Dry Cell Batteries

twobig86 wrote: Hi, I recently blew my new amp! Every dealer I talked to said that it would be good to get another battery. BUT they forgot to mention that you can blow your amp if you don't! Anyways I have a MTX T9512-44 sub powered at 2 ohms and 1000 Watts by a MTX TA81001 amp (getting fixed). I also have a clarion 4 channel amp for my speakers and a 2 channel amp for 2 extra speakers. Anyways to the point. I am getting a new HO alternator I think its a 120 amp one (highest for my car which is crap - a 1990 plymouth acclaim) anyways. I was told to run my 0 guage wire straight to the alternator but to have a dry cell battery in the back. Any recommendations on what type to get...I live in canada so dont forget it gets cold up here. I don't want to spend too much more than $200 on the battery. Also how do I hook the wire and the battery up to my alternator? Any help would be greatly appriciated. Thanks

Every dealer you talked to was trying to sell you a new battery. A second battery is NOT mandatory, and you amp did NOT blow because you didn't have one. Your amp blew because of one of two things: 1) Your alternator was not up to the task of keeping it powered correctly, or 2) You had it overloaded - impedance was too low. I have 6000 watts in my Civic's trunk, and I am running one battery. My amps have not blown. Your description SAID you are running the amp at two ohms. If that is true, then the issue MUST be the alternator, right? Good step with the upgrading of your alternator, but if you want to add another battery, and you don't understand how to wire a second battery in place, I would probably suggest taking the car to a qualified auto electrical specialist, with your list of needs. Let them decide on how to proceed. I will tell you right now, though, DO NOT USE A DIFFERENT BATTERY IN BACK THAN YOU ARE USING IN THE FRONT! Leave the isolators out, also... 0 GAUGE?!?! Talk about OVERKILL... For a 120A alternator, 4 gauge will be MORE than adequate, but do not go smaller than 4 gauge.It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

With that system i would say just stay with 1 quality battery. Hit up canadian tire, you can get the Exide orbital extreme for $189, or the Eliminator spiral cell for around $169, both are great batterys and i have used both. Iv run about 3000 watts rms through those batterys without any problems at all. You just need that alternator.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.