current draw

[tmoore78]

Hello, this might be a dumb question but, isn't an amp drawing power from the alternator as well as the battery? Since the battery and alternator are connected in parallel. I've noticed since I've upgraded my amp to a 380 W RMS that my engine seems to lose a slight bit of power while at a cruizing speed when my amp is under a full load. Could this be possible or am I just imagining things.

Thanks,

Tom

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[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

you are imagining it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

380wrms is nothing

 

[SethPhillips 5,000+ posts]

the batt is reserve. the alt dose all the work when the car is running while putting a charge to the batt.

the batt comes into play only when the car is not running.

 

[terra 5,000+ posts]

380 watts = 0.509588394 horsepower

More about calculator.

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

380 watts = 0.509588394 horsepowerMore about calculator.

that's irrelevant. that what amp's output potential is. not what it's taking from the engine.

 

[muskyhunter567 10+ year member]

thats like turning your headlights on, shouldnt really make a difference

 

[terra 5,000+ posts]

that's irrelevant. that what amp's output potential is. not what it's taking from the engine.

True. Ya got me there.

 

[loopkiller 10+ year member]

Depending on the type of load, it may be running primarily off the alt, maybe more off the battery. Steady loads like headlights run 100% off the alt in a stock vehicle. The only time your headlights run on battery power is when something else is using more than the alt output at a given time. So say you have a 100A alt and your stock electrical uses 60A. Your headlights use another 10A we will say. So after turning on your headlights, you now are using 70A. Now you turn on your audio that pulls another 20A minimum, and 50A at peak (bass notes). When that bass note hits, you exceed the output of your alternator by 20A. That remaining 20A of power will be pulled from the battery. When this happens, your voltage in your car will drop and you will see lights dim.

 

[tmoore78]

Ok. So what could I do that would decrease my headlights dimming when the amp is under a load?

 

[loopkiller 10+ year member]

There are different ways to deal with it. It really depends on the type of signal you are using. If you play a bunch of punchy bass like hard rock, you would go one route. If you play rap music with long bass notes, you might go another way. If you are a competitor playing test tones only, not music, then you would go another way.

Punchy bass - stock alt + good front & rear battery

Rap type bass - HO alt + good front battery

Test tones - HO alt only, unless your draw exceeds alt output

All of these steps are assuming you have done the BIG 3 and have proper sized wire and good grounds.

 

[Stephen_c 10+ year member]

you are imagining it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif
380wrms is nothing

lol, my friends headunit makes his lights dim, really depends if your electrical is shit:laugh:

 

[tmoore78]

Thanks for all your input

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

lol, my friends headunit makes his lights dim, really depends if your electrical is shit:laugh:

if the HU alone makes his shit dim, he needs to have some shit looked at //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

100% sirius

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

lol, my friends headunit makes his lights dim, really depends if your electrical is shit:laugh:

Right....

if the HU alone makes his shit dim, he needs to have some shit looked at //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif
100% sirius

Wouldn't it be 50% sirius, 50% XM?

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

Right....


Wouldn't it be 50% sirius, 50% XM?

touche