I need more power

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

ahh what the worst that could happen it wont work my boss says the[y']re pretty easy to do just takes alot of time

I reckon that depends on the person in question's level of experience. The fella who did mine took all of 37 minutes to do mine and that included removal and re-installation of the alternator itself off and then back on my car.

Upgrade the alt. Dont just rewind it. IMO you would be better off with a bigger alt.

If rewinding is a more economical option why wouldn't he want to go that route? The stock specs on my alternator was 75a @ 13.8vdc. After having a different voltage regulator, different stator, larger windings, and very different diodes put in it load tested at 165a @ 14.6vdc anywhere above 1500 RPM. Including removal, rebuilding, and re-installation it ran me $150. How would a >$200 Iraggi have been a better option? If vwjetta doesn't have any reputable rewinders locally certainly going the HO unit way is the best avenue to follow. However, if there is a less expensive and just as effective way to do it then why not go that way?

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

I need more power, I have 0 ga wire 3 extra redtop batteries

ditch the 3rd battery and get a bigger alternator.

So the second and forth battery are ok, but the third needs to go.....//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif

 

[UndercoverPunk 5,000+ posts]

Just get a HO alternator... you say you go big when you buy stuff... just buy an Iraggi alt and pay the extra $60-$99 to get a lifetime warranty.... seriously...

 

[bri487 5,000+ posts]

So the second and forth battery are ok, but the third needs to go.....//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif

i thought he only had three total. in a car, two auxillaries arent necessary. in my boat i have two just for the system and i can rock out for 5-6 hours on them and start the boat with them. i dont even have to touch my main battery, it is mainly just for emergencies.

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

I was just messing with ya, but there is never a problem with having to many GOOD batteries. That would be like having to much horsepower.....

Honestly - we dont even know if he has a problem...everyone seems to "think" they have issue's yet no voltmeter to tell

 

[bri487 5,000+ posts]

I was just messing with ya, but there is never a problem with having to many GOOD batteries. That would be like having to much horsepower.....
Honestly - we dont even know if he has a problem...everyone seems to "think" they have issue's yet no voltmeter to tell

but you need a good enough charging system to back them.

 

[Ctminime 10+ year member]

Just get a HO alternator... you say you go big when you buy stuff... just buy an Iraggi alt and pay the extra $60-$99 to get a lifetime warranty.... seriously...

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/word.gif.64b12e39f936af3b4fff38a1c0bd0244.gif

 

[Fordfool302 10+ year member]

I have 3 redtop optima batteries. 1 for the in the engine bay and 2 in the back right before the cap. The reason I think I need more power is because I ve seen what these woofers can do and right no there doin about have of what Ive seen. I don't turn it up good till I'm driving so everything somewhat charges. My lights will dimm and I can here them starven for more power.

Does anyone know why the extra batteries and cap would hurt my power?

 

[UndercoverPunk 5,000+ posts]

I have 3 redtop optima batteries. 1 for the in the engine bay and 2 in the back right before the cap. The reason I think I need more power is because I ve seen what these woofers can do and right no there doin about have of what Ive seen. I don't turn it up good till I'm driving so everything somewhat charges. My lights will dimm and I can here them starven for more power.
Does anyone know why the extra batteries and cap would hurt my power?

Because your alt has to charge those too... they store power and once you drain them pretty good somthing needs to charge them, so if you're driving around and they aren't fully charged you have to charge them and feed your amp at the same time.

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

Does anyone know why the extra batteries and cap would hurt my power?

Strangely enough - for the same reason that you installed those things: extra power storage capacity.

Batteries and mobile audio capacitors do not create power - they merely store the power that's available. The charging system has a finite capacity and once the gear drawing off of that capacity reaches its limit then by adding more and more and more things for that charging system to have to supply results in your going backwards in your quest for more juice rather than forward.

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

Right, and we dont know what he has...........

Just because he has an added draw does not mean the stock system is over whelmed. Now if you drive 24/7 with sweeps and test tones, he'll be punishing the charging system. If you drive with the stereo off or down for 10 minutes the system will have caught back up with the draw and voltage will be fine. Put a voltmeter on your dash and drive around, you'll see what I mean

 

[UndercoverPunk 5,000+ posts]

Right, and we dont know what he has...........
Just because he has an added draw does not mean the stock system is over whelmed. Now if you drive 24/7 with sweeps and test tones, he'll be punishing the charging system. If you drive with the stereo off or down for 10 minutes the system will have caught back up with the draw and voltage will be fine. Put a voltmeter on your dash and drive around, you'll see what I mean

If his lights are dimming he has a problem...

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

Right, and we dont know what he has...........
Just because he has an added draw does not mean the stock system is over whelmed. Now if you drive 24/7 with sweeps and test tones, he'll be punishing the charging system. If you drive with the stereo off or down for 10 minutes the system will have caught back up with the draw and voltage will be fine. Put a voltmeter on your dash and drive around, you'll see what I mean

I do have a voltmeter near my dash. It's built into my radar detector and according to a Fluke meter it reads about .5vdc lower than actual system voltage.
Furthermore - we do have an idea of what he's running - a 100a alternator, 3kW worth of bass amps + whatever Kenwood amp is running his highs, 3 batteries, and a 15 farad cap.

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

Which could be as simple as a ground - all those extra battieries - did you add ground to help charge them? With three batteries and a 15F cap, I get the feeling installation is the problem.

 

[Fordfool302 10+ year member]

Right, and we dont know what he has...........
Just because he has an added draw does not mean the stock system is over whelmed. Now if you drive 24/7 with sweeps and test tones, he'll be punishing the charging system. If you drive with the stereo off or down for 10 minutes the system will have caught back up with the draw and voltage will be fine. Put a voltmeter on your dash and drive around, you'll see what I mean

Thats about right I dont sit there and slam um all day I know when everything is drained down and needs to charge up again