current drain and alternator stress

[angryrhyno]

Hi, I am currently fitting a system in my mk 3 Supra. On the Supra forum i go on , they say the alternator will not handle any large system. I'm going to be running 2x 300 watt amps and 1x 600watt, plus 2 tv screens. Any ideas how i can get around taxing the alternator so much? Some one suggested fitting a 2nd alternator to run a 2nd battery. Could any one help me with the wiring of that? Cheers for any help.

Russ

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[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

if you can get a bigger alt or get the original beefed up and add a second battery. the video set up wont draw more than 4 amps with 2 screens and 2 dvd players lol

 

[Lakota 5,000+ posts]

Do you know the size of the alternator? I doubt it will be as big of a deal as what they people on that forum said. Check out the Big 3 thread, it would be a nice upgrade for your electrical system and it doesn't cost much.

 

[Johnny Drama 5,000+ posts]

I have a friend here in dallas with a Supra. He had trouble finding a upgraded alt, so he had his rewound to 140amps. He has 3 fosgate 600 watt amps. a 2nd alt would too much of a pain and a 2nd battery would just strain it even more.

 

[kickinaudio 10+ year member]

How does a second battery strain a system more?

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

if both batteries were dead......or low all depends at what point we are talking. when the car is on most of the power comes from the alt and what doesnt get used goes to the batteries. then again say the amp draws more than the alt puts out it then takes it from the battery. when one battery doesnt charge propperly then it would have strain. in reguards to not being crazy to try and run 5000 watts on a 60 amp alt. depending on alt (i stick with older gm and ford though) its relitively cheap to beef up a factory alt and add a second battery for typical street (500-2000 watts) use .. sure you can go "bigger" but bigger also requires better electrical. only time you will hit max draw is with running test tone like material. (yes some rap songs have long bass lines that tax the system heavily but still not to the point of a constant test tone)

 

[kickinaudio 10+ year member]

I've been running two batteries for a year now with no problem (with stock alt). And no, it doesn't strain your system unless you don't have a clue how to wire anything.

Right now I have a Hifonics Goliath "5000w" running off of a small SVR80 (700cca) and my lights don't even blink, don't know why you guys are having issues.

 

[Johnny Drama 5,000+ posts]

I've been running two batteries for a year now with no problem (with stock alt). And no, it doesn't strain your system unless you don't have a clue how to wire anything.
Right now I have a Hifonics Goliath "5000w" running off of a small SVR80 (700cca) and my lights don't even blink, don't know why you guys are having issues.

You must just be special Casey. I know tons of folks that have issues with second batts. I know a few that dont, but they usually have 130+amp stock alts.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

both batteries should be the same or the back smaller. if the back doesnt want to charge correctly and you dont isolate it then yes you are in for a long day. my buddy with a bonneville ran a second battery off his factory alt no issues at all we isolated it and used the same type battery (stinger)

 

[fatboy 10+ year member]

the two batteries = longer battery power if you run them in parallel

 

[NhustlaR 10+ year member]

batts in paralell=higher current, same voltage

batts in series=same current, higher voltage, which bringss me to a ?

NEW THREADDD

 

[forbidden 10+ year member]

Guys, the only reason for a second battery is extended play time with the engine not running or if a isolator is used in conjunction with. Then the second battery is used to drive the audio system, saving the primary battery for vehicle start functions. If the tiny little alternator cannot drive the vehicle with one battery + system, how on earth is it suppost to charge 2 batteries + system? The alternator runs the electrical system when the vehicle is in motion. For the original poster, make the current transfer as efficient as possible first by means of the big 3 and a proper ground. http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?TID=49445&PN=1

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

the battery is power just anything else and needs charged but also at the same time it is a power reserve. too much draw for the alt would mean then the power would come from the battery. not only when the key is off....