Uneducated audioshops

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

So i was at the local audio shop today and the owner didnt know what the big 3 upgrade was, or its purpose and benefits. He didnt know that an alt upgrade is needed after a certain level....this conversation stemmed from an issue with a customers vehicle...Here is customer setup

3 JL W3v2 12s in a custom box.

A 1000/1 JL Amp

Memphis Mid and Highs throughout (multiple sets)

A Pretty sizable MTX amp for highs

2 yellow tops.

Stock 110 amp alt.

Stock wiring from battery to ground etc (no big 3)

The problem was that the customer kept blowing the 200amp breaker fuse. And nobody seemed to know why. And really, 200 amp is more than enough for the setup. The shop guy tried to say it was the amp, as that amp draws over 200amps itself, not counting the MTX. Well, there is probly no way that the JL pulls that much. Its only 1000rms. So they convince the guy to get a 250 amp breaker, and that will "fix his problem"...in the meantime, I comment that there is no way a 110 amp Alt can keep up with a system that big, to which the shop guy says, "yes it can, he has extra batteries"..."ok, well thats twice the strain on the alt then" i reply. he seems confused as how to respond to this...i then check out the customers engine compartment..."wow, that looks like the factory wiring from the battery terminals" i notice..."yes it is, thats fine"..."no, thats not even close to fine, all that should be 0ga. you cant run factory electrical on a custom system like this"..."that doesnt make a difference, he has 2 batteries so he doesnt need to upgrade his wires"......at this point Im baffled. I guess 2 batteries is the answer to everything? No need to do the big 3, no need to upgrade the Alt, its only a 250 amp draw?

Anyways, point being is that sometimes "professionals" dont know shit. Its a shame too, as this guy had a very nice setup....Another reason to learn this trade yourself so that people like this arent working on your car

Click to read more...

 

[Bumpin' Goalie 10+ year member]

110 amp stock alt should do ok with that setup imho. But the wires would need to allow current to flow with minimal resistance. So the Big 3 and some nice power/ground wire would be wanted. I also think that (depending on the specific batteries) 2 batts is overkill.

 

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

But the wires would need to allow current to flow with minimal resistance. So the Big 3 and some nice power/ground wire would be wanted.

exactly, and when this was suggested, they guy didnt understand the concept. And I agree, 110 amp alt should be enough...with the proper wire upgrades. And 2 batteries is overkill on a 1000rms system. It just wasnt well planned at all, and when a guy drops a few grand on his system, he shouldnt have to worry about it.

 

[Horsemanwill 10+ year member]

i run an ID 1200.1 2 ID 700.2s off my stock 105 amp alt granted i did the big 3 but that alt is fine and an upgrade isn't necessary.

 

[supermaxx123 10+ year member]

i haven't stayed at a shop that long, they annoy me too much. I'm gonna try and stay at one one day and see how much they know.

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

The last (and only) time I was in a shop, the guy told me getting a second battery was stupid and what I needed was a capacitor...

 

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

The last (and only) time I was in a shop, the guy told me getting a second battery was stupid and what I needed was a capacitor...

heard that before...lol capiciters are only cool for walmart systems...

****in JL 1000/1 drawing over 200 amps? lol

 

[x1le 10+ year member]

The problem is more with people who think they know every solution to every problem...

 

[Jh8909 10+ year member]

Yea I got the same thing from the shop near me. every person that takes their car there to get custom work done too it has JL w7's and 1000/1's thats pretty much it. once in a while you will see a rockford power or some memphis but their on rare occasions. the worst thing I saw was that the guy had two cvr's in a center console box with the stupidest looking speaker grilles on them. the glassing was done great on them but it was cvr's off a "custom mounted" 750.1

 

[GetLikeMe 10+ year member]

FYI You can't have too many batteries.. Its best not to mix and match. It doesn't put any more strain on the alt if you have 3 batteries or 30. What strains the alternator is the current you are drawing from the bank. Batteries don't MAKE power, they STORE it

 

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

It doesn't put any more strain on the alt

even if its a stock alt?

 

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

It doesn't put any more strain on the alt

even if its a stock alt?

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

FYI You can't have too many batteries. It doesn't put any more strain on the alt if you have 3 batteries or 30.

Not true.

Even a fully charged battery has SOME resistance and will draw SOME current.

The assumption in most cases is the current of the alt is exceeded and mult batts will pick up the slack.

Whether you have 3 batteries or 30 they WILL eventually die if the long term current production of the alt is less than the amps require.

If that's the case having a lot of current at 12.5v simply buys you time.

 

[hatedonmostly 5,000+ posts]

FYI You can't have too many batteries.. Its best not to mix and match. It doesn't put any more strain on the alt if you have 3 batteries or 30. What strains the alternator is the current you are drawing from the bank. Batteries don't MAKE power, they STORE it

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[hatedonmostly 5,000+ posts]

FYI You can't have too many batteries.. Its best not to mix and match. It doesn't put any more strain on the alt if you have 3 batteries or 30. What strains the alternator is the current you are drawing from the bank. Batteries don't MAKE power, they STORE it

If this is the case, then why not just run your amps straight off the batteries in the back?