How to make alternator put out 14.8 volts?

[sexy 10+ year member]

He said he wanted 14.8 volts so that it does not drop into the 13s. Even at idle a DC power alt should provide more than enough current for 1600 watts. Many stock alts can handle 1600 watts at idle or a little above.

Well, since you're such a wealth of knowledge, why don't you explain to us all how getting an extra 4/10 of a volt will make any difference. Please use some sort of electrical theory to prove this and, since you obviously don't have any, please explain why you're posting on this topic anyway. The guy was asking how to get an extra .4 volts from an alternator that's made to do exactly 14.4 volts. He was given the answer on how to do that and told it won't make any difference. He was given facts and numbers that he could check instead of opinions from people like you. Anyone who has ever used a high output alternator knows that they will do less than most stock alternators at idle unless there has been a pulley change. The people that are trying to help this guy have real experience and real electrical knowledge. It's annoying and insulting when people give their opinions on a topic they know nothing about.

 

[Chriszle 10+ year member]

Well, since you're such a wealth of knowledge, why don't you explain to us all how getting an extra 4/10 of a volt will make any difference. Please use some sort of electrical theory to prove this and, since you obviously don't have any, please explain why you're posting on this topic anyway. The guy was asking how to get an extra .4 volts from an alternator that's made to do exactly 14.4 volts. He was given the answer on how to do that and told it won't make any difference. He was given facts and numbers that he could check instead of opinions from people like you. Anyone who has ever used a high output alternator knows that they will do less than most stock alternators at idle unless there has been a pulley change. The people that are trying to help this guy have real experience and real electrical knowledge. It's annoying and insulting when people give their opinions on a topic they know nothing about.

Since your so intelligent, maybe you can point out where I said .4 volts would make a difference. I simply stated, that I believe there is a larger issue if he is dropping more than 1/2 a volt with a 1600 watt draw, which when playing music will be much less than 1600 watts to begin with. If you knew anything about a DC power alts, depending on model, will still provide more amperage at idle than a stock alternator at full output.

Please do not question my experience, as I have over 15 years in car audio now, I am back in school and a little over one year away from finishing up my degree in EE.

 

[slim2fattycake 10+ year member]

What vehicle and engine and which model from DC Power? You sure your belt has the right tension?

 

[Chriszle 10+ year member]

I would also like to know what post I gave was an opinion. Given his alternator provides sufficient current at idle (which it should), what other issues can cause voltage drops? Hmmmm, poor wiring connections can add resistance to the circuit, which when current increases leads to voltage drops. Another possibility, is the gain is set way too high and he has a completely square waveform, the amp is being overworked drawing way more current than it should be under normal operating conditions leading to the drop.

 

[slim2fattycake 10+ year member]

Yeah, bad grounds at the amp will allow instant voltage drop quickly.

 

[rockin15srandy 10+ year member]

Heres the video of me giving the lay out of my system. ill make another video tomorrow showing how it drops with the bass actually on.
Alternator - YouTube

As I'll get back on topic I was busy today and am now getting to the laptop to see. Everything looks pretty good still waiting on that drop test. You might want to add another ground as close to the alternator as possible. It looks like you only have that tiny 4 gauge stock engine ground. You also want to move how your grounds in the trunk are laid out. From what I can tell it looks like you have it screwed to the top deck if so this is maybe a 4 gauge at best. You can see where the sheet metal lines are and you can also see that it is not one continuous weld so it will not conduct the ground like it should be able to. Check out What is a proper ground? That should get you going on a good ground or what one should read like. There is also a really good sticky on here that I cannot seem to find that shows how to put a proper ground in. That is where I am betting your problems are at.

EDIT: Found the post on how to make ground

http://www.caraudio.com/forums/general-discussion/272580-how-properly-make-ground.html

 

[sexy 10+ year member]

Since your so intelligent, maybe you can point out where I said .4 volts would make a difference. I simply stated, that I believe there is a larger issue if he is dropping more than 1/2 a volt with a 1600 watt draw, which when playing music will be much less than 1600 watts to begin with. If you knew anything about a DC power alts, depending on model, will still provide more amperage at idle than a stock alternator at full output.
Please do not question my experience, as I have over 15 years in car audio now, I am back in school and a little over one year away from finishing up my degree in EE.

I finished my degree 20+ years ago and I run an engineering department. I fire kids like you a couple of times per year. Good luck with your degree but you might want to try and think things through a little better before you comment on a public forum where everyone can see that you have no facts or experience. You proved that you know nothing about DC alternators or any other alternator for that mater. You also seem to think that voltage has something to do with amperage and you might want to talk to one of your teachers about that LOL.

 

[Chriszle 10+ year member]

I finished my degree 20+ years ago and I run an engineering department. I fire kids like you a couple of times per year. Good luck with your degree but you might want to try and think things through a little better before you comment on a public forum where everyone can see that you have no facts or experience. You proved that you know nothing about DC alternators or any other alternator for that mater. You also seem to think that voltage has something to do with amperage and you might want to talk to one of your teachers about that LOL.

While I personally run an EA alt, I took the time to look at DC hot idle ratings on their 300+ amp alternators. They range from 195-220amps on the few that I looked at. Voltage itself has nothing to do with amperage, and I never said that it did. Voltage drop and current are very closely related. Maybe you need to go back to school or at least improve on your reading comprehension.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[robert420 10+ year member]

with 1600 watts, u shouldnt have to worry about it dropping. im running 1200 watts off the factory alt. as long as u have the big 3 installed it shouldnt be a problem

 

[Chriszle 10+ year member]

Yeah, bad grounds at the amp will allow instant voltage drop quickly.

A power or ground connection anywhere in the system can easily add enough resistance that 100 amps will create a drop the op is experiencing. That is why I suggested it. I was having a voltage drop issue roughly a year after I installed my alt, turns out the bolt holding the power wire on came a little loose. Took 5 minutes with a dmm to see the problem.

 

[bgowdy 5,000+ posts]

hm... i honestly dont understand how his dont start and run at 14.8+ on the first start. mine starts running cold @ 15.2volts but when it gets warm it drops to 14.8. normal running for me is 14.6-14.8v

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

Get an alt with an external voltage regulator. I charge my batteries up at 15v.

 

[slim2fattycake 10+ year member]

hm... i honestly dont understand how his dont start and run at 14.8+ on the first start. mine starts running cold @ 15.2volts but when it gets warm it drops to 14.8. normal running for me is 14.6-14.8v

not all are made to do that. it may not be smart with some vehicles, like my old car. plus it depends on where he is checking his voltage. if he is already having problems, its not like seeing .4+ volt drop from alt to where he is checking not possible.

 

[bgowdy 5,000+ posts]

not all are made to do that. it may not be smart with some vehicles, like my old car. plus it depends on where he is checking his voltage. if he is already having problems, its not like seeing .4+ volt drop from alt to where he is checking not possible.

i see. have my voltmeter ran at the amp power imput so i can monitor what the amp sees. its normal running its 14.6 - 14.8

 

[x91evo 10+ year member]

Just watched your video,

Your ground for you battery is not a good ground.

Not sure if your car is full frame or unibody, but reguardless Ground it to the frame rail.

Strut tower isnt the thickest metal and your 8 guage OE ground wire is pretty much useless.

Also It would be an even better idea (if you cant find a good ground for your amp in the trunk) to run a 0 gauge wire from the battery to the rear for the amps to ground.

I would guess thats your problem^, is your amplifier ground. Previously on my mojo 4000 it wouldnt even power on with a frame ground. I had to run a wire the whole way.