Do you need a big alt?

[ArcFault 10+ year member]

Is a big alt needed? My friend and I are both new to car audio and according to him you do not need a big alt because there is something called a capasitor or something and it apparently stores power or something?

I don't know what he means but if you guys feel like telling me about this I would greatly appreciate it.

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[Independence83m 10+ year member]

i was told if you don't go over a 1000 watts you really don't need to do anything.

 

[ArcFault 10+ year member]

That is another thing I was told... I know I don't go over 1000 watts. We are just trying to explore most parts of CA. Because down the road for our bigger more expensive purchases we want to be ready.

 

[marcotheclepto 10+ year member]

depending on what sorta power your running a new alt isnt necessary... however that amount varies per vehicle id say 600-100 watts rms would be most for the majority of all systems. allot of people are fooled into using capacitors. but they are only capable of holding very small charges and are otherwise a waste of money, would be better off buying a second battery for the same or next to the same price.

 

[Independence83m 10+ year member]

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=447231

this is my post about me hookin up a cap you can look at it.

 

[marcotheclepto 10+ year member]

if youll be open to suggestions and try to be dogmatic on everything that your friends have told you youll find some very helpful people here. but dont be discouraged by the assholes that ***** all the time. also whenever possible trty searching before you post a new thread on a topic. most issues are asked on a daily basis by new people who join ask one question and never return.

 

[ArcFault 10+ year member]

So what exactly is the point of the capacitor? I don't think my amp is that powerfull. I bought it from a thrift store for like 100$. I think I might have been ripped because it might now work. I wont know if it works until I get the right size of wire.

Umm, how do I search thread?

 

[AVRevolution 10+ year member]

More power in, more power out. standard alternator puts out about 14.4v. Your amps ratings are based off of 14.4v usually. Problem is by the time the power reaches the amp, all the way in the back of the vehicle it usually drop down to somewhere around 12v. The first step to helping it stay around the 14.4v in the rear is simply adding a bigger alternator, if that is out of your budget a second battery is the next choice, provided your main battery is good first. Last choice would be a capacitor. Really depends on how much power you plan on running.

 

[ArcFault 10+ year member]

I think my amp is like 750watts. Two channel.

Would a second battery not hurt my stock alt?

 

[plugitin 5,000+ posts]

The amount of power you can run without changing alts or changing/adding batts depends on the vehicles stock alt size usually.

So what exactly is the point of the capacitor? I don't think my amp is that powerfull. I bought it from a thrift store for like 100$. I think I might have been ripped because it might now work. I wont know if it works until I get the right size of wire.
Umm, how do I search thread?

It stores energy, just like little caps in a circuit board. It can release it fast too. but IMO its not worth it, its more of a band aid fix then anything. Search, you will find mucho info. Search is on the toolbar.

More power in, more power out. standard alternator puts out about 14.4v. Your amps ratings are based off of 14.4v usually. Problem is by the time the power reaches the amp, all the way in the back of the vehicle it usually drop down to somewhere around 12v. The first step to helping it stay around the 14.4v in the rear is simply adding a bigger alternator, if that is out of your budget a second battery is the next choice, provided your main battery is good first. Last choice would be a capacitor. Really depends on how much power you plan on running.

Your voltage should not drop that much if you have the proper size wire. Most amps are rated at 14.4 volts, but there are many that arent, it should say on the specs sheet at what voltage it was tested at.

 

[k_schutte 10+ year member]

We are just trying to explore most parts of CA. Because down the road for our bigger more expensive purchases we want to be ready.

Good call, when I joined this site over 5 years ago I was running a pair of Infinity 100.1SE 10"s (the blueish/green ones) in a sealed box and a Crossfire 200W (actualy put out liek 600+) amp. I read for a LONG time on here and ended up being about two years after joining that I bought my first "real" setup which was an AudioQue HD3 and a Planet Audio VX2200D. My bank account misses the "good 'ole days" but the rest of me loves it here in SPL land!

 

[Enellz 10+ year member]

100 bucks for a crap cap? Meh, rip off. Caps store power from your alternator, and gives it to your amp making it seem like it's helping your electrical problems (dimming, low voltage, etc.) when really it's discharging and charging so **** fast it's just straining your alternator killing it quicker. They don't help period, I don't care what a shop says, your friend or who ever. It does filter noise though lol. Invest in a sealed deep cycle battery, (one up front or in the back, or both), this will help voltage way more than any cap can. Look into Kinetik, powermaster, Deka, or even optima.

As far as alternator, it depends on much RMS your running:

2K rms - (a few beefy batteries should be fine, depends on your stock alt)

2.5K rms - ( I would start to consider it)

3K+ - ( well duh, you better get one)

I do appluad your effort to research than buy. I wish more people did this, including myself. I wouldve saved so much money. Lol

 

[plugitin 5,000+ posts]

100 bucks for a crap cap? Meh, rip off. Caps store power from your alternator, and gives it to your amp making it seem like it's helping your electrical problems (dimming, low voltage, etc.) when really it's discharging and charging so **** fast it's just straining your alternator killing it quicker. They don't help period, I don't care what a shop says, your friend or who ever. It does filter noise though lol. Invest in a sealed deep cycle battery, (one up front or in the back, or both), this will help voltage way more than any cap can. Look into Kinetik, powermaster, Deka, or even optima.
As far as alternator, it depends on much RMS your running:

2K rms - (a few beefy batteries should be fine, depends on your stock alt)

2.5K rms - ( I would start to consider it)

3K+ - ( well duh, you better get one)

It depends on his vehicle. 2k on my stock 40 amp alt on my car...hah.

And all those batteries do make it harder for your alt to keep em charged. So a small and old one will wear out quicker then usual

 

[ArcFault 10+ year member]

I am getting into this because the junk car I bought had no system in it at all... Who ever owned it before me took out all the stock system and replaced it with new stuff. Well he must have wanted it in his new car so left me with no audio at all... It's an 30 min drive to work every day. I need me some tunes.

So I bought a small system wich is working fine just not the subs.

I sold that little car to my sister left all the other audio in it but took the subs. Now I bought a truck and want to set up a sistem again. I cought the CA fever I guess.

I am starting a better work position in a few months and will be getting into some bigger stuff. So All the facts right...

I was told over yahoo to come here.

So my truck is a 2004 Dodge ram quad cab. I am looking and don't know what the stock alt is.

 

[Enellz 10+ year member]

True. I shouldve mention, every car is different. So there is no universal rule