Need help

[all.mixed.up 10+ year member]

whats up I am having a bit of trouble with my system I have 2 audiopipe 12s and a 1600 watt power acoustic amp I'm only pushing 370@2ohms that isn't much I know. Well I did the big three and a new battery but still having dimming lights and low voltage drop. I'm not sure whats going on, I want to fix this problem before I get my new amp and subs in tomorrow. I am getting 2 re audio 15s with a hifonics 1500 watt class D mono block amp and I will be pushing 1500wrms@1ohm so I am trying to fix this. If any of you have any ideas what this could be please feel free and let me know something. I am new to this so I am trying to do everything right. I am lost............ and another thing I have ordered this new 220 amp alt, I know thats alot more then what I need but I did that so in case I want to up grade later well my question is it says the idle amperage is 105 or 110 I can't quite remember but is that any good. Thanks in advance.......................

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[daboyfrumdabx 10+ year member]

You're actually pushing less than 370 as PA amps are overrated. Meaning you have a serious flaw in your charging system as just about any stock system should sustain that power with ease. Good to hear you've done the big 3. Have you measured your voltage? It'd be nice to see what voltage your system sits at at idle as well as with the subs going. Next step would be to make your way to a local parts store(autozone, advance auto, etc) and have your battery and alternator load tested. They will perform this service for free in hopes that should a replacement be necessary, you'll buy from them right there. This test will determine if the alt of battery are in need of replacement. In your case, we'll hope it's the alt as you already have a new one on the way.

105-110 at idle isn't terrible since it's only a 220A alt, but it's certainly not great. What brand is the alt?

 

[all.mixed.up 10+ year member]

delco is the brand of the alt. I know that isn't great but its all that I could afford. I just bought the battery 3 days ago from autozone. I haven't measured my voltage yet how would I go about doing that. and if its my alt would that 220 alt power a 1500 wrms system even at idle with no voltage drop. To me it seems like my alt is bad because like you said I should be having voltage drop like that. I went to sound station and security and the guy said it was either my alt or my batt, so I guess I will ease on up to advance or autozone and have them tested. But please let me know about that 220 alt because if it won't work I need to cancel that order. thanks

 

[all.mixed.up 10+ year member]

also would I need to take the alt off so that autozone can test it or can they do it with it on? And when I have my system unhooked and I turn on my heat my voltage drops a little too not as bad as when my system is running tho. To me that sounds like my alt but I am no mechanic. I'm not sure..........

 

[daboyfrumdabx 10+ year member]

Apparently they can test while the stuff is still in the car, they have a little rolling cart, so park close. I personally would feel better removing it and having it bench tested as that will give you legit details, whereas a corroded wire can skew the results while in the car. You measure voltage with a voltmeter. Pick up a DMM(Digital Multimeter) if you don't already have one. Just a cheap one. It'll come in handy in lots of other ways, but especially anything pertaining to this hobby.

I wouldn't have bothered replacing a battery until I knew that was the problem and had already ruled out the alt. A dying alt can kill a brand new battery very quickly.

Delco doesn't make H.O. alts. Apparently you bought a delco-cased H.O. alt. What is the name of the company you got it from? Or did you get one of those cheap ebay ones? If so, what kind of car do you drive (make, model, year, engine) and how much did you spend on this one?

 

[all.mixed.up 10+ year member]

Yes I got it from ebay I couldn't afford one from anywhere else. was that a bad choose the person that it came from was RZALTERNATOR&STARTER I read all the comments and everyone said that they order them to and said everything was perfect. They have a 99.7 5 positive feedback. Powermax-alternator is his profile. I paid $160 for it,and my other batt was bad already had that tested along with my alt I forgot about that it was putting out I believe 13.9v @ 1500 rpms thats with everything off. But everytime I hit the brakes and put it in reverse the gauge goes down and my meter drops. If I turn the blicker on the nettle flickers. So I really think its the alt. But you know more than I do I'm just learning so.............. It says on the page manufacture is delco so I don't know this is starting to get real technical. So whats up with this alt? My truck is a 1998 chevy blazer 4.3L

 

[daboyfrumdabx 10+ year member]

I'm not going to call it automatic junk as I truly know nothing about that particular company. However, I would feel confident saying that you likely would've done better to save money until you could afford something from a more reliable source. I'd take it to a parts store and have it tested asap upon arrival to ensure it does the power it claims.