How big of an alternator?

[Red Rocket 10+ year member]

I've done some searching around here and couldn't seem to find anything. I know how much you guys hate reposts. I was wondering how big of an alternator I would need to run my system without any dimming (800 RMS). I was looking at Motor City but it says their 200 amp only does 85-95 at idle and their 140 amp doesn't have any idle numbers listed. My car is a 1994 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi and I'm currently running a 12" Type R with an Audiobahn A8002T (800 RMS, yes I know it's not putting out that much but it's fairly close). Any help or links would be appreciated.

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[Tirefryr 10+ year member]

YOu should be fine with the stocker assuming you are only running the sub amp. Can you take a photo of the alt in question so I can tell which one you have? There is a choice between 3, and you may have the 140 amp stock already.

 

[Red Rocket 10+ year member]

YOu should be fine with the stocker assuming you are only running the sub amp. Can you take a photo of the alt in question so I can tell which one you have? There is a choice between 3, and you may have the 140 amp stock already.

I'm not fine with my stock at all. My lights dim considerably for what I have in there. I currently have the stock 85 amp alternator in my car.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/94-9...33573QQitemZ7933450554QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V[/URL]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/94-95-PARK-AVE-BONNEVILLE-LESABRE-88-98-3-8L-W-SC_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33573QQitemZ7925014862QQtcZphoto

 

There are the links for the two alts I am considering. I just wish the amps for idling were higher. Anyone have an alternator that does that many amps at idle and how is it?

 

[Blunt 10+ year member]

do the big 3

 

[Tirefryr 10+ year member]

I'm not fine with my stock at all. My lights dim considerably for what I have in there. I currently have the stock 85 amp alternator in my car.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/94-9...33573QQitemZ7933450554QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V[/URL]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/94-95-PARK-AVE-BONNEVILLE-LESABRE-88-98-3-8L-W-SC_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33573QQitemZ7925014862QQtcZphoto

 

There are the links for the two alts I am considering. I just wish the amps for idling were higher. Anyone have an alternator that does that many amps at idle and how is it?

 

 

Your stock alt is either a CS130, 105 amp; CS130D, 105 amp; or the CS144, 140 amp which is the one from the Ebay auction. Does your alt look like the one pictured or is it smaller? Internal or External fan? You MAY already have the CS144 in which case upgrading it would be futile.

 

[Red Rocket 10+ year member]

Your stock alt is either a CS130, 105 amp; CS130D, 105 amp; or the CS144, 140 amp which is the one from the Ebay auction. Does your alt look like the one pictured or is it smaller? Internal or External fan? You MAY already have the CS144 in which case upgrading it would be futile.

Hmm, interesting. I will have to double check which one it is when I go home this weekend (I'm in college). I've read everything about the Big 3 and I was planning on doing it at some point but would it really make that big of a difference in dimming? My system isn't as powerful as many others I've seen so I would expect it to make a considerable/complete difference, correct? I was thinking about upgrading my battery to an Optima Yellowtop but I thought it would be smarter to upgrade the alternator first.

 

[Tirefryr 10+ year member]

The big3 is cheap and easy. If that doesn't work, go with the alt. The battery will be useless if the alt cannot sustain the voltage demands of the current electrical system already in place.