Can my stock 2004 Civic EX alternator handle 1000w RMS?

CG Kid

Junior Member
I recently ordered 2 rockford P2D2-12" subs and a box. They can handle 1600w RMS, but I was only planning to run 1000w. It's hard to find specs, but from what I gather my stock 2004 Civic EX has a 70a alternator. Will this handle 1000w rms or should I go for a lower watt amp (if so what's the most I can safely get away with?) also, if I do overpower the alternator what would be the effects? I know the lights flicker, would that only be with the system turned up? Does it threaten to damage the car?

I found a 140 amp alternator for my car that's $200. If I purchase this, would I have to get a upgraded battery as well? I'd really prefer not to spend more money on this project, I want good strong SPL but not to where the listening experience is unpleasant and neighbors call the cops :p. I mainly listen to hip hop and metal. I've never done car work before, the youtube videos seem simple enough, do you think someone with no experience with working on cars can install it themselves? The local shops want a lot of coin to install it, and most refuse using outside parts so they want 3-400 for just the parts. Anyways, let me know what your thoughts are.

Thank you!

 
Those subs are not 800 rms per. You don't have to use all the power a amp has. That's called headroom and leaves a bit of power for dynamics. If you trust yourself in knowing you can and will tune it right a bigger amps is great. If you don't than its not good for you.

 
I'm having a local shop install for me they have great reviews and are very reasonable, I'm assuming that they can tune the amp but will be sure to ask. I haven't ordered the amp yet, so ordering a higher power amp and having it tuned to put out less watts is a better option then ordering a lower power amp and maxing it out?

 
A 70 amp alternator can deliver 980 W RMS total to the entire system. (70a x 14v = 980 W).

If this is a daily driver you won't be actually using anything close to that.

 
You have 2 dual 2 ohm subs, so you'll be running the amp at 2 ohms, at which point you're getting about 500W RMS. So you don't need a new alt. If you do upgrade, I think they build alts over 200A for that car.

 
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