How far can I get on stock alt?

[Ohhey1 10+ year member]

Hello all, I have a 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid that I am trying to work with. The alternator is a "smart alternator" with dual charging systems, 48v for the hybrid batteries and 12v for the rest. I am still bugging all the high output alternator companies I can find but so far it's either "No" or "Not yet." I currently have a XS Power D3400 and a DC Audio Level 4 10" powered by a DC Audio 1.2K and no BIG 3. Things are fine now, no dimming lights, but I'm not satisfied and have ordered a DC Audio XL 10" and a second 1.2K and am going to strap the amps together to power the single XL sub.

Did I just make a mistake going that far? I am prepared to do the BIG 3 and a second battery if needed (unsure if I should do a D3100 or a second D3400) but I have no way of getting an alternator.

This is a daily driven car so the music will most likely never be played without the car running.

I also have a JL 300/4 Slash for my components.

The 12v charging system in the smart alternator is 110 amp.

Thanks in advance for the help!

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[gckless 5,000+ posts]

You should do the big 3 anyway, it will probably help your car in general. Chances are real good you will want a second battery, I would recommend it. If you do get one, get the biggest you can fit. Buy a voltage meter as well. I say put the second amp in after you get the voltage meter and/or battery, and be very careful with the volume knob the first time or two you fire it up.

 

[rebelfromva 10+ year member]

What will you be wiring the sub to?

 

[Ohhey1 10+ year member]

You should do the big 3 anyway, it will probably help your car in general. Chances are real good you will want a second battery, I would recommend it. If you do get one, get the biggest you can fit. Buy a voltage meter as well. I say put the second amp in after you get the voltage meter and/or battery, and be very careful with the volume knob the first time or two you fire it up.

I've always wanted an excuse to get one of those cool looking Stinger voltage displays. I'll most likely be doing the BIG 3 the same time everything else is installed. I can fit either one of the batteries I mentioned but I believe I've heard something in the past about not doing 2 different sized batteries. Can you help me out with that one?

 

[Ohhey1 10+ year member]

What will you be wiring the sub to?

Dual 1 ohm sub so I can strap at 2 ohm.

 

[rebelfromva 10+ year member]

Dual 1 ohm sub so I can strap at 2 ohm.

You should be good then. I had 192ah c&d on the DC 2.0k I had and an aq2200. It held voltage good. Now my electrical is **** good

 

[Ohhey1 10+ year member]

You should be good then. I had 192ah c&d on the DC 2.0k I had and an aq2200. It held voltage good. Now my electrical is **** good

Sorry I'm new here and not familiar with some of that. 192ah and c&d? But if you had both those amplifiers on a stock alt I feel much better about my setup! Do you have any insight on the importance of matching battery sizes or not? Looks like I'm going to end up with 2xD3400 or a D3400+D3100.

 

[rebelfromva 10+ year member]

102ah

 

[rebelfromva 10+ year member]

Since you already have one xs batt of get the matching one if you can fit if. I could have saved you tons on a c&d though

 

[Ohhey1 10+ year member]

Since you already have one xs batt of get the matching one if you can fit if. I could have saved you tons on a c&d though

I've not heard of c&d batteries until now. I can easily fit either battery and they are so close in size. I'm of course not wanting to use two different brands of batteries, just wanting to know if it's okay to use two different size batteries made by the same company or if I absolutely have to use identical batteries.

 

[Chriszle 10+ year member]

The problem with using different sized batteries comes if they do not have the same resting voltages. It can decrease battery life.

 

[Ohhey1 10+ year member]

The problem with using different sized batteries comes if they do not have the same resting voltages. It can decrease battery life.

Thank you for clarifying that up for me. I can't find "resting voltage" on XS Power's site for the two batteries I'm looking at. Is that any different than regular voltage? They're both 12v batteries.

 

[Chriszle 10+ year member]

If one battery rests at 12.6v and the other rests at 12.9v. While your vehicle is off, the battery with the lower voltage will draw from the battery with the higher voltage. I run a group 34 under hood and group 31 in the trunk and haven't had any problems in the last 2 years, granted that is not a very long time period for AGM batteries.

 

[NASTY08IMPALA 5,000+ posts]

Dual 1 ohm sub so I can strap at 2 ohm.

u cant strap 2 dual1 @ 2 ohm..u will either be strapped at 1 ohm or 4 ohms

 

---------- Post added at 09:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:11 AM ----------

 

each amp will be @.5 or 2ohms

 

[rebelfromva 10+ year member]

u cant strap 2 dual1 @ 2 ohm..u will either be strapped at 1 ohm or 4 ohms 

---------- Post added at 09:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:11 AM ----------

 

each amp will be @.5 or 2ohms

He is only getting 1 sub