Neccessary electrical upgrades?

[surreal 10+ year member]

I will have an saz-1500d hooked up to a D2 DD3515, along with a ~100x4 amp to my speakers.

I have the battery and engine ground done, but ive yet to get the alt to bat done as my alternator is practically hidden. First question is will I be OK without that alt-bat wire for a few weeks maybe before I can get to and upgrade it?

Since my system will be pulling almost 2kw I know Im due for an upgrade. I currently have an 'upgraded' AAA battery under the hood, with a rating of '690a' I believe it was. Im not too familar with batteries still, and if this isnt enough information then I can go back and check again later.

Should I leave that battery there, and get another reserve bat in the trunk? Or should I upgrade my hood battery, and leave it as the second? I know this will help, but Im unsure of my stock alternator (~110amps I think, '97 maxima GLE) being able to keep up.

This is just a daily pounder, and I wont be doing anything more with it. I will have 1/0 guage for the big3 and power wire between bat/amps.

Thanks, sorry for the long and disorganized post.

Click to read more...

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

2kw is a lot to pull off a stock alternator. It may run ok for awhile but you'd be better off upgrading your alt. And you'll need at least 2 good batts (1 hood/1 rear)

 

[surreal 10+ year member]

****, figured.

Ill be quitting my job today so I wont have much funds coming anytime soon.

Are there any decent HO alts that wont cost me 400 dollars?

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

****, figured.Ill be quitting my job today so I wont have much funds coming anytime soon.

Are there any decent HO alts that wont cost me 400 dollars?

You get what you pay for man. This is an expensive hobby. Cars are not designed to support large audio systems so if you want to play with the big boys and run big systems, be prepared to do some big upgrades on your electrical.

 

[surreal 10+ year member]

Very true.

Well, I think my stock alt is maybe 70 amps in my Maxima. I can buy a remanufactured 110 amp alt for about 120 locally. That isnt quite the 150 or so it seems I should have, but would I be OK then or have some extra wiggle room with that and at least a decent battery? Or should I go ahead and get a second battery now, which is easier, or shoot for the alt?

 

[byrdman75 10+ year member]

i say up ur alt first, have u ever looked into rebuilding your alt? its alot cheaper than buying a whole new one

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

Very true.
Well, I think my stock alt is maybe 70 amps in my Maxima. I can buy a remanufactured 110 amp alt for about 120 locally. That isnt quite the 150 or so it seems I should have, but would I be OK then or have some extra wiggle room with that and at least a decent battery? Or should I go ahead and get a second battery now, which is easier, or shoot for the alt?

110A is nothing...if you think about it, the manufacturer isn't going to put an alt on the car any larger than it needs to be. So your car can probably pull a good 40A by itself, which would only leave you with 70A MAX for your system (keep in mind your alt will probably not hit 110A all the time, it will be much less at lower RPM's). I mean at 100% efficiency, 2kw is going to draw about 140A, and no amps are 100% efficient. So I would really recommend you shoot for an alt that is at least 175A, 200A or more would be better.

 

[surreal 10+ year member]

Byrdman: Yes I have, although I dont know if it can be done to produce the output I need. If anyone has any input there thatd be great.

And ah, understood. Any suggestions for a budget alt that may give sufficient output?