rumors/facts/truth?

[Ali1 10+ year member]

So what's the deal with these statements going around saying that extra batteries will not help unless you listen while the car is off. I have a stock alt 105amps. It charges at 14.2 @ idle. I bought a HO alternator, failed on me twice, so i am going to stick with the stock. My stock kept a 14.2 charge at idle, while my HO alternator kept a 12.1 charge no matter what....

So, i am thinking about getting 2-3 yellowtops in the trunk, since i can get them for a great deal instead of the HO alternator. Would that help me while I am driving? I never use my sounds while they are off. I just want the facts because i keep hearing 2nd batteries will/wont help and I'm just confused.....if i add 2-3 yellowtops in the trunk, will they help with steady voltage or no?Do they benefit anything besides while the car being off?

big3 has already been done in 1/0G!

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[Ali1 10+ year member]

Does mutliple batteries help stabilize voltage dips?

 

[FOSGATE JOE 10+ year member]

don't no a bout 3 batteriers but i have 2 in my car and it helped with my diming a hole lot

 

[Ali1 10+ year member]

did it really? so it basically smoothened out your voltage drops?

 

[lilmaniac2 5,000+ posts]

if u bought a quality ho alt it wouldnt have screwed up on u //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[prochobo 10+ year member]

Does mutliple batteries help stabilize voltage dips?

Yes they do. People that say multiple batts are not good unless you play with your car off are idiots, don't listen to them.

Your alt charges at 14.2, batteries are in the 12v range. When your voltage dips into the 12v range, you know you're dipping into your battery. Say with 1 battery, you're dropping to 10v. If you add a second battery, you may be able to stabilize your voltage so that it never dips under 12v.

The point of adding batteries is to keep the voltage stabilized. Then there are the myths that say you'll never be able to charge them with the alt. Wrong, you're playing music which doesn't take a huge toll like tones and you'll be able to charge your batts just fine. Unless you play with your music cranked to max with non stop basslines and voltage at 10v every second you drive, you won't have a problem.

 

[danteBirosel 5,000+ posts]

ygpm

 

[Ali1 10+ year member]

Well, i bgouth a 200amp alternator from EA. For some reason, it never charged pass 12.1v wether it was 900rpm or 3000rpm. So i gave it back for a second try. It did the same the same thing. But my stock and my previous 160amp charged 14.2v @ idle.

so do batteries really benefit or no?

 

[FOSGATE JOE 10+ year member]

Yes !!!you Will Be Fine With 2

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Yes they do. People that say multiple batts are not good unless you play with your car off are idiots, don't listen to them.
Your alt charges at 14.2, batteries are in the 12v range. When your voltage dips into the 12v range, you know you're dipping into your battery. Say with 1 battery, you're dropping to 10v. If you add a second battery, you may be able to stabilize your voltage so that it never dips under 12v.

The point of adding batteries is to keep the voltage stabilized. Then there are the myths that say you'll never be able to charge them with the alt. Wrong, you're playing music which doesn't take a huge toll like tones and you'll be able to charge your batts just fine. Unless you play with your music cranked to max with non stop basslines and voltage at 10v every second you drive, you won't have a problem.

Crank your car while measuring the voltage on the battery. It shouldn't dip below 12V while cranking the car. If it does dip below that you will probably be looking at getting a new battery in he near term. If your system is drawing more amperage than the starter of your car, you'd better have at least one high output alt, period. If it isn't (and I seriously doubt that it is) and you are getting voltage drops at the amp down to 10V you have inadequate wiring. Most likey the reason that you got good results with a second battery is the proximity of that battery to the amps. Since the extra voltage of a transient that requires dipping into the battery reserve has to only use the ground return path back to the rear battery, the voltage lost on the ground path is less. If you have adequate wiring, especially grounds (large gauge back to the battery), then one good battery will usually have the same result with the car running as adding more batteries in the trunk.

 

[AJ²06 5,000+ posts]

Extra batts never hurt. Period. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Ali1 10+ year member]

Extra batts never hurt. Period. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

well, if they are doing the same thing like one battery, than i am wasting lots of money. So i wanted confirmation that adding batteries stabilizes your voltage.....

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Extra batts never hurt. Period. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Except the wallet...

If the alt is so grossly undersized that the extra capacity of a second battery is needed, then is isn't going to hurt but it won't nearly solve the problem either. If you just want something to stabilize the voltage, your are using the extra battery for its capacitance, not its capacity. If that is what you are looking for, an electrolytic capacitor (not a carbon or hybrid) is really going to be a cheaper, and much lighter solution.

 

[Megalomaniac 5,000+ posts]

so does EA sux in your opinion Ali?

 

[Ali1 10+ year member]

i don't know man.....

There's people saying that their alts work like a charm. I had a 200amp alternator from him brand new and I installed it, it wouldn't charge passed 12.1v at any RPM level. I shipped it back to him, he said he fixed it and returned it back to me. After i installed it, it did the same thing. My main point is that my stock alternator and my 160amp alternator charged 14.2v at idle. so i know it's not my car......

I just wanted a refund after the second time because I might be better off with 2-3 yellowtops in the trunk