New battery or alternator?????

[SSS 18734 5,000+ posts]

You'd see more of a benefit from a HO alternator when the car is running. But I wouldn't run that much power just of the POS battery you probably have in there right now. So keep the car on at least.

If I were you, I would save up and buy both at the same time, and just deal with not having your system's full potential for the time being.

 

[Im a scammer]

I run my power from the front to the battery in the back *fused*with another power wire *fused* going to my amp then the ground to the trunk latch (best ground in the trunk) then one ground to the amp

 

[GMCJimmyslt2000 10+ year member]

ok....first try a new batt in the back.Also upgrade all ur wire to 0/1gauge

if dimming continues save up and buy a HO alt. THan throw the batt in the back, up front.

 

[UNDERGROUND_BUM 10+ year member]

but having a high output alt can hurt my stock battery can it?

 

[UNDERGROUND_BUM 10+ year member]

ok....first try a new batt in the back.Also upgrade all ur wire to 0/1gauge
if dimming continues save up and buy a HO alt. THan throw the batt in the back, up front.

can a batt in the back hurt my stock alt? or strain it at all?

 

[GMCJimmyslt2000 10+ year member]

no, not at all. A HO alt is just a alt that puts out more amps. ITs gonna keep ur voltage at a steady number, should be between 14-14.2, or something around there.

and when u do decide to get the alt, def buy a quality one. THe cheapo ones, put out decnt voltage with high rpms, but at idle they are worse than the stock.

look into iraggi, mean grean, and theres a ton more of quality alt manufactures, just can think of any lol

 

[UNDERGROUND_BUM 10+ year member]

ok i will try batt in trunk first....... and run 0 gauge to it. but can someone confirm its ok to ground in the trunk.

thanks alot for all your help everyone

 

[Im a scammer]

I ground in my trunk right where there trunk locks theres 2 bolts holding that latch in place unscrew one and put your ground there. I have never had a problem grounding there

 

[GMCJimmyslt2000 10+ year member]

ur fine grounding the batt in the back. SOme ppl will say to run a - wire all the way to the batt but in a DD ur good to ground to the chasis.

Be careful not to play the system witht he car off or else ur gonna drain both batts and be stranded and get fita. U could get a istolator, which will prevent the batts from deing or just not play ur system with the car off

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

when you ground anything it should be to the chassis in some fashion. just grounding to metal isnt a good ground in a unibody car. grounds and power wires ran (like through door jams LOL) are always one of the things i help fix for the kid's around here...that and trying too hook up legit 800++ watt amps with 10 ga wire. Here is a big hint if people around you who help do installs really know wtf they are doing

1. they run power wire from under the hood through a door jam or tell you its ok- don't listen to them

2. you have a 500 dollar+++ amp and they tell you to get a 15 dollar amp install kit with skinny wire---

3 when they run wire in a car it should be AT LEAST semi neat and the power wire should be AWAY from the hot parts of the engine.

4. when you install an amp to a car (anything 200 watts or more) i would just do the big 3.

I do not mean to be dumping on your thread but i just got done fixxing a couple systems here and all the above was what was wrong with both. Started off fixxing a buddies step daughters system that was installed by her BF then 2 days later she sent her BF here for me to fix his....LOL

 

[UNDERGROUND_BUM 10+ year member]

ur fine grounding the batt in the back. SOme ppl will say to run a - wire all the way to the batt but in a DD ur good to ground to the chasis.
Be careful not to play the system witht he car off or else ur gonna drain both batts and be stranded and get fita. U could get a istolator, which will prevent the batts from deing or just not play ur system with the car off

where can i get an istolator ? and does running your system with your car off with 2 batts drain faster? then running your system with your car off and 1 battery

 

[jdawg 5,000+ posts]

you never said how old you battery is now. You may just need a new one. 1200w isnt too serious and I have put systems in cars around 1000w on subs with a good battery and stock alt with minimal dimming.

 

[GMCJimmyslt2000 10+ year member]

where can i get an istolator ? and does running your system with your car off with 2 batts drain faster? then running your system with your car off and 1 battery

u can find a isolator on ebay or at any caraudio shop.

yes it does drain the batteries faster cause u have double the batts.

 

[Im a scammer]

when you ground anything it should be to the chassis in some fashion. just grounding to metal isnt a good ground in a unibody car. grounds and power wires ran (like through door jams LOL) are always one of the things i help fix for the kid's around here...that and trying too hook up legit 800++ watt amps with 10 ga wire. Here is a big hint if people around you who help do installs really know wtf they are doing 1. they run power wire from under the hood through a door jam or tell you its ok- don't listen to them

2. you have a 500 dollar+++ amp and they tell you to get a 15 dollar amp install kit with skinny wire---

3 when they run wire in a car it should be AT LEAST semi neat and the power wire should be AWAY from the hot parts of the engine.

4. when you install an amp to a car (anything 200 watts or more) i would just do the big 3.

I do not mean to be dumping on your thread but i just got done fixxing a couple systems here and all the above was what was wrong with both. Started off fixxing a buddies step daughters system that was installed by her BF then 2 days later she sent her BF here for me to fix his....LOL

Well said

 

[UNDERGROUND_BUM 10+ year member]

u can find a isolator on ebay or at any caraudio shop.
yes it does drain the batteries faster cause u have double the batts.

does it matter on how big the isolater is? like if i get a 200amp isolater will it be fine with my stock alt and 2 batts