I have a 1500W amp and need help with electrical system

[cows0136 10+ year member]

I have a 1500W amp ran down to 1 ohm and it is putting out 1500 rms. My issues is my lights are dimming and alternator is getting hot. I need to know what is the best thing to upgrade. I can either attempt to buy a ho alt i say attempt because everywhere iv looked no one sells them for a 1995 grand prix. Or i can buy a second battery i say second because under my hood the way my battery is i can't get a larger battery like a yellow top so i would need to run one to the back of the trunk off that one. I only have enough for one of these upgrades. my stock alternator puts out 105 amps but it is old for the alternator hasn't been replaced since the car was purchased. Any and all help would be appreciated if you need to know anything just tell me

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[OmegaBunny 10+ year member]

BIg three up front, Biggest Battery you can fit under the hood, big battery in the rear at the minimum, If they still dim then a H/O alt.

 

[cows0136 10+ year member]

Id do that but only have enough for one or the other so a battery or a alternator i have the biggest i can buy under the hood. Big 3 i didn't do because audioshop said its a waste and doesn't need to be done. And i was also told a second battery is only for listening to music with the car off.

 

[OmegaBunny 10+ year member]

If you need a H/O Alt you can contact Mechman, DC Power, and other manufacturers and have them make you one.

 

[OmegaBunny 10+ year member]

Don't listen to the shop. The small factory wiring limits the flow of current and essentially chokes it off. Leave the factory wiring and run new wiring along side of it in either 1/0 or 2/0.

 

[cows0136 10+ year member]

Is that the truth tho i mean is a second battery only used for listening to music when the car is off? i mean im not to advanced with car audio had all my stuff put in by a shop last night and was gonna have the big 3 done but they said it was a waste of time i didn't need to (which on a business stand i don't understand they could have made more cash)

 

---------- Post added at 10:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:11 PM ----------

 

what is 1/0 2/0? sorry kind of a noob :/

 

[OmegaBunny 10+ year member]

No it is not used just for listening to music when the car is off. It is a second source of power for your stereo to utilize. Someone can explain it better, but the way I understand it is if you alt is say putting out 100a and your stereo is drawing 110a, The Alternator cannot keep up with the demand so the second battery acts as an additional source of power. The reason your lights dim is the electrical is unable to keep up with the demand so your lights dim when extra power is needed. Also, doing so can damage your system if it is dropping below ~12v or a little higher.

Someone more knowledgeable in electrical can correct me or explain further but I hope that helps a little.

 

[OmegaBunny 10+ year member]

Wire size, as the number gets smaller the wire gets bigger. 16 gauge is smaller than 14 gauge, bother are smaller than 4 gauge. So 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 4, 2, then 0 (1/0), 00 (2/0), 000 (3/0), 0000 (4/0)

American wire gauge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So to answer you question 1/0 is 0 gauge wire, 2/0 is 00 gauge wire. I believe most factory wire is usually like 2 gauge, so going with 1/0 or 2/0 allows less resistance.

 

[cows0136 10+ year member]

ah alrighty well should i get a second battery or should i just get another alternator?

 

[OmegaBunny 10+ year member]

You need the big three at least and a second battery would help, but you would ideally need a bigger alt.

 

[cows0136 10+ year member]

So get the big three done im not sure how to do it myself so should i take it to the audio shop? or what and if i have enough for the alt get it instead of a battery?

 

[OmegaBunny 10+ year member]

Big three is easy to do just search it here or google it so no need to take it to a shop. You can try that first and get a cheap voltmeter like a stinger and see what you are dropping down to. The determine if you need a big battery or alt.

 

[cows0136 10+ year member]

It may be easy I just don't have the confidence in myself to do it lol i know ill **** something up.

 

[cows0136 10+ year member]

im not very automobile intelligent im a computer guy

 

[OmegaBunny 10+ year member]

You can do it, All you need is a torch, solder, wire heat shrink tubing and basic hand tools.



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