HO alt/Battery
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New member Username: Goose5741Post Number: 5 Registered: Dec-05 | I currently am only pusing 400 rms to my subs (first sytem/subs) and am already wanting more, however i know my alternator can't handle it becasue with only 400 rms and a 1.5 farad cap my headlights still dim rather dramatically. Ideally when i'm done putting in my next sytem i will have around 800 rms going to the subs and want the option of putting in a 4 channel to power my regular speakers since i have a feeling that much bass will complely overpower them. I am gonna buy a new alt, if i do do i need to add a battery in addtion to stock one, and what amp alt do you guys think i need? |
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Platinum Member Username: GlasswolfWisteria, Lane USA Post Number: 10901 Registered: Dec-03 | just the alternator should be a good start. what car is this? which engine? |
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Gold Member Username: BestmankindLos Angeles, CA USA Post Number: 2225 Registered: Oct-05 | glasswolf, how about a batcap? will that help? i know getting the ho alt would be better. i just want to know would it be better to have a batcap or not to have one with the stock alt? |
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Silver Member Username: TheelfkeeperStockbridge, GA USA Post Number: 976 Registered: Feb-05 | a batcap isn't going to help without the HO Alt. its just going to add something else the stock Alt has to charge. it may make things seem better at first, but eventually the batcap and Alt will go bad and you'll be out both. there is no replacement for a HO Alt. i personally haven't had a great experience with batcaps either, caused all my Alternator Whine problems, so i had to get rid of it. |
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Platinum Member Username: GlasswolfWisteria, Lane USA Post Number: 10902 Registered: Dec-03 | battcaps also have a high ESR, and do little good if any unless they're physically right next to the amplifiers with short power line runs. once the capacitor portion is put at the opposite end of a 15 foot long car, you lose any benefit to helping with alternator response latency. |
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Platinum Member Username: GlasswolfWisteria, Lane USA Post Number: 10903 Registered: Dec-03 | opposite end from the amplifiers that is, as in under the hood of most cars. |
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New member Username: Goose5741Post Number: 8 Registered: Dec-05 | so basically i would be better off to spend the money on a HO alt???? I don't have a problem with this i just need to know if i put a HO alt in whether i can leave my stock battery alone or i need to add a battery becaues i really don't want to add a whole battery (takes to much room). P.S. what amp alt do i need??? to run about 800-1000 rms. |
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Gold Member Username: CarguyPost Number: 5300 Registered: Nov-04 | You don't need to replace your stock battery. Just upgrade the alternator. 150A -200A will do. |
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Silver Member Username: TheelfkeeperStockbridge, GA USA Post Number: 981 Registered: Feb-05 | just the HO Alt alone will be a big improvement, you still might want to look into a Deep Cycle battery like an Optima Yellow Top eventually too to replace the stock battery. 800-1000 watts is 65-80 amps of current draw in addition to the car itself pulling power. best way to calculate what size HO Alt you will need is to just add the additional current draw for the system to the stock alt's output. that'll give you plenty of headroom. also, make sure you think about any upgrades to the sound system you may make in the future, better to spend a little more now for a larger then needed HO alt, then have to buy another one later. |
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Bronze Member Username: Goose5741Post Number: 11 Registered: Dec-05 | My only problem with adding the alt is i know i will not have this car in 18 months and i'll probably be getting a completly different car so i won't be able to transfer it, but i don't think i can wait  . However, since my stock alt is only 75 amps i don't really see any way of putting more power to my subs without killing it. I right now am leaning towards only putting 600 rms to my subs (wait for new car to really throw money at this). Could i get by without HO alt??? I'm thinking i can't because thats like 50 amps it would be drawing at full volume, pluse my reagualr speakers and my car does need to be able to run also. |
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Gold Member Username: CarguyPost Number: 5301 Registered: Nov-04 | If you don't want to get HO alternator, then keep the volume control down. Simple. Since you will be changing the car in 18 months, no need to buy a new battery either. |
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Platinum Member Username: GlasswolfWisteria, Lane USA Post Number: 10909 Registered: Dec-03 | http://www.wickedcases.com/caraudio/capacitors.html http://www.wickedcases.com/caraudio/charging.html http://www.betteraudio.com/geolemon/newmain/battcapalt/ http://www.bcae1.com/charging.htm http://www.bcae1.com/chargin2.htm http://www.wickedcases.com/caraudio/batteries.html http://www.the12volt.com/info/recwirsz.asp http://www.optimabatteries.com/ |
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