need some help with my electrical system

[tegan14 10+ year member]

I have a 15" Fi Q powered by a hifonics 1608d. I did the big three (sorta I haven't done chassis to engine which I am doing tm) with 0 gauge. My amp keeps turning off cue the volts are getting too low. Any suggestions on how to prevent it? Will another battery help? This guy I talked to said it won't help it will only let it play a little longer than it normally does before turning off

Click to read more...

 

[05fronty 5,000+ posts]

have you checked your ground?

 

[tegan14 10+ year member]

yes my ground is fine as far as I can tell, im pretty sure the reason it is shutting down is because my voltage drops so low...amps do that right? if my voltage goes past something like 11 volts my amp will shut off so my car doesnt shut down right?

If I am correct in what I just said, what I am asking is other then doing the big 3 is there anyway to upgrade my electrical system? Will adding another battery in my trunk actually do anything? Btw I am aware I can get a HO alt but I do not have the money for that.

Thanks for any help

 

[TurdFergueson2 5,000+ posts]

change your up front battery if you can. Not sure what you have in there now, but I would do that first. Well I would have done the big 3 first, but the up front battery is the second thing I would change. Try that and see where your voltage is. I was getting 13.5-13.9 off of a Red top and the big 3. I had no substage at the time so I had no idea how far it would have dropped.

 

[tegan14 10+ year member]

im using a 6 y/o energizer 650 amp battery, I went to pep boys and they have 2 batterys one 640 amp (Energizer) and one 650 amp (Boscher?), hopefully tommorrow when I finish the big three it will help out...

 

[99grandprixGT 5,000+ posts]

what kind of Car? also how did u set the gain? did you measure the voltage while playing to see what your at?

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

i would get an agm type battery like a kinetik. that way you do not have to worry about water or corrosion...also should work better and last longer

 

[x2o 10+ year member]

im using a 6 y/o energizer 650 amp battery, I went to pep boys and they have 2 batterys one 640 amp (Energizer) and one 650 amp (Boscher?), hopefully tommorrow when I finish the big three it will help out...

I wouldn't go with either of those personally. You should look into a deep cycle, the most common ones to find locally would be the Optima Yellow Tops. These aren't too bad price-wise and will be a huge help on your electrical system. If your up to ordering a battery online, I've had great experiences with the PowerMaster XS series of AGM batteries. Also you can go with Kinetik or Stinger.

 

[tegan14 10+ year member]

what kind of Car? also how did u set the gain? did you measure the voltage while playing to see what your at?

98 toyota avalon, i have the gain at a little over 3/4 but I turned it down to 1/2 so it doesnt keep shutting off. I have not measured the voltage yet

 

[efm80 10+ year member]

98 toyota avalon, i have the gain at a little over 3/4 but I turned it down to 1/2 so it doesnt keep shutting off. I have not measured the voltage yet

over 3/4?? theres your problem. Its probably clipping like a bi#$%.

eddie

 

[jrwalte 10+ year member]

He's probably not clipping at 3/4. And even so, that's not the problem. His electrical can't supply the power demand.

That's a pretty crappy old battery you have. If you don't want to order a Kinetik/Powermaster, at least get an Optima yellow top. If you're running at 1 ohm, you're going to need at least two batteries, as well. And if that doesn't resolve the issue, you'd need to get a 180 amp + HO alt. You may also have a weak/high resistant negative connection from amp to battery/alt causing your voltage to drop abnormally low.

 

[tegan14 10+ year member]

thanks for the help! I let my friend use my amp who has a 95 accord with only the big three done. He was able to run his 15" fully loaded btl fine. We both used the same wires for the big 3, we both have standard battery nothing special. I can't imagine he has more amps coming out of his alt cus my car is bigger ("luxury" car with more stock electrical things, v6 engine) so it should have a higher output. Does that reinforce the idea of the high resistant negative connection?

 

[tegan14 10+ year member]

it is pretty frustrating that my old Sony xplöd/rf p2s are currently louder then my new stuff. Well I'm looking now at getting a mechman 250a alt

 

[tegan14 10+ year member]

getting the new alt will solve all my problems right

 

[jrwalte 10+ year member]

I'd do some tests first and post your results:

1) To see if you have a bad wiring somewhere, play the system as loud as you can with a test tone while the car is running. Take a DMM reading at your alt, front bat and then amp with the same test tone playing at the same volume

2) Take a DMM reading at your battery with car off and no stereo.

3) Take a DMM reading at your battery with car running and no stereo.

4) Have your battery load tested by an auto store to determine if the battery is going bad.