Do I need a better battery?

[bose301s 5,000+ posts]

I have a 2001 GMC Jimmy 4 door and my system is in my Sig, its a Sundown Audio SAE-1000D and a SAX-100.2. The sub is wired at 2 ohms so I will max around 700-750 watts on that and the SLC 265 Kicks are 4 ohms so I will max 300 or so watts on the 100.2. Right now I have some sort of Duralast battery, I don't know the model or CCA but I can get that info and take a picture of it tomorrow. The main reason for this is that I go to school at Michigan Tech which is way in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and morning temps can be well below 0 Fahrenheit and I don't want to be stuck with a car that won't start. Any help you guys could give would be great.

Click to read more...

 

[dbaudio 10+ year member]

I'd say that an Optima YellowTop would be a good investment, car audio or no car audio.

A friend of mine goes to Michigan Tech and is taking aerospace engineering....

nice B&W's btw, i've got the same pair in my bedroom.

 

[bose301s 5,000+ posts]

Ok, what size would be good for this setup? Also, the battery in there is a side terminal, would a top terminal battery fit?

And yes, I love my B&W's loud and clean. I am at MTU for Electrical Engineering.

 

[bk12321 10+ year member]

do the big 3 and you shouldnt need too much more in terms of electrical, maybe a small battery at the most.

 

[bose301s 5,000+ posts]

How hard is the Big 3 to do? I am pretty new at this stuff still so I don't want to mess up my car big time.

 

[bk12321 10+ year member]

How hard is the Big 3 to do? I am pretty new at this stuff still so I don't want to mess up my car big time.

If you are any good at running wires I think you will be fine but some people **** with cars sooooo

 

[bose301s 5,000+ posts]

Would 4 gauge wire work for the Big 3?

 

[hemiscott 10+ year member]

I would do it in 1/0 but, 4gauge is still better then stock.. Btw Auto zone sells those battery's and they usually have a good warranty on them..

 

[bose301s 5,000+ posts]

But you don't think I will need to get a new battery if I do the Big 3?

 

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

Batteries are for starting cars, not running them, or the system...

If you don't plan on running the system alot when the car is not running you don't need a better battery...

If you get alot of headlight dimming do the big 3 first (4ga is fine for your setup) then look at doing an alternator...

If you are not getting headlight dimming then you don't need a new battery. However as batteries get older they won't hold a charge as well when it gets cold. So if that battery is older than 3-4 years old get a new one (if it's acting weak).

My guess is that if you are running at least 4ga to the stereo and not clipping your amps then you aren't getting any headlight dimming...

 

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

Also:

Soon to be added:

Rear Coaxials: TBD

you don't need rear speakers...

 

[fwb_1234 10+ year member]

About side/top terminals. The optima D34/78 has both.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

also if you get a battery there is more than just CCA and CA in picking one. those numbers are what it can burst at (most daily systems will never draw that) but another important spec is capacity as it tells how long it can do its job without needing charged...

 

[bose301s 5,000+ posts]

Also:
Soon to be added:

Rear Coaxials: TBD

you don't need rear speakers...

For passengers, they're gonna be like $30-$40 Pioneers I think.

 

[bose301s 5,000+ posts]

About side/top terminals. The optima D34/78 has both.

Ok, cool, main thing is Optima's site is absolutely terrible, I can't get it to work.