Stock alternator/electrical system questions

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

You should be alright with the big three. I'm running 1500 on a 100a alt with no dimming at full tilt, no big three done yet. not sure what the amps draw but I would be certain you will be okay. If you do have any issues pick up a second battery.
Grab one of Ram's UPS12-300MR

http://www.caraudio.com/forums/electrical-wiring-classifieds/522149-rams-agm-battery-sale-thread-dfw-4.html

There is no telling he will be OK. I ran 1500 off my old 100amp and the car wanted to shut off at times. I had the Big 3 done and it helped but very slight, a trunk battery keep me from dimming but not for a full song full tilt.

 

[All_Logix 10+ year member]

...This is the reason I suggested taking it one step at a time, there are A LOT of factors that play into your setup. If your not worried about having it full tilt all of the time your probably not going to have many problems. Put it all in, if you get dim, do Big 3...still some dim replace battery under the hood. I know there are guys on here that will argue that but putting an HO alt in is not only expensive, if something goes wrong... you have so many issues to resolve. I am just agianst HO alts unless you have to and then I suggest you REALLY do your homework

 

[TheUnderFighter 10+ year member]

I'd like to see this 1600 rms system running off a 75 amp Alt with, as you put it, minor dimming. Are you sure that at high volumes, lights on, heater running, etc that your car isn't about to die? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif
Either that car you've got is running off 5 amps for all the stock electrical system requirements or your dimming is a little more than minor.

The only reason I always suggest a H/O Alt over a battery for dimming issues is because if given the choice of replacing the power plant or the power storage, I worry first about the item producing the power.

But your point is taken and if I could amend my post I would say this;

First install what you want to install and see if you get any dimming issues. If not....enjoy.

If so.. do the following in order.

1. Big 3

2. H/O Alt

3. Extra batteries

I'd like to show you It's a weak electrical system certainly, and I plan to upgrade the hood battery by early next year... But I've got an eD 9.1 rated @ 1200w @ 12.5v, and the 9.4 bridged for a total of 300w @ 12.5v. They are known to be underrated, so I estimate ~1600w with voltage in mid 13's. So when I am driving at night and I crank it up, I keep an eye on the lights, and sometimes the dimming will be noticeable, but that's about as far as it gets. It doesn't dim to like halfway, or affect my field of vision. I've taken a DMM to the amp at it dropped to 12.8v on the heavy notes. It'd prolly be different if I was listening to bass tracks or dub step. I'll have a mini voltage meter mounted in my car by next week so I can keep an eye on it. But I guess I'll put my DMM on it in the garage today, and try it with the lights AND the heater on.

 

[bgowdy 5,000+ posts]

HO supplies to juice, all batteries do is keep your voltage above 12.6 or were they rest at. Do you know how fast you can pull a battery down from 14 to 12. One good surge will do it. That is not there purpose. Everytime your lights dim your amp clips. Everytime your voltage drops to battery resting you lose a few hundred watts.

so what if the light dims a small bit but voltage going into the amp is at 13v.(i have my in car volt meter @ the amp power & ground)

 

[phrostbyte0311 10+ year member]

Hey guys, another question here. It seems all I do is ask questions!
So I'm going to be installing my first audio system in my car, probably this week. I have all my components ordered and they should be here tomorrow. Hopefully I won't be too busy with school and can get started installing!

I'm a poor high school student so my system isn't probably going to be the best components or even that good with your standards here, but oh well. I think I'll like it.

I'm going to have 2 amps -- a Bazooka MGA11000H mono class H amp that is rated at 1000w RMS. I don't think it'll put out a full 1000, but I don't need it too. I'll also have a 2-channel Boston Acoustics amp for my front speakers. That's rated at 2x80w RMS.

My question is, will my car's stock electrical system/alternator be able to handle it? I have a 2000 Toyota Celica GTS. The stock alt is only 80 amps if I remember correctly.

I guess I'll now for sure once I get the whole system installed. But my gut feeling is I'm going to be having some dimming or lights, maybe some other stuff.

I'm doing the Big 3 upgrade for sure, so I'm wondering what I should do, if worse comes to worse? I'm a high schooler, so my parents may help pay for maybe 50% of whatever I need, hopefully. I emailed Nate at Excessive Amperage and he said it'd be $355 for a 200 amp alt. I don't think I'd ever need more than that. I don't foresee going to crazy with my car audio. Or would a second battery or just an upgraded battery be okay. The car has a Duralast in it now, but that thing don't look like its in the best condition.

