Voltage drops

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

the volt meter in my prs880 says that i get drops all the way down to 10.2V

how uncommmon is that?

Stock charging system, and 2 viper 1200.1 D's

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[CHIT0WNZHUSTLA 10+ year member]

that isnt acurate, but still low voltage which is bad for the amps. do big 3 use 1/0 wire for aps as well as big 3, if you already have add a second battery....

 

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

so getting a voltage drop that low, IS bad for the equipment.....i was unaware of that. I havent done the big 3, and i have 4ga to the amps.

thats probably why they get so hot.

How about 1/0 to the front with a second batt in the back, then 1/0 to the amps from there?

 

[4uha8ers 10+ year member]

would a voltage drop affect the why your sub and sub amp sound because when my voltage is up at 14.2 my system sounds good pure bass but when it drops to 12.8 or 13.5 it sounds different like its making bass butt the woofer is just moving and i here alot of enturnal vibrition i have 06 L7 15 on directed 1500d 800 watts at 2ohms 14.4v i have a small battery 400cc amps im hoping going to bigger battery 900cc amp would fix that problem

 

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

^^somewhat, but not entirely

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

why people always want to throw in second batteries to a weak electrical system is beyond me

 

[dleccord 5,000+ posts]

i heard from an audio shop saying low voltage to your amps can cause clipped signal, can someone verify this?

 

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

why people always want to throw in second batteries to a weak electrical system is beyond me

then make a suggestion, as far as what kind of H O Alt i might be looking for, instead of ridiculing

 

[johnecon2001 5,000+ posts]

would a voltage drop affect the why your sub and sub amp sound because when my voltage is up at 14.2 my system sounds good pure bass but when it drops to 12.8 or 13.5 it sounds different like its making bass butt the woofer is just moving and i here alot of enturnal vibrition i have 06 L7 15 on directed 1500d 800 watts at 2ohms 14.4v i have a small battery 400cc amps im hoping going to bigger battery 900cc amp would fix that problem

Periods, Not just for 5th graders and menstruating women

then make a suggestion, as far as what kind of H O Alt i might be looking for, instead of ridiculing

Here's what I would do in your situation. Big 3 in 1/0awg. 1/0awg to the amps, split to 4awg with a fused distro block in the back (150A on each leg). Use a 300-350a fuse up front for the main line. After you get that done, reevaluate your system performance, then decide if you need a bigger alternator.

i heard from an audio shop saying low voltage to your amps can cause clipped signal, can someone verify this?

True.

 

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

Periods, Not just for 5th graders and menstruating women


Here's what I would do in your situation. Big 3 in 1/0awg. 1/0awg to the amps, split to 4awg with a fused distro block in the back (150A on each leg). Use a 300-350a fuse up front for the main line. After you get that done, reevaluate your system performance, then decide if you need a bigger alternator.

True.

what about this.

1/0 in the big 3, 1/0 front to back to a second battery (Power only), 4 GA (2-3 feet) to 2 Viper 1200's, and 4-8 GA to the third, with 4 GA ground to the second batt, and have the Battery in the back grounded with 1/0 GA.

hows that?

 

[forbidden 10+ year member]

Reading comprehension 101. "why people always want to throw in second batteries to a weak electrical system is beyond me"

Throwing a second battery into your system is not going to accomplish much if anything unless you want to play the system with the engine not running.

Hows about you have a crapload of current draw, too small of wiring on power and grounds and more than likely way too small an alternator. The alternator runs the whole show when the vehicle is running. If your voltage is dropping, the battery is dumping all it can into the circuit to try and help out the alternator.

What you need to do is find out the resistance on the ground return to your battery. Visit http://www.the12volt.com and read my grounding sticky there. Next you need to use 0 gauge front to back. You need to do the big 3, no exceptions here in 0 gauge. Run as large as a power and ground wire to the amps as you can.

Voltage drops are indeed hard things. Yes it can cause a amp to clip prematurely. Now some amps use regulated power supplies and might be fine down that low of voltage, some amps use unregulated power supplies, as power drops, so does output levels and the point of clipping. Some amps will go into protection mode from this type of abuse. It all depends on the amp.

 

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

iunderstood what he meant, i was just looking for advise, which you have given, and i appriciate that.

1/0 all around, is immenent, as well as next, on the list

 

[forbidden 10+ year member]

Make sure that you read the sticky thread on the link I gave you to understand what it is you are facing. Here is the direct link.

http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?TID=49445&PN=1

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

Reading comprehension 101. "why people always want to throw in second batteries to a weak electrical system is beyond me"
Throwing a second battery into your system is not going to accomplish much if anything unless you want to play the system with the engine not running.

I'll post it again, one more time:

A second battery or thrid in his case certainly will not cause added stress to the system. Assuming you have all good batteries - they will be of the same voltage through out as everything is connected. We can agree that above 12V the Alt is running the show, but the large spikes are what cause the problems. If you have more reserve capacity below 12V it becomes harder to drop below that amount. Bass is NOT constant, we all know this too. How long do you think it takes a good battery/ALT to recharge if you can see the spikes on a voltmeter and between voltage comes back up?
Anonymous -you have friends right? One of them has jumper cables. PLEASE with Voltmeter in hand (very important) Check your car voltage at the battery car on - system off, no accessories on. Let the car run for 2 minutes at idle, make sure voltage is the same. Connect friends car battery (HIS CAR OFF) Let your car idle another minute, check voltage at your battery and at you friends battery to make sure they are equal.

Now then - Play your system for normal audio tracks you listen to daily at the normally loud level you would (with voltmeter on your car batttery) Make a note of what the lowest number you see. Play 1 or 2 songs like this. Then disconnect your friends battery (allow 2 minutes for your car to charge so the test is fair) And play the same songs at the same level - take note of the lowest number you see and report back to us with your findings and let us know what type of battery you have purchased.........

Most jumper cables should be adequate, but if the clamps are not secure on the terminals, you may have a loss from resistance. Other then that, this litte test should provide factual information on how over blown "stress" from a battery is.

This is a free lesson we can all learn from. Is upgrading an Alternator a good idea, yes, can you get by with having additional batteries and a good lower rated Alternator? Absolutely.

We have some smart people on this board, but none have seemed to try my little test. See what really happens with extra reserve capacity.......

 

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

Never seen this post, but ill give it a try, and post my findings.