enough power?

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i3nfamou6s

Member - Posts: 4

Joined: April 14, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: April 14, 2003 at 1:13 AM / IP Logged

I have a 98 ford explorer sport. If i use a 200A alternator, with an optima D34/78 battery, will my lights still dim with an amp pushing out 900w? what about 2200w?

Velocity Motors

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Joined: March 08, 2002

Location: Manitoba, Canada

Posted: April 14, 2003 at 8:11 AM / IP Logged

You should not have any problems but it will all depend on what else you have running along with the system as far as accessories.

Jeff

Velocity Custom Home Theater

Mobile Audio/Video Specialist

Morden, Manitoba CANADA

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CCRoadshop

Copper - Posts: 70

Joined: April 01, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: April 14, 2003 at 9:24 PM / IP Logged

^agreed

Installer - Circuit City Roadshop(2 1/2 years n counting)

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speedwayaudio1

Silver - Posts: 879

Joined: March 18, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: April 14, 2003 at 10:09 PM / IP Logged

no problems dude

Big Dave

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i3nfamou6s

Member - Posts: 4

Joined: April 14, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: April 14, 2003 at 10:42 PM / IP Logged

if my battery gague drops drastically when my subs hit w/the 900w amp w/the optima battery, does that mean there is a problem with my alternator?

wvsquirrel

Gold - Posts: 1,237

Joined: July 27, 2002

Location: Florida, United States

Posted: April 14, 2003 at 11:20 PM / IP Logged

Not necessarily a problem, but it would indicate that the alternator is not strong enough to handle the load on its own and forced the system to rely on the battery. Have you ever considered a second battery setup?

Squirrel

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Velocity Motors

Moderator - Posts: 12,488

Joined: March 08, 2002

Location: Manitoba, Canada

Posted: April 14, 2003 at 11:28 PM / IP Logged

Most of the newer amplifier ( high end ones ) have enough MOSFET power supplies & capacitors to supply the amplifier with the juice it requires without stressing out the electrical system. If your still haveing troubles with the electrical system, then either upgrade the alternator or look at the wiring gauge for the battery and the alternator that you have. try to upgrade the wiring first as this is cheaper than trying to upgrade the alternator. Alot of people neglect the gauge of wires for the battery and alternator and automatically start with the most obvious and find out later that it was not.

Did you upgrade any of the wires for the battery or alternator when you replaced them ?

Jeff

Velocity Custom Home Theater

Mobile Audio/Video Specialist

Morden, Manitoba CANADA

tdsteele

Silver - Posts: 393

Joined: February 22, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: April 15, 2003 at 11:09 AM / IP Logged

I agree with Velocity, need to make sure you have a good grounding on the battery/starter before i would worry about anything else. Im pushing roughly 1000 watts in my 93 explorer with no problems and i didnt upgrade my battery or alternator, just made sure i had good connections and proper wiring on everything. Caps and high output alts may be necessary for some systems but for most its just a waste of money in my opinion.

i3nfamou6s

Member - Posts: 4

Joined: April 14, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: April 15, 2003 at 4:16 PM / IP Logged

ok... there's 8 gague wiring from the alternator to the battery, another 8 gague going 2 the ground (i'm not sure from where, it goes directly into a tube and then to somewhere), and a smaller wire about 6 inches long directly bolted from the negative battery slot to the car... any suggestions? (i have the stock terminals on it as well...

i3nfamou6s

Member - Posts: 4

Joined: April 14, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: April 15, 2003 at 10:50 PM / IP Logged

ok... made some adjustments tonight, helped, but i'm not fully satisfied yet. i put a 4 gague ground to the battery, and changed the terminals on the battery... the wire from my alternator to my battery is in fact an 8 gague wire... i take it i'm going to have to do something about this, considering my alternator is over 150A, and only 90A of it is being used. will running another 8 gague off the alternator along with the one already run solve my problem?

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