Just need some opinions! Thanks!

I said the same thing too and I've dropped a few grand on car audio at this stage!! Hahaha Car audio is a money pit bro!

 

[bgowdy 5,000+ posts]

I said the same thing too and I've dropped a few grand on car audio at this stage!! Hahaha Car audio is a money pit bro!

you aint never lie. i see all these people put grands in there systems. ill take my $650 145.5db anyday over spending grands to get a 150db

 

---------- Post added at 03:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:55 PM ----------

 

or i could take what i have and do a wall and get a 150 with what i have now

 

[ColterDC 10+ year member]

It'd prolly be different if I was listening to bass tracks or dub step.

No doubt that the type of music you're listening too and the volume it's played at will effect your systems ability to keep up, since most dimming issues are a result of the sub amp drawing large sums of power to push those large subs, not the power required to run a couple tweeters and mids.

Playing some heavy bass tracks at loud volumes may make your minor dimming become a major dimming problem.

 

[southernboom88 10+ year member]

Not to rain on anyones parade, but adding a second battery would not fix a charging issue unless a ho alternator is installed. If a stock alt cant even keep one battery charged while a system is hitting then how is it supposed to charge the car batt and the amp's batt? it would stress the alt way too much and eventually burn it out, causing you to invest in a ho alt anyway. If im wrong on this then please feel free to pm me and explain, im no where near an expert but this seems to be common knowledge.

 

[6thpinned]

Chances are.... You'll be fine with the amperage draw your worried about. I have a 136 amp alt, a SAZ-1500D V.2 @ 1/2 ohm, 500 + watts for the mids and highs and have no voltage problems.

This could be one of two situations though.

Music... Music is dynamic, you'r not pulling full current 100% of the time. It comes in peaks, up and down. When drawing heavy amps for bass notes in a song, the battery will cover your demand. When the bass note stops, the battery gets it's charge back.

Test tones and very heavy bass music will pull the voltage down, and if you don't give the alt and batt a chance to "catch up", then you may have voltage issues.

Do your install, see where it's at, and go from there.

 

[MECHMAN 10+ year member]

Music... Music is dynamic, you'r not pulling full current 100% of the time. It comes in peaks, up and down. When drawing heavy amps for bass notes in a song, the battery will cover your demand. When the bass note stops, the battery gets it's charge back.

Test tones and very heavy bass music will pull the voltage down, and if you don't give the alt and batt a chance to "catch up", then you may have voltage issues.

Do your install, see where it's at, and go from there.

^^^ Some truth here.

Battery capacity will help, but not when you have an 80a alternator trying to keep up with the load of the car AND an amp that can draw 80a peak. Hook it up and see what happens, it really depends on the type of music, volume level and power needs of the amp. A good battery under the hood and an alternator that puts out enough power may very well be in your future.

 

[r0llinlacs 10+ year member]

My alternator is 80 amps as well. When I first installed my 1000/1, I had 8gauge ran from my previous amp. The 1000/1 would go into low-voltage protection, which doesn't happen until it drops to 9 volts, which is ridiculously low.

I ran 0 gauge and grounded my battery to the chassis with 0 gauge, and problem "fixed". Well, the cutting out that is. The voltage drop is still there, it's just not as bad anymore. It's still ridiculous, but not as bad. I've gotten the low-voltage protection maybe three times since then, and that was with headlights on and heater on 2. I can make my headlights look like a strobe light with the right song. If idling at 800rpm, full load from the amp will drop it to 500rpms or less. Even funner when you're trying to pass someone and the car just won't go because of the amp. Forget the AC, heat, rear defrost, or anything else that ***** juice while you're playing music.

My guess is, you will be in the same boat as me. The only thing that will keep my (and your) voltage up is an HO alternator. Extra batteries are a no-no, and caps really aren't any better for your alternator that is already under a heavy load. Thicker wires help with the voltage drop, but that's it, it only helps. A HO alternator is the only true fix, and if you get one, you won't need any extra batteries or caps.

 

[Z3n 10+ year member]

I'm not going to have time to work on the install and box build until this Saturday, so the whole thing should be in by Sunday, since I'll need to wait for the caulk in the sub box to cure. Then I'll go out at night and take some video of the head lights and stuff with the car idling and then maybe going down the road. Probably post it up here and see what you all think. Thanks for all the opinions so far!