I want to run 2000rms to 3000rms HELP

[FreeBasser 10+ year member]

I have a 2003 honda civic, and I have heard every different bit of advice imaginable about how to upgrade my electrical system. I am currently running a 1200rms@1ohm amplifier and i kno even that is not getting full power from factory electrics. I eventually want to upgrade to 2000 or even 3000 rms and want to begin the overhaul now.

I can gander that at minimum, I need a Big 3 0/1 gauge upgrade and an HO alternator thats probably 200-250 amps?

I even had a guy tell me extra batteries are only useful if car is OFF cuz when ON power comes almost exclusively from the Alternator so just get an extremely HO alternator. I'm just confused.

So, seriously, wtf do i do? please be complete, cuz little tidbits combined with other little tidbits just confuses the situation more. D*mn it!!!!

Click to read more...

 

[pjvoc 10+ year member]

Do this:

-Big 3

- 0 Gague

-200 HO ALT

-Upgrade Front Battery (dry cell)

-Get 1 HUGE Batt For The Back, or 2 the more the better

gl with your upgrades

 

[terra 5,000+ posts]

ok..so the amp draws power from the batteries first. its like the first line of defense. so having a good bank of batteries is helpful because the amount of power being taken by the amp is split up between the battery supply you have, letting voltage drop less. The alt then has to recharge those batteries in like..fractions of a second. The stronger the alt, the quicker it will recharge and the more batteries it can charge. So you can break it down into 2 sections that way. I'd recommend a 250amp alt and say..2 kinetik 2400's in the back so that you can easily run 3k..more later if you want.

goodluck

 

[pjvoc 10+ year member]

ok..so the amp draws power from the batteries first. its like the first line of defense. so having a good bank of batteries is helpful because the amount of power being taken by the amp is split up between the battery supply you have, letting voltage drop less. The alt then has to recharge those batteries in like..fractions of a second. The stronger the alt, the quicker it will recharge and the more batteries it can charge. So you can break it down into 2 sections that way. I'd recommend a 250amp alt and say..2 kinetik 2400's in the back so that you can easily run 3k..more later if you want.goodluck

x2 good explanation

 

[FreeBasser 10+ year member]

Thanks great useful answers guys, but a few more quick questions...

alright, the thing about the batteries. A guy told me that having too many batteries will actually screw things up cuz the alternator has to recharge them and works harder if you run more batteries or some crazy shit so as far as stabilizing the voltage, wouldn't capacitors and an HO do fine? maybe only one extra battery?

Or is this completely misguided bullsh*t?

Whichever way, is there any use in running capacitors?

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

The alt only has to work harder with more batteries if they are allowed to discharge a lot. If you have a high average current draw, not usually an issue with music but stuff with loud droning bass will up the increase the average current draw, you'll benefit from a larger alt. As long as the alt can keep up with the average draw, not the peak draw, because even an HO alt will not be able to keep up with the transient peaks of a high powered system, the batteries will not discharge and will not be an appreciably larger strain than a single battery.

 

[DidUHearThat? 10+ year member]

The main thing is you MUST have a HO alternator, and good cabling, to power this all. You could probably get away with only one good battery, but more batteries will give you more "cushion" for big voltage dips from loud bass notes.

3000 watts at 14 volts = 214 amps, not including what your car needs to operate. So your amp, cabling and batteries need to be up to that range. There are also going to be voltage dips, music peaks and thermal issues, so the more "cushion" from the alt and batteries the better.

10 batteries won't help you if your amp is draining them faster than your alt can charge them.

Don't even say the word "capacitor" again.

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

The main thing is you MUST have a HO alternator, and good cabling, to power this all. You could probably get away with only one good battery, but more batteries will give you more "cushion" for big voltage dips from loud bass notes.3000 watts at 14 volts = 214 amps, not including what your car needs to operate. So your amp, cabling and batteries need to be up to that range. There are also going to be voltage dips, music peaks and thermal issues, so the more "cushion" from the alt and batteries the better.

10 batteries won't help you if your amp is draining them faster than your alt can charge them.

You're acting like the system will actually produce 3000w. It won't even come close in real world use. There might be some transients that peak up there but the average power output will probably be not even approach 500w. Assuming 70% efficiency you're only looking at a 50A average draw. Many stock alts can muster that. A slightly upgraded alt will usually be more than enough. For those big peaks though the battery bank will make all the difference. The alt won't react nearly quick enough to help with quick transients but a bank of good batteries won't have problem.

Don't even say the word "capacitor" again.

Agreed. Totally pointless.