HOW much do i have to work with

[Germanlookt2 10+ year member]

I feel like im taking advatage of the forums but I need to know how many amps i have to work with

I have a 70 amp alternator outputing 14.4v 980 Watts. And I will be getting a new battery as soon as the alternator gets here tommorow, Im looking at a yellow top optima.

Will a JL audio 500/1 be safe to run? What is the maximum amperage draw i can have safetly. Yeah its a vw bus with little to no other accessories or a/c

Simple questions require simple answers. I feel like its been the 4th time ive had to post the same question, all i get are peoples reccomendation for amplifiers and not the answers im looking for. Sorry I just need to know //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

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[MikeofTulsa Moderator]

a 500watt amp will pull aproximately 34 ampers max......give or take a few......u should be fine....and i'd suggest getting an optima red top unless the yellow top is going to dedicated to the system only and not hooked up tot he charging system.... as far as the maximum amper draw....i wouldnt suggest exceeding 60-70ampers for your system...gotta save 20-30 for your car to run.....

 

[saywhat? 5,000+ posts]

doesnt a battery have to be on the charging system? or is there a way to charge these elsewhere?

 

[Germanlookt2 10+ year member]

Thanks Awesome, JL says the amp should have a 50 amp fuse inline with the power wire, and since i rarely will be running it at full with the engine running, It sounds good. Oh and about the optima, the red tops are different technology, more like regular lead acid batterys not like the yellow and blue tops which can be drained and recharged, they make 2 types of yellows, starting and deep cycle, Ive heard that deep cycle is not the way to go even tho most think it should be, And i think that it will work fine, its a small vw engine, so it doenst take much to start it, and the yellow puts out very close in ccas to the red tops. the warranty is a little shorter tho....

Any one elses thoughts on this,

 

[MikeofTulsa Moderator]

didnt know they had 2 diff. types of yellow top.....sorry....

 

[Germanlookt2 10+ year member]

well im jsut going by their website, I am getting whatever is at autozone heh, Unless i can find a comperable battery for less

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

the standard size optima is the D34 series, with the regular one only having the SAE top posts, and the D34/78 having a second set of connectors, two GM side posts on the side of the battery. That's the kind I have, makes running beefier ground and positive wires much easier.

For the bus, however, I'd get the biggest battery you can fit. They make a bigger (D31) series battery, maybe you could measure and see if it would fit.

Lots of Optima info available here: http://1st-optima-batteries.com/

 

[Germanlookt2 10+ year member]

I was thinkin to get a stinger spv44, For my factory cca battery was around 438 i think, its not a big starter so i doesnt need much to start, I can get the stinger new for 120, which is alot better than the optima for 170. Which is the better option, Or should i just get the optima, I heard that the stingers are more capable for what im looking for, Should it be powerful enough, i figure if it isnt i will buy a small batcap later. Remember its a 70 amp alternator so i dont want to take all the current away thats needed for the amp, The jl audio 500/1 has a 50 amp fuse so 20 amps for the head unit and battery is a fair match, and thats if i am blaring that amp, which i never will while running the engine...