Wow, this is crazy!!

[SQ Monte 10+ year member]

I have an 04 Monte Carlo, everything is stock except for an added Obcon amp and a pair of Obcon subs. The amp only puts out 150 watts per channel and when I turn it up to a level at which you'd have to slightly raise your voice to be heard, I notice my headlights dim:furious: That's insane!! But with that being said, I think it would be safe to say that I'm gonna have to upgrade my alternator for my car to be able to handle the 1300 watt rms system that's on deck. Anybody have any suggestions on what would work for me and what brands I should steer clear of?

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[skeptikal Premium Member]

lol... man you are just clipping the amp, there is no way 300 watts is killing your electrical system in that car. turn the gains down, and watch the dimming go away.

 

[SQ Monte 10+ year member]

lol... man you are just clipping the amp, there is no way 300 watts is killing your electrical system in that car. turn the gains down, and watch the dimming go away.

If the amp was clipping, wouldn't it have an affect on the output? The output is not affected when this happens. I guess I'm just gonna have to take it easy until my P880PRS gets in(should be here by the end of next week) and then I'll have a sweet aftermarket head unit and will retune once I put it in.
Would you not agree that a 1300 watt system might be something of a strain on my electrical system, so much so that an alt upgrade would be suggested? I am gonna do the Big 3 as well and will most likely get a cap to help the cause too.

 

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

Would you not agree that a 1300 watt system might be something of a strain on my electrical system, so much so that an alt upgrade would be suggested? I am gonna do the Big 3 as well and will most likely get a cap to help the cause too.

I agree with all above, except the cap.

It is a constant drain on your electrical system

 

[xpl0it 10+ year member]

nah, you'll be fine stock on 1300w, just get a yellow top and/or a kinetik batt and you're fine.

 

[SQ Monte 10+ year member]

nah, you'll be fine stock on 1300w, just get a yellow top and/or a kinetik batt and you're fine.

IIRC, stock alt is 130 amps, with both my amps driven to just before clipping, it would be a 131 amp draw...............need I say more?

 

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

IIRC, stock alt is 130 amps, with both my amps driven to just before clipping, it would be a 131 amp draw...............need I say more?

well if you drive around playing test tones all day.... playing music you shouldn't be hitting that all the time... my 80amp alt was ok with 1000w RMS playing music... it only slightly dimmed stopped with the system going full tilt

 

[wilzyx 5,000+ posts]

IIRC, stock alt is 130 amps, with both my amps driven to just before clipping, it would be a 131 amp draw...............need I say more?

pooned

anyways i say just get a 200 amp alt, redtop under hood, yellow top in trunk, big 3 in 1/0, 1/0 for all your wiring so you can be ready to have just about any system.

 

[headless 10+ year member]

IIRC, stock alt is 130 amps, with both my amps driven to just before clipping, it would be a 131 amp draw...............need I say more?

Alternator should put out 14v -- 130a@ @ 14v = 1820watts.

You'll only see 1300w in some extremely rare and fleeting situations unless as mentioned previously you drive around playing a test tone for 5 minutes at a time.

 

[req 5,000+ posts]

no, in fact i doubt he will ever see 1300w to music. because you need to remember at FS, the impedance of the speaker can reach excess of 40ohms. and FS is usually ~30hz or so on subwoofers. so on the really super low notes, the impedance is rising like a biotch - and the amp is seeing NOWHERE NEAR that power rating. in all reality maybe like 300w~500w average REAL power to music.

and also guy - most cars only come with 80a alts. so im pretty sure you should be overly fine with a 130a. and no, clipping does not need to effect the sound of the music or the output. but clipping will make your amp draw more current and be less efficent in general. so SET YOUR GAINS WITH A MULTIMETER AND A TEST TONE AT YOUR USUAL LISTENING VOLUME!!! and your problems should go away.

 

[SQ Monte 10+ year member]

Alternator should put out 14v -- 130a@ @ 14v = 1820watts.You'll only see 1300w in some extremely rare and fleeting situations unless as mentioned previously you drive around playing a test tone for 5 minutes at a time.

nah, test tones aren't my idea of good music and I don't intend on getting 1300 watts out of my system at all times, but i'm gonna plan and build as if I were as that's the logical thing to do.

 

[SQ Monte 10+ year member]

most cars only come with 80a alts. so im pretty sure you should be overly fine with a 130a. and no, clipping does not need to effect the sound of the music or the output. but clipping will make your amp draw more current and be less efficent in general.

It's very likely that my gain is set too high and my amp is clipping, I can handle that. I guess the only way to see if i'm going to need to upgrade my alt is to get the system installed and dialed in and see what happens.

 

[headless 10+ year member]

nah, test tones aren't my idea of good music and I don't intend on getting 1300 watts out of my system at all times, but i'm gonna plan and build as if I were as that's the logical thing to do.

If i were you, i'd test my setup with DVM and see what current draws it's really seeing before shelling out cash on something you may not (probably don't) need.

I fail to see how it's logical to build a system for stresses it will never actually see (and you don't intend to place on it), but have fun doing so. Spending money is fun!

BTW, You have done the big 3 right?

 

[SQ Monte 10+ year member]

If i were you, i'd test my setup with DVM and see what current draws it's really seeing before shelling out cash on something you may not (probably don't) need.

Good advice also. I have pretty much conceded that my piece of shit Obcon amp is about as inefficient as they come and that my gain is turned up too high which is only magnifying the problem and causing the dimming. I'm gonna get the system installed, dialed in, and go from there.

BTW, You have done the big 3 right?

Not yet, but it will be done before my system gets installed, would 4ga be sufficient?

 

[headless 10+ year member]

If you haven't done the big 3, you should stop right now before doing ANYTHING else and do it. If you don't do the big 3, your system is going to be choking for current...all current has to come from ground to the positive...gotta have the ground wire be as thick as your power wires, or it doesn't help at all that your power wires are huge. Do the big 3 and you may find that the dimming lessens massively; it made a big difference in my vehicle.

4ga would be sufficient, yep!