Moderate output alternators?

[aggybong 10+ year member]

My 1995 Toyota Camry has an 80amp alt and my lights slighty dim when I'm only at 450w gain wise, when my amps can handle near 1000w. However, this isn't what I'm worried about. I am more concerned for the health of my two amps, both of which get extremely hot after an hour or so of use. They even sometimes go into protection mode, and I'm now fairly certain that this is what killed my previous amp, which was a SoundStream Van Gogh 800.5.

I don't need something overly large, just around 120-130amp. I've seen the larger alternators and the accompanying large price tag, and I don't think I need or can afford to go that high. I am just looking for something fairly cheap that will save me from having two dead amps. I've already eaten a $300 loss, which could have went to an alternator if I only realized what was going on

As a side note, I don't mind if the alternator idle amps are low, I am always driving when listening to music. For reference, my car sits at about 900rpm when idle.

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[SSS 18734 5,000+ posts]

well amplifiers naturally get hot when theyre being used... mine gets hot to the point that it will burn your skin if you touch it.

I think that you might have a problem other than simply not having a big enough alternator if it always goes into protect... maybe some of the more knowledgable guys on here can help you out on this situation

 

[aggybong 10+ year member]

I don't think it could be anything else besides the weak alternator. I should really check for voltage drops to see just how bad it is

 

[bigred78797 10+ year member]

First check your ground. Is it on bare metal... are you using the same size ground as power wire.

Second What size wire are you using for your entire setup.

If you can get a second battery and connect it... you can get one for 59 bucks. When i first got my new setup in my car it was running off a stock 95 amp alt i believe and i was running 2400w so you shouldn't need a new alt with that much power.

 

[aggybong 10+ year member]

Well, the wiring seems fine to me

Battery with 2 inch 4 gauge connected to a 150amp fuse > 4 Gauge to back seat > 4 gauge into a distribution block that splits into two four feet 8gauge wire protected by 2x60amp fuses, which then lead to the amps. The grounds for the amps are 4gauge

The two amps share the same ground point, which is just a hole drilled near the back seat with a metal spiked spacer between the ring terminal and the trunk.

About my alertnaor...I haven't done the Big 3, mainly because I **** with cars and I don't want to kill myself doing it. Also, it could be 70amp instead of 80amp, I know my car can come with two different ones, I just haven't bothered to check yet.

 

[bigred78797 10+ year member]

eh well just check at a pep boys or something they usually have up to 110's for most cars... i still don't think it's your alt.. that's just me personally. Just make sure the gound is on bare metal of the chassie.

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

Well, Excessive Amperage is having a group by right now. You'll be able to get a 200amp that cuts-on @900rpm for WELL less than $300 in the group buy!

NG

 

[aggybong 10+ year member]

200amp is too much for me, let alone the price. I don't need something huge, just 110-130amp //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

200amp is too much for me, let alone the price. I don't need something huge, just 110-130amp //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

Well when you can get one in a group buy...that is 100+amp @idle (a regular 110-1130 will only be 55-65 @ idle). Why not get it when it'll prolly be in the low 200's //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

You'll pay **** near that for a regular 110-130...not on sale or any of that shit. Stay away from alterstart and Motor City Reman...just to let you know.

NG

 

[bran55 10+ year member]

how do you do this "group buy"?

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

Look around the forum //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

NG

 

[aggybong 10+ year member]

How much voltage drop is too much? I just went out to the car and put on a bass heavy song, and the voltage started out at 14v, then as I turned the volume up, dropped as low as 12.5. This is only at 450w, what happens when I actually want to fully use my 2 chan amp which will add an extra 150w? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

That sucks....balls man. Just do it right the first time. Check out the group buy...DO IT@!!!!

NG

PS: He might even do a 180 amp for you gor cheaper //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif