Current Draw Help

[cappleton3 10+ year member]

I just installed a new system in my truck and I am getting some pretty significant headlight dimming. I have a Kenwood 621 amp driving four 6 x 8's and a Kenwood 811D driving a single Brahma 12". The 621 says it is pulling 6 amps and the 811 says it is pulling 30 amps at full tilt.

Should I be seeing headlight dimming with a draw of 36 amps? I just ordered a red top Optima battery as the factory battery is now 4 years old. Does all of this add up? Will I need to do the Big 3 upgrade? I thought for sure the 811 was pulling more than 30 amps giving the headlight dimming I have but according to the amp, it is not.

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[Nikuk 5,000+ posts]

How are you figuring current draw? I'm sure they are drawing more then 36 amps full tilt...

 

[cappleton3 10+ year member]

The amplifier has a display on top that shows temperature, fan speed, voltage and current draw. It looks like it takes a snapshot of current draw once per second. Obviously it is not spot on accurate given it is only a snap shot reading but the most I have seen over the span of 5-minutes or so was 30 amps on the 811. I have 4 gauge power feeding the amp so I don't think it is starving for power.

 

[Nikuk 5,000+ posts]

4/Ott?? Niiice!

Pick up an amp clamp at a local electrical supply store. Thats the best way to find out.

 

[Scarenius 10+ year member]

The big 3 is useful for ANY car with a current draw higher than stock.

 

[cappleton3 10+ year member]

Well disregard my previous post, I'm an idiot. I assumed that Late Night Tip would be the song to pull the most current and I was wrong. I put in one of my favorites, RUSH-Limelight and saw a peak draw of 74 amps on my sub amplifier. That would explain my headlight dimming. I think my stock alternator is like 60 amps but am trying to find out.

I just ordered an Optima battery about 3 hours ago but now doubt that will fix my probalem. I will likely need a new alternator. Thanks for the tips.

 

[Eclipsetuner01 10+ year member]

i just got off the phone with kenwood because im going to be running the same amp to a pair or 10'' type R's and the 811d has a 55 amp draw at normal volume and 75 amp draw at max

 

[OldOneEye 10+ year member]

If you want max current draw (warning, you can blow fuses this way) is a test tone track or bass track. Heck, if you are a rush fan maybe Subdivisions would do it too (there is that one part they hit the synth that goes kinda low).

Juan