Battery died last night
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: General Mobile Electronics Questions and Answers
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=17855
Printed Date: July 20, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Topic: Battery died last night
Posted By: Duke-man
Subject: Battery died last night
Date Posted: August 20, 2003 at 10:56 AM
So I get into my 98 Civic last night, turn the key...nothing. Some indicator lights turned on, but the engine wouldn't turn over. After a jump, I got home and shut it off, turned the key...nothing. Took battery up to auto store, they attempted to charge it, but the battery wouldn't accept the charge. Bought a new one, installed, drove it to work today, no problem. This is the first replacement battery put into this car. My system is nothing impressive: 2 One Farad Caps, PG Tantrum 1200.1, Kicker IX405D (4x40 at 4ohm+1x290 at 4 ohm)-currently not using the sub channel. I'm not sure what the draw is from the amps. I've wanted to upgrade the alternator for some time, but after adding the second cap, figured I didn't need to. I'm interested in opinions on whether a upgrade on the alternator is needed, and if so, where a good place is to get one for Honda's.
Replies:
Posted By: goldfinger
Date Posted: August 20, 2003 at 11:08 AM
It's the first battery you've put in it and it's a 98? I would say that's doing pretty good. Mine lasted only 4 years with everything stock, I don't think 5 years would justify a alternator upgrade.
Posted By: auex
Date Posted: August 20, 2003 at 5:45 PM
Hell, I have a 98 civic and I've been through 3 batteries already.
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Posted By: Duke-man
Date Posted: August 21, 2003 at 11:36 AM
Obviously I need to upgrade my amps then!
Posted By: Pharaoh
Date Posted: August 24, 2003 at 2:31 AM
Wow, I just had the same problem. I finally got all my stereo stuff in, and while testing it... my battery died... in 30 seconds. So I charged it up over night and all was fine for about a day. I went to start it the next day and it was dead again. I had killed the battery, literally. It would not take a charge anymore. Basically, my civic is a 95, and the battery was original. 8 years is damn good for a battery, so I found out. I put a knew champion battery in it and its been fine ever since. I can run my stereo non stop with no problem. So you should be ok with the new battery.
Posted By: drvnbysound
Date Posted: August 28, 2003 at 8:25 AM
Anytime you add an excessive amount of amperage draw to your factory charging system it is recommended that you upgrade to allow for such draw. Most Honda stock alternators are around 70 amps. If you are running a 1000W RMS amp that equates to about 83 amps of current being drawn. You can see the rest of the math. This is what makes your lights dim, etc. You minimize this by adding extra batteries and capacitors because these devices have a storage capacity which allows the amplifier to work and not dim your lights. However you still have the problem of the amplifier not getting the expected amp draw, which leads to the amp not being able to produce the power its rated at. As stated above, for a 1000W RMS amplifier to operate correctly, it needs approximately 83 amps of current, otherwise its not going to products 1000W RMS, but something less.
Anytime you add that extra load of a considerably large system to your vehicle, reguardless of the make and model, it is best to upgrade your alternator. The car manufacturers dont build the car to accomidate for that extra amp draw, because not everyone adds it. On average the stock alternator will produce anywhere between 10-20 extra amps of current, which would be equivalent to about 120-240W RMS producted from your amplifier.
You now have the information, it is your decision as to what to do with it. ;)
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