How much power can my stock vehicle handle?

[car0linab0y 10+ year member]

Trailblazer SS...

Just looking to add a sub for now. What are my power limits without needing to upgrade big 3?

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[C1500martin 10+ year member]

800rms

 

[C1500martin 10+ year member]

The alts decent on those 6.0s like 140 or so, i think youd be fine running 1000 and if not you can always turn the gain down a bit

 

[akheathen Premium Member]

i had no problems running 1100 on a 145, but i don't blast often. what year? i would still do the big3 anyways

 

[car0linab0y 10+ year member]

i had no problems running 1100 on a 145, but i don't blast often. what year? i would still do the big3 anyways

'07. I'm not going big. Probably a single SD SA12. I would've done an E12 if the stock electrical wouldn't handle the SA. Just wanted to make sure 600w RMS wasn't gonna be a strain on batt & alt.

 

[timhof13 10+ year member]

You can go around 1000 especially if you play while driving. Sitting at idle is another story

 

[dbjunior 10+ year member]

I'd still run a 1000w amp just have the gain set correctly for 600w. That way you will always send a clean unfulfilled signal to the sub.

 

[akheathen Premium Member]

600 shouldn't be a problem, even in the long run. they are even beefier after 03. in the future, if you want to go more than 800, definitely do big 3 for longevity. we all know how this addiction can go, lol.

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

It's not like 500w isn't stressful and 800 is.

It's a question of what level of stress is acceptable.

The fact of the matter is alternators don't last forever even if you don't add any aftermarket electronics.

Will 500w decrease the life of the alt? Yes.

Will 800w? Yes.

You get the point.

My last two cars had 110A and 130A alts. They typically lasted about 2 yrs running 1500w rms.

I would THINK you wouldn't greatly reduce the life of your alt (assuming it IS in the 140A range) at 500-600w. No guarantees though.

Plus -- 500-600w and blasting it all the time would be a lot more stressful than 1000w of available power at low-moderate volume most of the time.

I guess what I'm trying to say is -- if concern for your electrical system is the focus - the lower power the better, and common sense with the volume knob is a plus.

Nothing is certain. People have blown stuff up with 400-500w and others have run 2k w/o any issues.

 

[car0linab0y 10+ year member]

It's not like 500w isn't stressful and 800 is.It's a question of what level of stress is acceptable.

The fact of the matter is alternators don't last forever even if you don't add any aftermarket electronics.

Will 500w decrease the life of the alt? Yes.

Will 800w? Yes.

You get the point.

My last two cars had 110A and 130A alts. They typically lasted about 2 yrs running 1500w rms.

I would THINK you wouldn't greatly reduce the life of your alt (assuming it IS in the 140A range) at 500-600w. No guarantees though.

Plus -- 500-600w and blasting it all the time would be a lot more stressful than 1000w of available power at low-moderate volume most of the time.

I guess what I'm trying to say is -- if concern for your electrical system is the focus - the lower power the better, and common sense with the volume knob is a plus.

Nothing is certain. People have blown stuff up with 400-500w and others have run 2k w/o any issues.

I was more concerned about voltage drops. Stress happens any time the vehicle is running, but I don't want to STRAIN it. That's when bad stuff happens.

 

[Crownvicon28s 10+ year member]

Do you have a volt meter to monitor your voltage?

 

[car0linab0y 10+ year member]

Do you have a volt meter to monitor your voltage?

Either gotta fix the one I have or buy a new one. I have time.