Safe voltages/proper voltages

[des343 10+ year member]

I had a 220 amp alternator however the DC output went bad after little less than a month of installation. I removed it put my stock alt back in (04 neon).

I have my big 3 done. And have put a kenetic HC800 in the trunk all 4 gauge ofc wire throughout.

I have a SharkAudio 2500D on a Kicker L5 15". And a Jensen 680.4 on just stock speakers currently.

My lights don't suffer major dimming (at rest) but a little bit. When I crank my stereo my voltages drop to steady 11.0-11.5 volts and on more constant bass notes drop as low as 10.3 for a split second but mostly between 10.5-11.

I know these are not good but what is proper...clearly most are not going to be operating at 13+ volts under load but what is a fair and safe operating voltage? Keep in mind this was at rest with the system on blast and this isn't for any compitetion clearly. But sometimes I do enjoy turning it up very loud for a song or 2.

Thank you

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[DaytonLax14 10+ year member]

Generally people like to stay above around 12.5 volts.

I have the big 3, AGM under the hood, and all 0 gauge wire and I never go below 13.8

 

[des343 10+ year member]

Mine even when I'm not under much load I don't see anything more than maybe 12.9. Even before the HO alt went out and had no music playing I didn't even hit over 13.8

 

[wew lad 5,000+ posts]

Not sure if 04 Nissans turn the alternator off at idle or not, but 12v is probably the lowest I'd run my amp, it would be beneficial to run 1/0 ofc in my opinion

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

I recall some past problems with Neon's in general. There's something about them with unusually low voltage.

If you're not seeing 12.6+ MOST of the time, the battery isn't even getting charged and the alt is at 100% effort.

I haven't dug up the thread, but I think there was a shop owner on here dealing with a neon and low voltage and basically ended up having to replace all the stock wiring and connections because the sum of the parts amounted to a whole lot of resistance.

I had ~1100 in an older ford with a 75A alt and still ran at 13.4-13.6 at high volume. Just some dips to ~12.

11 dipping to 10 is not an acceptable situation.

 

[Massive spl]

12v and up or white smoke will come pouring out your amp.

 

[cocoleveo7686 10+ year member]

Mine even when I'm not under much load I don't see anything more than maybe 12.9. Even before the HO alt went out and had no music playing I didn't even hit over 13.8

you must be factory pcm controlled. I had the problem in my mazdaspeed 6 until I bypassed the pcm. Then with my HO alt from singer I was sitting at 14.4 all day. With 600 rms and 1 agm up front I help 14.4 lol. I got the big alt for my big battery but never tested voltage with it all in.

 

[BassDrop]

I got a question. I always hear music on my car while its off. Most of the time my voltage is 11.7-12.4... Ive been doing that for a while now and I've never had a problem but do I run the risk of ******* up my amp?

 

[des343 10+ year member]

you must be factory pcm controlled. I had the problem in my mazdaspeed 6 until I bypassed the pcm. Then with my HO alt from singer I was sitting at 14.4 all day. With 600 rms and 1 agm up front I help 14.4 lol. I got the big alt for my big battery but never tested voltage with it all in.

Someone else said this at one time but said that my battery light will probably bypass this. But doesn't make sense because I have big 3 so my alternator is hardwired to the battery.

How do I get rid of this?

 

[cocoleveo7686 10+ year member]

Someone else said this at one time but said that my battery light will probably bypass this. But doesn't make sense because I have big 3 so my alternator is hardwired to the battery.
How do I get rid of this?

Im not sure you can do it on your stock alt. but when i had my singer i had to run an ignition source wire to the alt to turn it on and i only connected the new power wire, didnt use the factory plug from my stock alt, use the one that was supplied.

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

I don't like to see less than 13v, but most people will tell you anything 12v and up is fine