how do i get more battery?

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slatham

Member - Posts: 21

Joined: July 25, 2007

Location: United States

Posted: December 27, 2008 at 1:58 AM / IP Logged

I got some subs installed today (2 kicker 12" L7s powered by a kicker zx1500.1 Class D amp) When i got it installed the installers told me to go very easy on the system because i didn't have enough "battery" for it. I asked how i could get more "battery" and one of the guys explained that i could get a second battery or a more powerful battery. Before i go out and spend some money i figured i would ask you guys what the best thing to do would be. Thanks a lot.

KPierson

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Location: Ohio, United States

Posted: December 27, 2008 at 9:47 AM / IP Logged

The 1st thing to do is upgrade the "big 3".

The next thing to do is get a larger alternator.

Then, if needed, a 2nd battery may be in order as long as your new alternator is large enough to power two batteries.

Kevin Pierson

DYohn

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Joined: April 22, 2003

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: December 27, 2008 at 2:22 PM / IP Logged

slatham wrote:

Just out of curiosity, what installers told you that?

Kevin's advice in the post above is the correct answer.

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jae-d

Member - Posts: 9

Joined: December 15, 2008

Location: California, United States

Posted: December 27, 2008 at 4:44 PM / IP Logged

Hey Slatham...

If an installer told you that you needed more battery...well that just doesn't make any sense..i know what he meant but he said it wrong. Secondly...Kevins advice is correct, but you can also do some more to that..first off...Optima has a really nice yellow top battery that is gel celled instead of acid celled...those help alot, but make sure its has a lot of cold cranking amps..925 or above is good...also check your alternator if it looks good...dont replace it, help it out a little bit more by installing a 2 farad or more capacitor, I would personally recommend the Rockford Fosgate Digital 2 Farad capacitor..helps out a lot.

AuDiO ViDeO CoNcEpTs Installer

12125 Day St. Moreno Vallley California

audiocableguy

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Joined: January 27, 2003

Location: Idaho, United States

Posted: December 27, 2008 at 9:51 PM / IP Logged

".also check your alternator if it looks good...dont replace it, help it out a little bit more by installing a 2 farad or more capacitor, I would personally recommend the Rockford Fosgate Digital 2 Farad capacitor..helps out a lot."

No NO No No NO No

Alternator Yes, Cap No. Red Top Better. Odyssey batteries have performed better than the Optima from my experience.

Cap or a second battery will do nothing if you don't have the Alternator capacity. Search the multitude of posts why the Cap suggestion is just plain WRONG. Suggesting a brand of Cap is just as worthless. No brand is any different than another.

nj-installer

Member - Posts: 17

Joined: December 27, 2008

Location: New Jersey, United States

Posted: December 27, 2008 at 11:57 PM / IP Logged

I would agree about the alternator being key and the cap not being much help. Also I have had many Optima yellow/RED / blue top batteries and a few Stinger and they really didn't do anything special as far as audio performance they just lasted longer than the lead acid batteries under deep cycling conditions. I have no 1st hand experience with Odyssey batteries so I can't comment on those. I also would like to say that the installer should have evaluated your gear and car/charging system PRIOR to the install to advise you on your needs before you had the stuff in. Did they do that and you just wanted it in anyway or was it sprung on you at the end that you "didn't have enough battery"?

slatham

Member - Posts: 21

Joined: July 25, 2007

Location: United States

Posted: December 28, 2008 at 3:33 AM / IP Logged

nj-installer wrote:

The installer actually told me after the system was installed. If i had known that i wouldnt have the enough 'battery' then i would have waited and got the proper stuff.

So, from what i've read from you guys, it would seem to me that i definitely need to upgrade to the big 3. I would also need a newer alternater, and a new more heavy duty battery like the one's that you guys have mentioned.

Can anyone give me a money estimate as to how much this stuff would cost? The system is in an '02 pontiac sunfire.

Thanks guys for all the help.

slatham

Member - Posts: 21

Joined: July 25, 2007

Location: United States

Posted: December 28, 2008 at 4:26 AM / IP Logged

Also, what size alternator would be a good idea to get?

DYohn

Moderator - Posts: 10,741

Joined: April 22, 2003

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: December 28, 2008 at 9:05 AM / IP Logged

Here's my suggestion: 1) upgrade the big 3. This can cost less than $50 if you do it yourself. 2) upgrade the alternator. Get the most idle amps you can afford to buy that will fit into your car. Alts cost anywhere from $200 to $1200 depending on what you buy, plus installation.

Don't worry about the battery unless you plan to run your system with the engine off, or unless the stock battery is more than 5 years old. If it is, then sure get a new one and the Optima batteries are quite good. Don't waste your money on a cap unless you need it to compensate for noise issues or unless you are a competitor.

And you never did answer the question of who was your installer: but whoever it was I would NOT go back to them.

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slatham

Member - Posts: 21

Joined: July 25, 2007

Location: United States

Posted: December 28, 2008 at 12:38 PM / IP Logged

The installer was a business called 'xtreme audio' in Somerset, Kentucky. I couldn't tell you the names of the installers but that is the business....and i will definitely take your advice and not return to them.

Thanks so much for the help.

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