Can my alternator handle the system I'm about to put in?

[tgraham09]

I have a 2001 Toyota Corolla. I'm almost positive the alternator is 80 amps.

Currently installed I have an Alpine idax303 HU with a 45x4 in line "power block" alpine amp hooked up to 4 alpine type r speakers (2) 5 1/4in and (2) 6.5in.

I recently bought 2 12" Kicker L5s in the factory box wired down to 2 ohms final impedance. Once I get my amp (Rockford Fosgate T1000-1bdCP) and a wiring kit in a few weeks I will be putting the subs and amp in. The L5s are 600 wattsRMS each for a total of 1200watts RMS. The amp is rated at 1000rms at 2 ohms but since its a rockford it will put out probably 1100-1200.

This is my first system and Ive been working hard to find good deals on all my equipment. Im not educated though in how all of this electrical works so I have no idea whether this alternator is going to be able to handle all of this or not. Please let me know whats going to happen when I put all of this in.

Thanks!

 

[Phoenix Risen]

using 1/0 for the big three is about more than just the amps it will carry, the larger wire will have less resistance with the juice flowing. so it will actually help a bit.

 

[Chriszle]

It might make a tiny difference, but at 80 amps the voltage isn't going to drop that much in that short of wire either way. Now if it was a 320 amp alt. then you would be looking at 4x the voltage drop in the same length of wire, which may come up to be a more noticable number.

Edit: Just for piece of mind I calculated it out. In a 4 foot run of 4 gauge copper wire with 80 amps of current the voltage will drop .07952V, and that is if he removes the original wire and only uses 4 gauge. With a 4 ft run of 0 gauge copper wire with 80 amps of current the voltage will drop .031456V.

 

[Chriszle]

This is a great site to figure this type of information out, so everyone can do their own calculations. American Wire Gauge table and AWG Electrical Current Load Limits with skin depth frequencies . The formula for voltage drop across a resistor (wire) is pretty easy. Current x Resistance (must be calculated using chart depending on length of wire)=Voltage Drop. Class is dismissed.