high output alternator or cap?

[afairman1927]

Hey guys,

I'm knew to this forum so I'm not sure if I'm in the right place or not for this question but here goes anyways.

I have an 02 cavalier sport with a 2.2L 4 cylinder. I believe the oem alternator puts out 100amps. well whatever it puts out its trash.

here's what i got

1. Pioneer 4000dvd doubledin

2. JL audio 5.25 vr series components in the front

3. JL audio vr series 6x9's in the back

4. 2 - JL audio 13.5" W3's powered by a JL audio GMAX 1200 watt amp

Its a nice system but its not getting enough power. I know its JL and its a big amp but its not HUGE. Its to the point where my lights inside and outside dim to nothing when it hits. the battery is knew. its not a yellow top or anything like that. i don't want to get to the point of spending money on things that aren't going to do the job. if people think a big enough cap will do it than i'm up for it but here's the thing... i just bought a JL G-series 4 channel that puts out about 400 watts. so total i'll be putting out about 1500 watts give or take.

and one more question. my amp is shutting down at high volume. the GMAX amp is designed to LIMIT output when it is being overworked. they're not supposed to shut down until you turn down the volume for a sec. i'm thinking the amp is starved for power. so if i go with a high output alternator do I go with a 160amp ebayer, a 200amp, or a 220amp? is there such thing as too much or do you think 160 should be enough? Thanks for the help

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[Pioneer~Saturn 5,000+ posts]

Are you sure you didnt wire the subs wrong (too low) and the amp is simply going into protect when you turn it up?

 

[TurdFergueson2 5,000+ posts]

Hey guys,
I'm knew to this forum so I'm not sure if I'm in the right place or not for this question but here goes anyways.

I have an 02 cavalier sport with a 2.2L 4 cylinder. I believe the oem alternator puts out 100amps. well whatever it puts out its trash.

here's what i got

1. Pioneer 4000dvd doubledin

2. JL audio 5.25 vr series components in the front

3. JL audio vr series 6x9's in the back

4. 2 - JL audio 13.5" W3's powered by a JL audio GMAX 1200 watt amp

Its a nice system but its not getting enough power. I know its JL and its a big amp but its not HUGE. Its to the point where my lights inside and outside dim to nothing when it hits. the battery is knew. its not a yellow top or anything like that. i don't want to get to the point of spending money on things that aren't going to do the job. if people think a big enough cap will do it than i'm up for it but here's the thing... i just bought a JL G-series 4 channel that puts out about 400 watts. so total i'll be putting out about 1500 watts give or take.

and one more question. my amp is shutting down at high volume. the GMAX amp is designed to LIMIT output when it is being overworked. they're not supposed to shut down until you turn down the volume for a sec. i'm thinking the amp is starved for power. so if i go with a high output alternator do I go with a 160amp ebayer, a 200amp, or a 220amp? is there such thing as too much or do you think 160 should be enough? Thanks for the help

Bigger battery and big 3. How big is your alt. I would change it too, but for that amount of power it is not really necessary

To even consider choosing a cap over a battery is like choosing gay **** over banging a real chick. Yeah it doesn't make a lot of sense, but neither do caps.

 

[Pioneer~Saturn 5,000+ posts]

Bigger battery and big 3. How big is your alt. I would change it too, but for that amount of power it is not really necessary
To even consider choosing a cap over a battery is like choosing gay **** over banging a real chick. Yeah it doesn't make a lot of sense, but neither do caps.

Fantastic! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/hilarious.gif.02a037aad04aa96f19982b298a3d70a8.gif

 

[Pickler 10+ year member]

But I thought that a cap adds dbs?

 

[Pioneer~Saturn 5,000+ posts]

But I thought that a cap adds dbs?

They do...TurdF is just trying to save the guy...he'll get too loud with a cap

 

[Pioneer~Saturn 5,000+ posts]

But honestly...I'd upgrade all of my wiring, check the wiring on your subs so that they're wired to a load the amp can handle, add a decent battery in the trunk (xs power, batcap, kinetik, stinger, etc.), swap-out your front battery (same as last step), upgrade alternator...take those steps, checking to see if your issues have stopped/drastically changed inbetween each upgrade.

(I dont think it'll take much to solve the problem though...probably just upgraded wiring and maybe a small battery in the rear would take care of it)

 

[afairman1927]

thanks guys for all the feedback. i do have the subs wired down to 2ohms. the amp is 2ohm stable feeding 1200watts. the subs are 600watts a piece so its a perfect match. JL did a package special in october. they paired the subs and amp together so i know the load is fine. i turned down the gains a little on the amp (about a third of the way up) and it stopped clipping so its ok for now. and i ran 4gauge. 1/0 gauge isn't needed for this setup.

so here is where the problem now lies... i really don't think a high output alternator is needed. this alt has 50k on it and its 100amp. i had an integra with a system in it that peaked at about 3000watts and i didn't have this much dimmage. so i'm fine with battery upgrades but then the problem lies with the alt not putting out enough power to charge the high perf batteries... right?

i put this system in my girlfriends car and i really hate to spend another $600-$800 just for power. if it was a better car and i planned on showing or competing than it wouldn't be a question. so if i spend the $$$ on batts will my alt be able to charge them BOTH?