Dimming headlights

[Raisedin305 5,000+ posts]

Hey I drive a 05 eddie bauer ford expedition. Right now I have two 15" kicker L7s powered by 1 audiobahn a1300hct amp. Last night I realized that my headlights dim a little (hardly noticeable) when the bass hits in the car (having the volume to the max). I do plan on changing my amplifier some time this week or next week. I was wondering if I get something like orion 2500d or the viper 2500 would the headlights still dim? I know I'll be getting a huge amount more of power to the subs but do these amps use the battery as much as the audiobahn HCT or will it be about the same way it is now?

Click to read more...

 

[Dozy_production 10+ year member]

ok, using 2k watt amps will make your car lights dim a lot more. I know that the orion eats up current pretty good. This is how it works, battery is needed when your engine is off and the alt takes car of electrical (pretty mucH) when the car is on. i dont know how many amp you need for 2 k but i would look into a new alternator. Let some of the pros here chime in becuase they could have exact specs.

 

[RandyJ 10+ year member]

Expedition eh? Check what the stock alternator is rated at, should be in excess of 100A. If that is the case, you could run it alright, but if you want NO dimmage at all, you may need some upgrading.

 

[93 saturn sl2 10+ year member]

big 3???

 

[Raisedin305 5,000+ posts]

Expedition eh? Check what the stock alternator is rated at, should be in excess of 100A. If that is the case, you could run it alright, but if you want NO dimmage at all, you may need some upgrading.

Its 130amps i believe.

 

[Raisedin305 5,000+ posts]

big 3???

I was considering doing this.

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

i'm gonna be running an orion 2500D and just went ahead and bought a 250 amp alt, so i know i should have plenty of power under the hood for that amp and my pg ti500.4. it's always nice to have headroom.

 

[JamesG 10+ year member]

If I remember correctly, that Orion 2500D is 2500w RMS. If so, there's no way a 130A alternator could even begin to keep up with that amp. It might work okay for awhile, but that alternator will quickly be ruined. You'll need a 250A or better alternator for sure just for that amp. Considering your stock alternator is 130A, I'd say 300A minimum, and that's without other amps.

You're looking at a possible 250A of draw just for that 2500D.

 

[RandyJ 10+ year member]

If I remember correctly, that Orion 2500D is 2500w RMS. If so, there's no way a 130A alternator could even begin to keep up with that amp. It might work okay for awhile, but that alternator will quickly be ruined. You'll need a 250A or better alternator for sure just for that amp. Considering your stock alternator is 130A, I'd say 300A minimum, and that's without other amps.
You're looking at a possible 250A of draw just for that 2500D.

He won't be riding around listening to test tones at full blast all day will he? Naaa,I dont think so, so the Orion will pull no where near the full 250A of current.

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

He won't be riding around listening to test tones at full blast all day will he? Naaa,I dont think so, so the Orion will pull no where near the full 250A of current.

agreed, but it still pulls a lot of current. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[RandyJ 10+ year member]

agreed, but it still pulls a lot of current. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

Very true, but people do get away all the time with running extreme amounts of power off of smaller scale electrical systems. I had a few examples but I cant remember them now.

 

[RandyJ 10+ year member]

BUT, I will agree, a new, higher output alternator will be very helpful in enjoying your system, but a 300A alternator is overkill.

 

[JamesG 10+ year member]

He won't be riding around listening to test tones at full blast all day will he? Naaa,I dont think so, so the Orion will pull no where near the full 250A of current.

Of course he won't be drawing 250A at all times, but better safe than sorry. That 130A stock alternator won't even begin to power that amp. And that's without mentioning his amps powering his mids and highs. If he's gonna drop the cash for 2500w RMS going to his subs, then he might as well get an alternator that can handle it. He should be looking at a minimum of 3500w RMS including his other amp(s). That's a ton of current draw.

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

how does one run an amp like an orion 2500D and a component amp off of a stock alternator with no dimmage and/or voltage drops? everybody it says it's install dependant but does not explain how it can be done.

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

Of course he won't be drawing 250A at all times, but better safe than sorry. That 130A stock alternator won't even begin to power that amp. And that's without mentioning his amps powering his mids and highs. If he's gonna drop the cash for 2500w RMS going to his subs, then he might as well get an alternator that can handle it. He should be looking at a minimum of 3500w RMS including his other amp(s). That's a ton of current draw.

wow a thousand watt mid amp. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/uhoh.gif.c07307dd22ee7e63e22fc8e9c614d1fd.gif