Alternator size?

Home / the12volt's Install Bay / Car Audio / Alternator size? (

Topic Closed)

Welcome Guest :)

Members

< Prev Topic Next Topic >

T.Hill

Copper - Posts: 268

This member has made a donation to the12volt.com. Click here for more info.

Joined: February 21, 2003

Location: Missouri, United States

Posted: November 17, 2006 at 2:43 PM / IP Logged

I read on a thread here about a rule of thumb about how to gauge how big of an alt to upgrade to judgeing by how many total amps my amplifiers are rated to pull. I remember somthing about if 25% of the total fuse rating on the amps is over 50% of the rating for the alt you would need a bigger alt. I can't find the thread I was reading last week. The amps I am looking at ahve a total fuse rating of 200A. I have a 130A stock alt right now. If I need to upgrade my alt, I just want to get one that give me enough juice, maybe a little extra.

Pioneer DEH-P980BT, Zapco DCREF1000.4,Pioneer TS-C520PRS, Adire Extremis, MTX TA91002, TC Sounds TC-3000 15"

wirewise

Moderator - Posts: 489

This member consistently provides reliable information

Joined: March 07, 2002

Location: California, United States

Posted: November 17, 2006 at 3:08 PM / IP Logged

Rule of thumb for alternator size is 125% of total current draw of all accessories in the vehicle. If your stereo and all other accessories adds up to 250 amps for example, you ideally want an alternator rated at 312.5 amps minimum.

~wirewise~

T.Hill

Copper - Posts: 268

Joined: February 21, 2003

Location: Missouri, United States

Posted: November 17, 2006 at 3:19 PM / IP Logged

Damn! I guess I'll have to rethink some things since the highest alt I've seen for my Disco is 225A. Now you said "ideally", I know the amps won't be pulling their rated amps all the time, just on musical peaks right? Could I get by with 225A alt, with a total system fuse rating of 200A, along with a capacitor(2 farad), big three upgrade and good battery?

Pioneer DEH-P980BT, Zapco DCREF1000.4,Pioneer TS-C520PRS, Adire Extremis, MTX TA91002, TC Sounds TC-3000 15"

1lowgalant

Copper - Posts: 116

Joined: September 15, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: November 17, 2006 at 3:21 PM / IP Logged

wirewise is right. if you're refering to the total fuse rating being the total af all the fuses in the amps, at continuous use, they won't run at that. those ratings are generaly at max power. if you only have a 130a alternator, considering the amperage the amps will run continuous plus the amperage the vehicle uses, i.e., lighting, HVAC, EFI, etc, etc, i'd say at least a 200a to be on the safe side.

Whatever you do, DO NOT let the white smoke leak out of the wires.....

1lowgalant

Copper - Posts: 116

Joined: September 15, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: November 17, 2006 at 3:24 PM / IP Logged

an example of the "total fuse rating" (total of fuses in the amp) would be my amp having a (3) 30a fuses for a total of 90a. my amp only continuously draws around 45a.

Whatever you do, DO NOT let the white smoke leak out of the wires.....

Alpine Guy

Platinum - Posts: 2,478

Joined: October 18, 2003

Location: Canada

Posted: November 17, 2006 at 6:38 PM / IP Logged

I was speaking to an alternator shop and the guy said to me that the stock alternator is calculated/designed to handle 25% more output than the vehicle can consume with all accessories on high. Meaning he has approx 32 amps to play with there if he has everything on full blast. Now he needs to make up 170 amps somewhere if his amps are always pulling 200 amps, but thats unlikely, I would say maybe 100 amps average draw from them meaning approximately he should have to add 70-100 amps ontop of what he has already. My guess would be 200-230 amp alternator will satisfactorly do the job :)

2003 Chevy Avalanche,Eclipse CD7000,Morel Elate 5,Adire Extremis,Alpine PDX-4.150, 15" TC-3000, 2 Alpine PDX-1.1000, 470Amp HO Alt.

aznboi3644

Gold - Posts: 2,600

Joined: May 01, 2006

Location: United States

Posted: November 17, 2006 at 10:47 PM / IP Logged

A cap wont really help for your situation....it is as another member here has stated over and over again "a bandaid for a bullet wound"

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.
This topic is closed.

Printable version

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Search the12volt.com

Follow the12volt.com

Disclaimer: *All information on this site ( the12volt.com ) is provided "as is" without any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to fitness for a particular use. Any user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and use of this information. Please verify all wire colors and diagrams before applying any information.

Alternator size?

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.This topic is closed.

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.
This topic is closed.