When is it necissary to get a new alternator?

[onearmedbastard 10+ year member]

Well?

is it if your pushing over an X amount of power or number of amps or what?

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[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

When your average amperage draw (taking into consideration the constant needs of the car itself plus audio gear) exceeds the continual capacity of your alternator.

You have to keep in mind that the current your system could draw at full tilt isn't nearly the same thing as what it will require for your average daily listening.

Example - my monoblock can draw 160 amperes of current by itself. In its current configuration it won't, thankfully.

 

[wolfman1966 10+ year member]

most people I know say that you probably need a new alternator once you go over 1000=1200 watts. but I would imagine it varies with the vehicle

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

most people I know say that you probably need a new alternator once you go over 1000=1200 watts. but I would imagine it varies with the vehicle

Absolutely.

My car's stock rating for the alternator was 75a PEAK output before I had it rewound.

Much more than a 50w X 4 amp gave me major dimmage before. I'm good to go now, though, with 165a continuous output in a stock case //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[onearmedbastard 10+ year member]

look at my sig. thats what im getting in about a month or less. Should I get a new alt?

 

[wolfman1966 10+ year member]

if you're going to be getting a 2000 watt amp, it is definately time for a new alt, and probably need to do the big 3

 

[onearmedbastard 10+ year member]

if you're going to be getting a 2000 watt amp, it is definately time for a new alt, and probably need to do the big 3

....?

 

[wolfman1966 10+ year member]

Its upgrading certain wires on your charging system

1) alternator positive to battery positive

2) battery negative to chassis

and 3) engine ground to chassis.

here's a link that explains it.

http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp~TID~73496~PN~1~TPN~1

hope that explains things enough, now i got to get some sleep.....got to wake up for work in 2hours....lol

 

[onearmedbastard 10+ year member]

o ok. how many amps would i at least need.

 

[Jep772 10+ year member]

65,000a

 

[ugs92 10+ year member]

o ok. how many amps would i at least need.

i would get a 200amp and another battery in the trunk like kinetik or yellow top atleast just to be safe wit the big 3 of course

 

[GMCJimmyslt2000 10+ year member]

test it.....it never hurts to try something first. myabe u will just need to do the big 3 and nothin else

 

[Ali1 10+ year member]

when your lights dim

 

[talon2nr7588 10+ year member]

most people I know say that you probably need a new alternator once you go over 1000=1200 watts. but I would imagine it varies with the vehicle

this is very true, my mercury had a stock alt 115amp max 65 at idle. when i had my colossus' gains set at 2000 rms the alt kept up like a champ, light dimming with stock battery and big three in 0 gauge, now i got an iraggi 240

 

[Ali1 10+ year member]

really depends on the condition of your alternator. like talon said above, a good conditioned alternator may last a long time before it craps out on you.