battery vs alternator

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frizkysquirrel

Member - Posts: 47

Joined: January 13, 2008

Location: Michigan, United States

Posted: February 06, 2008 at 2:41 PM / IP Logged

i have a 1997 ford escort with a 75 amp alternator.

my amplifier will be drawing a maximum of 80 amps.

i went to get a quote on a high output alternator.

instead of a quote the head person at the shop said my best bet would be to put in another battery in the trunk which would be grounded in the trunk and the positive of the battery ran to the positive of my initial battery.

i seem to think this would make it worse off on my alternator.

in my understanding putting in another battery would increase the draw from the alternator because it would now have to charge two batteries.

my question would be:

Would putting in the second battery be the best choice or should i go with the 170 amp high output alternator?

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KPierson

Platinum - Posts: 3,527

This member consistently provides reliable information

Joined: April 14, 2005

Location: Ohio, United States

Posted: February 06, 2008 at 3:17 PM / IP Logged

High amp alternator. As you already know batteries only add a load to the alternator. The proble you are going to have is that you arn't generating enough power, adding a second storage device won't help.

Kevin Pierson

greenbroncoguy

Copper - Posts: 299

Joined: March 27, 2003

Location: Florida, United States

Posted: February 06, 2008 at 3:24 PM / IP Logged

^^^ Yep, I would go w/ the HO alt before I put in another battery. But I would also upgrade your battery before I added another one...

-Matt

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bellsracer

Silver - Posts: 703

Joined: January 14, 2006

Location: United States

Posted: February 06, 2008 at 3:59 PM / IP Logged

I say go both. Start with the alternator and then add your second battery using a battery isolator. This will take the loading issues with your new alternator and still give you that extra energy when you drain your primary battery >.<

Personally though, I would go HO alternator and a strong Capacitor. A 2nd car battery just delays the inevitable drain on the charging electrical system. The cap will assist when needed during the heavy hits without being a pain to your alternator. the Cap will also give a better discharge (1 farad will give 80+ amps of instant power for 1 second) and not be hurt by the drain.

Never send your ducks to eagle school.

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.

The 3Ls of life: Learn from the Past, Live for the Present, Look to the Future.

greenbroncoguy

Copper - Posts: 299

Joined: March 27, 2003

Location: Florida, United States

Posted: February 06, 2008 at 4:12 PM / IP Logged

First of all, when you say, " My amp will be drawing a maximum of 80amps", I'm guessing that it has 80amps worth of fusing built in, correct? If this is true, then that amp is not going to draw anywhere NEAR 80 amps hardly ever, and if this is all the equipment you have, then you may not need anything at all. But you certainly do NOT need 2 batteries when the only addition to your system is a <800w amp...

You may want to get the alternator if you are going to be using the amp for sub duty and playing loud, you may also want to get the upgraded battery as well if you plan on playing the system with the engine not running. But you REALLY don't want to get two batteries, of any type, without upgrading the alternator.

-Matt

sedate

Silver - Posts: 1,173

Joined: July 03, 2004

Location: Colorado, United States

Posted: February 06, 2008 at 4:20 PM / IP Logged

80 amps? You do not need an HO alt or a second battery. Jeeze car audio clerks are stupid.

Okay -

Big 3 - https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp~TID~73496~PN~1

and a deep cycle:

http://www.autobarn.net/opbatdeepcyc.html

Done.

"I'm finished!" - Daniel Plainview

frizkysquirrel

Member - Posts: 47

Joined: January 13, 2008

Location: Michigan, United States

Posted: February 06, 2008 at 11:02 PM / IP Logged

i already upgraded the big three.

and yes it has an 80 amp fuse.

Its a hifonics amp the brutus bxi1206.

my headlights still dim on heavy bass hits with my system with my 300 watt rms amp right now even after i upgraded the big three with 2 gauge.

i need to get a deep cycle battery, but from everyone's input and my reasoning it seems i will need a ho alt too.

thank you for all of the input.

Any more sugestions on what will truly be enough to adequately power my system without hurting any of my cars electrical would be greatly appreciated.

sedate

Silver - Posts: 1,173

Joined: July 03, 2004

Location: Colorado, United States

Posted: February 06, 2008 at 11:09 PM / IP Logged

You'll need the Deep Cycle anyway - get it first and see if it solves your problems - I'm tellin ya man - I'm savin ya money..

"I'm finished!" - Daniel Plainview

frizkysquirrel

Member - Posts: 47

Joined: January 13, 2008

Location: Michigan, United States

Posted: February 06, 2008 at 11:15 PM / IP Logged

yea, ill get a deep cycle first. but ill probably get the alt anyways.

i may get a bigger system some time anyways so ill leave myself the room.

sedate

Silver - Posts: 1,173

Joined: July 03, 2004

Location: Colorado, United States

Posted: February 07, 2008 at 12:02 AM / IP Logged

See - with a proper deep cycle - I think you'll find the dimming lights and all residual power problems will be taken care of - I can't tell you how much more power an Optima Yellow is over whatever a stock Escort battery is. Anyway - please post back and let us know what happens - I'd like to know.

Out of curiousity, where were you planning on getting your HO alternator?

"I'm finished!" - Daniel Plainview

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