should i get a 2nd alt

[rtyauch301]

i currently have 6 diamond D3 10's on 2 american bass 100.1's... i was running the factory alternator with 5 yellow tops i recently lost the alt and just ordered a 320 amp alternator from mechman.. i plan on adding 2 more 100.1's and replacing the 6 10's with 2 nightshade 15's should i add more batteries or a 2nd alternator.

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[dboy727]

what to look at is simple you only get out what you can put in volts(x)available amps=potential watts cars run at 14.4v normally some 16 or 18v a stock alt pushes out 110amps minus 50-65 amps for cars on board electrical system giving you about 50 amps left, =720 watts potential output, in your case your getting a 320 amp alt minus say 65 amps if you have ac gives you 255 amps times 14.4 gives you 3672 watts of potential output batteries have amp hours think of them as a bank account but if you withdraw more than your alts can replenish over time you will lose power and have to charge the batteries again to regain full power. batteries are nice if your doing shows and dont want to have your car running constant. but if your amps are less than 3600 watts rms altogether highs and lows you will be fine.

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

I think it's a ridiculous oversimplification when people try to put hard and fast numbers on a situation like this.

First of all, I have NEVER heard of a car running at 16-18v unless it's a dual alt system -- one dedicated to high voltage amps.

There are SOOOO many variables in play here that it's impossible to predict how it's going to work out.

I don't know much about these amps, but from what I've read they're ~1500w rms at full tilt.

The question is -- do you sit around blasting test tones 24/7 or do you typically listen at a bearable volume and blast it out for show-off sessions once in a while??

If that's the case - the batteries should carry the addl. load for a few minutes with no problem.

Even with 6kw of power on tap your 320A alt will have plenty of output at low-moderate volume.

If you have 6kw of potential amp power playing MUSIC -- you're looking at ROUGHLY 200A of current draw on AVERAGE at FULL volume. Bursts to 600-650A would be picked up by the batteries.

Do the alt upgrade and see what you get.

If there are issues - deal with them.

If you have semi-reasonable listening habits I would think it will run fine.