alternator power distribution

Home / the12volt's Install Bay / Car Audio / alternator power distribution (

Topic Closed)

Welcome Guest :)

Members

Next Page > < Prev Topic Next Topic >

mylar

Member - Posts: 46

Joined: April 30, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: April 23, 2008 at 5:31 PM / IP Logged

I've recently started having problems with my batteries. I have 2 Kx1200.1 kicker amplifires powering 2 12" Kicker solobaric L7s... theres and 12 farrad cap powering both amplifires... I had 2 optima yellow tops in my car but I wore one of them out... and now I bought an optima red top to start my car and was thinkin about gettin a Blue top to power my stereo... The guy at the stereo shop said all I need is a battery isolator relay.... this allows my primary starting battery to be isolated when the car is off, to insure its starting capability... but I know different batteries have different ammounts of resistence and the alternator is more likely to charge the one with the most restistence... What do I need to make sure both batteries are charging equally off the alternator??

Alpine Guy

Platinum - Posts: 2,478

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

Joined: October 18, 2003

Location: Canada

Posted: April 23, 2008 at 7:01 PM / IP Logged

Your going to continue having troubles with your batteries if not your amps. You are drawing WAYYYYYYY too much power for a stock alternator to handle, if you continue this, your going to fry your amps, as well as more battery's. Batteries and capacitors don't make power, they just store it, the alternator makes the power that the batteries store.

Now to the battery issue, if you wire them directly together, they must be identical batteries, made from the same batch, otherwise one will drain the other. If you use an isolator, it basically just shuts off one battery when your ignition is off, when your ignition is on both batteries are connected to the alternator, whatever one is drained the most, or has the lowest voltage will pull down the other battery too which will cause the alternator to see that there is a power demand and output more power to "try" to keep up to your demand.

Basically, if you play your stereo for more than 15 minutes at a time when the vehicle is off, then an extra battery will help you, but other wise it is only another load on your already overloaded alternator. If you only play your stereo when the engine is running than you just need an high output alternator.

Either way, both cases, you need an alternator that will put out at least 100 amps more than your stock unit.

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.

mylar

Member - Posts: 46

Joined: April 30, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: April 23, 2008 at 10:48 PM / IP Logged

Well, I already have the biggest alternator that will fit in my car... I cant remember but its either 105 or 110 amps... so what would you suggest for charging an optima red top starting battery and a blue top for the amps... the blue tops are extremely deep cycle... I want the batteries isolated so the amps can only draw on the blue top.. but both batteries get maintained by the same alternator... I understand what the isolator does... I just dont know what needs to be done so 2 different types of batteries can be charged off the same source...

jmelton86

Gold - Posts: 1,228

Joined: February 07, 2007

Location: South Carolina, United States

Posted: April 23, 2008 at 11:01 PM / IP Logged

If you want both all batteries to be charged off of the same source (alternator), at the same time, you'll need identical batteries within 6months old from one another.

If you'll be using an isolator, you'll need to be sure all 'trunk' batteries are identical, within 6months old from one another.

Will you be using the stereo for *extended periods of time with the car off? If so, the isolator is the way to go. In this case the batteries separated by the isolator may be different.

If you'll only be listening to the system with the car on for the majority of the time then the isolator is not needed, BUT all batteries in the car must be the same, within 6months old from one another.

2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator

DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)

Big3 in 1/0G

1/0G to GTO14001

Alpine Guy

Platinum - Posts: 2,478

Joined: October 18, 2003

Location: Canada

Posted: April 23, 2008 at 11:24 PM / IP Logged

What car is it?

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.

mylar

Member - Posts: 46

Joined: April 30, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: April 24, 2008 at 2:07 AM / IP Logged

Yes, I understand all of this about how they need to be the exact same for them to charge evenly... but say, what if I wanted to put a golf cart battery in there... is there any way to have 2 DIFFERENT KINDS of batteries and still have them charge evenly off the alternator?? (like ones a starting battery and the other a deep cycle battery)

-the cars nothin special... just an 03 cavalier... lol, stereo was almost more then the car... but with gas the way it is, I cant complain

daboss593

Copper - Posts: 154

Joined: March 29, 2008

Location: Florida, United States

Posted: April 24, 2008 at 5:01 AM / IP Logged

you could always yank the ac and go dual alts?

OWWWWWWWWWWW you said you discharged the cap!

boogeyman

Silver - Posts: 359

Joined: October 18, 2007

Location: Tennessee, United States

Posted: April 24, 2008 at 7:55 AM / IP Logged

i would look into dual alternators..............try h.o. alternators,see if u can give them a buzz

Alpine Guy

Platinum - Posts: 2,478

Joined: October 18, 2003

Location: Canada

Posted: April 24, 2008 at 8:03 AM / IP Logged

Contact this guy:

Iraggi Alternator

121 Highland St.

LaVergne, Tn. 37086

615-287-7991

He makes some of the best HO alternators that put out a lot of power at idle. He can pretty much make anything you need, as long as theres space to cram it in.

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.

daboss593

Copper - Posts: 154

Joined: March 29, 2008

Location: Florida, United States

Posted: April 24, 2008 at 8:44 AM / IP Logged

if this is a 6 banger you may have room on the bottom side of the motor? you would still have to make a splash cover but they are not hard to make. Alpine Guy do you have an addy for the above alt guy?

OWWWWWWWWWWW you said you discharged the cap!

Next Page >

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.