What to upgrade: battery or alternator?

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

My $0.02 ~

A 70a alternator is pretty weak...even when the plan is to only run moderately powered systems from here on out.

Doing the Big 3 is definitely a must. And the cheapest possible charging system upgrade.

Having said that....your battery is merely energy storage. While having a better battery than that which Honda saw fit to equip your car with will help to a degree at the end of the day it is still merely a storage device.

The alternator, however, is the source of that energy. 70 amperes is likely a peak rating and isn't what it will produce continuously even when a heavy demand is placed on it.

Me? I'd go with a better alternator....or at the very least see if the stock unit is rewindable to a higher capacity.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I bought a yellowtop first, then an upgraded alt. I think I may have to upgrade alts again. I just don't want to pay for it.

 

[chargers 10+ year member]

My $0.02 ~
A 70a alternator is pretty weak...even when the plan is to only run moderately powered systems from here on out.

Doing the Big 3 is definitely a must. And the cheapest possible charging system upgrade.

Having said that....your battery is merely energy storage. While having a better battery than that which Honda saw fit to equip your car with will help to a degree at the end of the day it is still merely a storage device.

The alternator, however, is the source of that energy. 70 amperes is likely a peak rating and isn't what it will produce continuously even when a heavy demand is placed on it.

Me? I'd go with a better alternator....or at the very least see if the stock unit is rewindable to a higher capacity.

I understand all of that.. and that brings me to this thread where people are mostly recommending battery first:

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142666&highlight=battery+drained

Also, one thing you guys should take into consideration--that I haven't mentioned yet--is that I'm broke and have no more money to put towards car audio.

I'm pretty much done with buying new equipment and upgrades for the next year or two. If anything, I might trade equipment I already have for different equipment or maybe buy some new, CHEAP subs or amps a year or so from now, but as of right now I don't have the money or time to do anything too costly.

Of course, I'm saying that right now, but watch me buy a $300 sub within a few weeks. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[chargers 10+ year member]

ttt

 

[dleccord 5,000+ posts]

being an 80 alt, my yellowtop and big 3 serves me well. i have really slight dimming around 1600 watts.

 

[chargers 10+ year member]

being an 80 alt, my yellowtop and big 3 serves me well. i have really slight dimming around 1600 watts.

That's a good enough answer for me. Looks like I'll be geting a yellow top.

Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Hmmmm.

How well your charging system withstands your stereo system is mainly based upon your lsitening habits. One guy pops in here and says he's golden, so you assume you will be too. Im betting you and he have different listening habits, which will definitely affect the situation.

*shrug* But you just seem to be looking for someone to say its okay to do what you were planning all along, so knock yourself out.

 

[chargers 10+ year member]

Thanks, I don't have a problem doing what I planned all along if other people did the same and it worked out perfectly fine for them. I doubt my listening habits are drastically different from anybody here other than the people who want their system so loud that they go deaf. Besides, 800 watts was bolded and said multiple times.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Thanks, I don't have a problem doing what I planned all along if other people did the same and it worked out perfectly fine for them. I doubt my listening habits are drastically different from anybody here other than the people who want their system so loud that they go deaf. Besides, 800 watts was bolded and said multiple times.

Yes, I know about the 800 watts, I addressed the number specifically in a previous post here. So? You aren't suggesting you think your system will always pull 800 watts are you? Your listening habits will determine how much power is drawn from the charging system over time. We've already established that 800 watts for any amount of continuous time would likely overwhelm your charging system.

 

[jacka 10+ year member]

i think he's just saying he doesn't listen to his music full tilt 100% of the time.

 

[chargers 10+ year member]

Yes, I know about the 800 watts, I addressed the number specifically in a previous post here. So? You aren't suggesting you think your system will always pull 800 watts are you? Your listening habits will determine how much power is drawn from the charging system over time. We've already established that 800 watts for any amount of continuous time would likely overwhelm your charging system.

Are you trying to school me like I'm 16 years old and just getting into car audio? lol.. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

I just wanted to know if replacing the battery would be sufficient enough, and people agree that it is. While it may not be the best solution and while getting an alternator would be the best thing to do, I don't have the time or cash to do it, nor do I really give a **** about adding an alternator. It's something I want to avoid adding if I don't need it for sure.

I don't compete. I don't want to go deaf. I don't drive around all day with the music all the way up. I don't play music loud when the car is stopped. I don't have music all the way up while people are riding with me. I don't play music with the car off--but with a yellow top I will. The only time I really have music all the way up is when I'm on the freeway and I'm driving by myself. So it's really like 30%-50% of the time I'm driving.

I just want a cheap, sufficient solution for a decent powered system.