electrical help

[macsdad 10+ year member]

so, since i can't seem to be able to find a reasonably priced h/o alt for my 08 caliber, yeah i checked mechman and a couple other guys that were recommended on here. i had an, one time, said i did not want a secondary batt, well...will a secondary batt help with voltage drop enough, or i be better off continuing my struggle to find a alt? the secondary batt is deff cheaper.

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[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

depends on the battery and how much power your running

 

[macsdad 10+ year member]

my car has an oem boston acoustic 450 wrms multi channel amp-unknown fusing, and the arc audio ks1200.1 i just put in-120 amp fusing. the lights dimmed prior to any add ons, there is an oem 120 amp alt. i am trying to curtail as much volt drop as i can, right now, if i crank it, all the interior lights dim. right down to the speedo and info center. i was thinking on a sundown saz1500v.3 in the future and i want to be able to effectively run it or the arc if i don't upgrade anymore...lololol.

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

you need at least a 600 cubic inch battery ,sounds like it maybe be your stock battery or alt going bad as well

 

[macsdad 10+ year member]

i have the largest redtop i could fit under the hood, less than a year old. couldn't not fit a yellatop. so i should have the system tested?

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

i have the largest redtop i could fit under the hood, less than a year old. couldn't not fit a yellatop. so i should have the system tested?

yes you shouldn't be having the dimming issue with 450 watts.also have you done the big 3 ?

 

[macsdad 10+ year member]

Yes, all my wires are 0/1 guage. The power and ground are knu kca.

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

ok so your good there ,check all the connections on them to make sure they are tight

 

[macsdad 10+ year member]

I have done all that, still here i am with dimmage...lol. Maybe i am being to greedy and wanting too much powah.

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

but if you had dimming issues before the amps were added ,then it's something else you need to address first .could be a bad diode in the alt .or maybe its not charging at 14 volts .you need to check that as well .start your car ,put your dmm on ac and place the probes on the + on the alt and the - ground it somewhere ,see what it's charging at

 

[CrossoverOre 10+ year member]

how bad does your headlights dim? if its mainly the interior lights dimming the problem might lie in the factory wiring for those lights.

 

[benz280se 10+ year member]

check with ohio generators for an alt for your car, they made an alt with the bracket to fit for my 86 mercedes 560sec. these guys are great to work with and they will gladly answer all of your questions. trusst me i have gone through i think five different alts and had two rebuilt before finding one from them. the one i got is 270-300a and i couldnt be happier, you have no idea how hard it is to find aftermarket anything for mercedes and one thats over 25yrs old to boot!