Trying To Figure Out My Voltage Issues...

[pjvoc 10+ year member]

Ok, So I have an optima redtop up front, and a small Stinger SPV35 in back... I have not clue what amps my alt is but im guessing its the stock 130... when my sub is wired to 2 ohms @ roughly 900 watts, I get no voltage drop and everything is fine... BUT when I have another sub in there, wired to 1 ohm @ roughly 1400 watts or less, I get horrible drops in voltage... I have heard people running 3kw off 1 extra battery and a good battery up front... does anyone know what my problem is? Someone suggested my alt wires must be loose and my alt isnt pushing the power it should... and is my last resort upgrading to a HO alt?

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[jrwalte 10+ year member]

You could have a weak ground spot at the amp. It can work just fine at the lower wattage, but when you have a higher draw at 1400 the ground can't handle it and it can cause voltage drops, speaker fading, static, and amps shutting off.

Have you done the big three? What guage is your power and ground to the amp? How do you have your amp grounded?

 

[pjvoc 10+ year member]

you know, I do probably have a shitty ground, when I was installing, and I grounded my amp, and my extra battery I did it in a big hurry... I am using kicker hyperflex 0 gague wire so thats ok, and Im upgrading to the big 3 this weekend

 

[jrwalte 10+ year member]

Didn't see your sig //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif You have 2 runs of 0? Does that mean your ground is coming from your front bat? If so, that ground should be good. Just makes sure all the wire connections are tight. I assume you have the amp grounded to the back bat and not the chassis?

Most likely your issue is not having the big three. You're asking that small factory wiring to handle too much power.

 

[pjvoc 10+ year member]

Didn't see your sig //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif You have 2 runs of 0? Does that mean your ground is coming from your front bat? If so, that ground should be good. Just makes sure all the wire connections are tight. I assume you have the amp grounded to the back bat and not the chassis?
Most likely your issue is not having the big three. You're asking that small factory wiring to handle too much power.

haha I just looked at my sig too, I do not have 2 runs, I have a positive and negative run comming from my battery to the back battery, I have my amp grounded to what I think is an OK ground and same for my back battery... All grounds are in the back of the car, if you know a good spot for a ground in the back of an explorer, LMK lol

 

[xxBURT0Nxx 10+ year member]

Big 3???

 

[jrwalte 10+ year member]

My sig says I have a 180A Alt, but I don't have it installed yet. I'm pushing at least 1400RMS like you (potential of 1900) and on my stock 80A alt I only have voltage drop to 13v when I'm playing a heavy bass song extremely loud (the hairs in my ear shake //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif )

I've done the big three and run 0g to my amps with only a HC1400 up front.

 

[pjvoc 10+ year member]

see thats what makes me think there is another problem, possibly the grounds you were talking about?

 

[jrwalte 10+ year member]

see thats what makes me think there is another problem, possibly the grounds you were talking about?

It's more likely not having the big three done.

Explain exactly how you have the rear battery and amps grounded.

 

[pjvoc 10+ year member]

well for my amp, I lifted up the carpet near it, and since I have my 5th wheel under the car it was metal, I scraped off all the paint and put a screw in, it isnt 100% tight though, that could be the problem, but it never cuts in and out, just bad V's, as for the battery same thing, good metal, bad tightness

 

[jrwalte 10+ year member]

By screw I hope you mean a machine screw/bolt with a lock washer and nut on the other side //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif If not, definitely make it happen. The vibration from your bass alone could cause issues with your ground spot when it isn't tight enough. To verify, you grounded to the side wall of the wheel well?

I use the streetwires grounding block and ground on my spare wheel well.

Also, only your battery needs to ground to the chassis. The amp should ground to your battery.

 

[pjvoc 10+ year member]

hmmm I will go take a look at this now, I dont know if i can get a washer on the other side since I dont think it goes al the way through the bottom of the car

 

[jrwalte 10+ year member]

If you can, get a pic as well. I'm trying to think of where you could ground to a good spot with a screw that wouldn't go all the way through your metal. A chassis isn't that thick. You may be screwing to a bad location.

 

[pjvoc 10+ year member]

DEFINATLY was the grounds.... I found 2 new spots, and used the proper bolts and washers, and they are TIGHT.... when I turned my car on, I noticed way more voltage at resting too... and resting with car on and playing my voltage doesnt move at all! This was probably the problem that ****ed up my juggernaut, thanks for the help all who helped!

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Did you say that you had both pos and neg run from the front bat to the rear? If so you don't need to ground the rear battery at all, it's already grounded to the front battery. Ground the amp to the rear bat and it will have an excellent ground as well.