More Batteries or More Alt

[All_Logix 10+ year member]

A strait answer on this would be great. I have a new car and I need more power, so naturally I was looking into new alt, but there is a good chance it will void my wonderful warranty from Honda. Then I have had numerous people who have more experience than I do tell me to just add some batteries in the back and I would be fine...around 1500 RMS at full tilt, which makes sense, but wouldn't more batteries just strain my alt even more trying to recharge them all

Click to read more...

 

[All_Logix 10+ year member]

No one...

 

[05fronty 5,000+ posts]

my alt is 110. i have 2 ups 100amp batts in back. running 1500 watts rms for like 2 years now and still have the same alt.

 

[MONSONwarrior Premium Member]

Alt is always the way to go, your car runs off the alt, not batteries... A lot of us just run batteries because a.) we already have bigger alts or b.) we need some sort of reserve for larger hits or for when the car is off.

Right now I'm at my limit on alts because the dual bracket replaces my A/C which I'm not willing to do, so now I'm just going to start a battery bank.

 

[Chriszle 10+ year member]

A strait answer on this would be great. I have a new car and I need more power, so naturally I was looking into new alt, but there is a good chance it will void my wonderful warranty from Honda. Then I have had numerous people who have more experience than I do tell me to just add some batteries in the back and I would be fine...around 1500 RMS at full tilt, which makes sense, but wouldn't more batteries just strain my alt even more trying to recharge them all

A decent car audio battery may draw 10-20 amps to charge, but can provide quite a bit more current, which is why adding a battery is a viable option for you. One decent battery should be enough, but you can always check your voltage and if it is dropping too much add another. It really just depends on how much current your stock alt is providing.

 

[infamous_e46 5,000+ posts]

if you have a newer honda they have that new voltage regulating thing where its dam near impossible to run more juice

 

[All_Logix 10+ year member]

Yeah it is a brand new Honda, but DC power has some alts that are made for it...and the stock alt is putting out 90 amps

 

[jdmferio13 10+ year member]

What year civic I have an 08 si

 

[05fronty 5,000+ posts]

if you have a newer honda they have that new voltage regulating thing where its dam near impossible to run more juice

are you talking where they drop in power after driving for a bit. my fronty does that. starts at 14.4 then drops down a volt. i've been told there is a way around that though.

 

[All_Logix 10+ year member]

I have a 2011 LX, I had heard that HO alts messed with the ECU but DC Power assured me that it was made to cooperate with all of those things...

 

[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

I have IIRC a 90 amp alty in my car and I have had 0/1g throughout car off a redtop Optima batter up front and a Powermaster XS (Forget model now) in back and had a Hifonics Brutus Class D amp wired for 2-0hm doing 1700rms give or take and took it like a champ for over a year.

I dont get to much dimming of the lights and I put up good numbers with that car. I would think you would be fine with a couple batteries.

I do recommend the Big 3 though, which helped me a lot.

 

[All_Logix 10+ year member]

Yeah big 3 is already done. When you say last for a year, did you move to something else or have trouble after that...plus I want to eliminate dimming all together

 

[disturbed471985 5,000+ posts]

Alt if you got the money or plan on going bigger in the future. Extra batt if your a broke man like me and have no plans of going any bigger.