-4,000 RMS i was told i needed to upgrade my alternator but i just realized how large this buses batteries are and might not need it anymore. But i might still get another one just to be on the safe side.

Batteries do not make power only store it. If they don't have anything to store what do you think happens? This is a big project and honestly I don't think you know what you are getting into.

 

[adevster8]

lol thats why im on here, ford fusion....im obviously not gonna install it myself and already have a sound guy and electrician. And yes i know the electrical system is going to be upgraded far beyond whats in there. I'm jus asking to get an idea how much power I can put into it

 

[brian84corvette 10+ year member]

factor in what the viechle uses to run - ac / blower motors / winshield wipers / headlights / computer engine managment systems all of it / spark plug electrical / turn signals / bla bla / overhead lighting / auxilary lighting it ads up fast.

when i started my suburban build i was hoping to keep the stock 120 amp alternator and just use a few batterys

but

like said above - the batterys only store reserve power - once thats used up its gone - meaning the viechle wont start lol

its much better of an idea to have power on tap. there is a guy named something like robert the demo buss jacki or something like that

he has a bus with a multiple alternator setup that runs off of something else entirely under the bus to make electrical needs for what it does.

a single custom made bad to the bone alternator is going to cost you 6 to 700 new - vs the cost of fabrication of multiple alternator mounting brackets and belt figuring out to mount multiple stock type alternators on the engine... it ends up being about the same in my opinion either way.

i went with a single singer alternators "hair pin" 6 phase large case gm alt internaly regulated its a monster. charges at 14.8 to 15.0 volts and works awesome for what i do with it.