Upgrade electrical, where should I start?

[xmakeafistx 10+ year member]

I've been wanting to be able to run woofers that can take a lot of power, but obviously this requires upgrading electrical.

I'm running completely stock so far, just a stock 90 amp alternator, no extra batts.

Basically, I want to know the best ways to upgrade my electrical without having to purchase an H/O alternator if possible. The prices of alternators makes me cringe..

Which also brings me to another question (sorry if its ridiculous), would it be possible to run two stock alternators? Would it be less expensive than buying one H/O alt? I've been looking at places & I've been seeing stock alternators for cheap..

Also, what kind of batteries should I be looking at?

I want to be able to run about 2000 some watts, but not above 3000 really.

Any suggestions? I am aware I am being very general, and that I'm pretty nubby when it comes to all of this.

Thank you all in advance for any help.

Click to read more...

 

[05trailblazer 10+ year member]

i think you can run two individual stock alt but you would have to get some adapters; never really thought of stock altenators though nice idea by the way.

 

[Why So Cereal? 5,000+ posts]

I've been wanting to be able to run woofers that can take a lot of power, but obviously this requires upgrading electrical.
I'm running completely stock so far, just a stock 90 amp alternator, no extra batts.

Basically, I want to know the best ways to upgrade my electrical without having to purchase an H/O alternator if possible. The prices of alternators makes me cringe..

Which also brings me to another question (sorry if its ridiculous), would it be possible to run two stock alternators? Would it be less expensive than buying one H/O alt? I've been looking at places & I've been seeing stock alternators for cheap..

Also, what kind of batteries should I be looking at?

I want to be able to run about 2000 some watts, but not above 3000 really.

Any suggestions? I am aware I am being very general, and that I'm pretty nubby when it comes to all of this.

Thank you all in advance for any help.

I was wondering about this too

 

[serjr711. 10+ year member]

By the time you buy a dual alt mount and stock alt, it will be pretty close to the price of an Ho alt.

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

OP just bite the bullet and get an HO alt now. You'll save yourself from future headaches from potentially blown equipment and you'll also be ready for a larger setup when you get the itch to upgrade.

I generally wouldn't run more than 1200-1500 watts off stock electrical depending on stock alt size (and yours is small so consider yourself at the low end of that spectrum).

By the time you buy a dual alt mount and stock alt, it will be pretty close to the price of an Ho alt.

pretty much

 

[i2ain2thunder 10+ year member]

you can do that and it will work just fine, but you need to make or find a bracket that each of the alts can mount on, the belt size will change and the engine idle might need to be adjusted to account for the longer belt and another pulley for the engine to run. but yeah usually by the time you put all the work in you end up with about the same price as a ho might save a few bucks for the added effort, just depends on prices. I'm not sure whether or not performance would be better/worse at idle.

 

[09civic 5,000+ posts]

too much work and money to do it that way. db electrical has some decent alts that are fairly cheap. sorta like the audiopipe of alts

 

[xmakeafistx 10+ year member]

I'll keep all of this in mind, thanks all. Any other suggestions? & I"m running about 1000w atm.

 

[Skartisu 10+ year member]

too much work and money to do it that way. db electrical has some decent alts that are fairly cheap. sorta like the audiopipe of alts

lol then dont buy anything comparable to audiopipe...sry not hating on you just audiopipe itself ***** balls and thats a whole nother story....

ok from my experience i have ran 1200rms on a 80amp alt for 3 years stock wiring everything just one run of 0g into 4g to my two amps i was told long time ago that roughly each 1000rms u need 70 amps just as a rule of thumb so thats just some food for thought

also the easiest best thing for you to do is to upgrade all your power wires and do your BIG THREE! and then work from there maybe a better battery before u get a new alt and such

 

[xmakeafistx 10+ year member]

Yeah, I am obviously going to start at the big 3. Probably the first step I should take..

I don't know, I see everyones point about buying the alt because that will be what I need most, but just seeing how much money spent at once makes me cringe.

 

[Bettr n' Revrse 5,000+ posts]

Do big 3 and an XS 3400/3100 or a Couple Dekas...

 

[xmakeafistx 10+ year member]

Upping, Does anyone know where I can buy a dual alt kit for a 2003 jetta? or anybody that will make a custom one for cheap?

 

[jeepintn 10+ year member]

a dual alt kit will not be cheap from anywhere for anything lol, its one of those things they know is purely a toy and make you pay for it as such

 

[Sub Woofin 10+ year member]

big 3. its cheaper & easier. best way to start

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

By the time you buy a dual alt mount and stock alt, it will be pretty close to the price of an Ho alt.

^^^ This. Unles you're really good fabricating metal you'll pay more for dual alternator mounting than the HO alternator itself.

IMHO you should be OK with a couple good AGM batteries and stock alt. Of course this will depend on what amp, what impedence, and your listening habits, but 1 battery per 1000w has been a safe bet for me. You can get away with less probably but batteries are cheaper than 2000W amps.