Voltage drop/ possible amp inefficiency

[RickyRoss91]

Hey everyone,

So, I've recently added the new fi x 10, run by a jl 500/1 and door speakers by rf p500.4, driving on highway system cranked hits pretty hard and voltage doesn't drop. But driving through town voltage may drop into 12.5 at the lowest only depending on how fast I'm driving.

So I know the jl isn't a super efficient amp, don't really want to spend a bunch of money on new amp even though I'd like to put more power to the sub.

So I was thinking either get new amp that is more efficient or get a yellow top battery if it will help with keeping voltage more steady.

I did add another 8 guage wire from alt to battery and grounded neg battery post to engine bay.

Any helpful input is always good, thanks

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[Oraclem19]

I would up those extra cables to at least 4 gauge, and replace battery. If that doesn't help I'd have to recommend a new alternator.

Edit: you really shouldn't be running into problems with only 500w on the JL, upgrade the wiring and see if that fixes it, if not a new battery definitely should. That 8 gauge can only deliver about 30 amps, while 4 can deliver almost 100.

 

[Patthehat033 10+ year member]

I would do the big 3 with 0 gauge all around, and get a bigger battery under the hood (an optima will work). That should be good enough to push that easy.

 

[thatguy12 10+ year member]

i wouldnt think your voltage would drop to bad from that. start with bigger power/ground wire, then try to find a cheap dry deep cycle battery (theres many out there, yellowtop will work). have you thought about trying to do the BIG 3 (google it if dont know what wires they are and more info) in 0 gauge or even four gauge, that should help also.

 

[NIHL8ION]

Hey everyone,
So, I've recently added the new fi x 10, run by a jl 500/1 and door speakers by rf p500.4, driving on highway system cranked hits pretty hard and voltage doesn't drop. But driving through town voltage may drop into 12.5 at the lowest only depending on how fast I'm driving.

So I know the jl isn't a super efficient amp, don't really want to spend a bunch of money on new amp even though I'd like to put more power to the sub.

So I was thinking either get new amp that is more efficient or get a yellow top battery if it will help with keeping voltage more steady.

I did add another 8 guage wire from alt to battery and grounded neg battery post to engine bay.

Any helpful input is always good, thanks

There's your issue right there.... It's NOT cuz your amp(s) are terribly inefficient, you need the wiring to back them up