Issues with voltage drop

[07silvy 10+ year member]

Hey guys. I have a 2007 silverado with a 13w7 and a pioneer d-5000spl. I have done the big 3 and added a hc600 battery and I am still getting voltage drop. I took the truck to autozone and had the battery and alt tested and they were good. I dont know how reliable the alt test was. I have done some reading and have found that my truck has an "active" alternator. It acts kind of like an ac compressor and only comes on when the battery needs to be charged. I am trying to narrow this voltage drop issue down and I am wondering if any of you guys know about this alternator design and if that could be causing the issue. I even put a smaller amp in the truck and it doesnt clip like the pioneer BUT my lights do dim horribly and i can watch my volt gauge drain in my truck. Any advice is appreciated.

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[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

How much power are you running? Are all possible bass boosts turned off? Did you test the kinetik or the front battery? What kind of drop are you getting?

 

[07silvy 10+ year member]

the amp is 1500rms and i had gain on about 75% and yes all bass boosts were off. I tested the front battery. and i was getting a drop from 13ish down to 10 at the amp. And my volt gauge on my truck will be at 14 and if the sub hits a long low note it will drain down to 10 very fast and stay there for a while...

 

[brodeisel 10+ year member]

try turning ac on? and see if there is as big of a voltage drop.

 

[07silvy 10+ year member]

tried the ac deal... I dunno if that engages the alt or not but it didnt work.

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Sounds to me like your alternator needs to be replaced.If you do, I recommend putting a little more towards a HO alternator that can be more sufficient for you.Or,..I m almost certain that you can add a second alternator just for the system alone?Most alternator rebuild shops can/ or have barckets, and belts to do, and even a scamatic to show you how.Its been since 1990 that I ran 2 alternators, yet, it was on a 87 Toyota, and was easy to do, and lots of room.But I have seen it before on newer chevys.I believe the biggest Alternator you can buy over the counter is a 140amp.It helped me, but still wasnt enough for my needs.98X-cab,so I had one made that went in the stock location at 255amp,and have never had an issue with 2 redtops. Id try the biggest alternator you can get a core on, and see if that will work before spending $300 on a hudge alternator.You may not even have a 110?The Car makers try to get by with as little as possible..I mean, look at the stock radios compared to aftermarkets is just an example.You can also take the alter off and take it up to Orielys, and they can test it seperately as well?//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif