too many lights, not enough power
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Lights, Neon, LEDs, HIDs
Forum Discription: Under Car Lighting, Strobe Lights, Fog Lights, Headlights, HIDs, DRL, Tail Lights, Brake Lights, Dashboard Lights, WigWag, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=112213
Printed Date: April 29, 2024 at 1:44 AM
Topic: too many lights, not enough power
Posted By: coolen
Subject: too many lights, not enough power
Date Posted: March 08, 2009 at 7:19 PM
I've read so much on here regarding different ways to get more power depending on your application. I was originally thinking a HO alt. Now I'm not so sure. Bascially I would like to harness as much power as possible at idle- due to so many led lights, including now a lightbar. I don't want to kill my truck, but I assume that I'm drawing a lot of amperage at idle. So, do I buy an isolator and add a seperate Gel battery? I think that's the best bet for what I need it for. Any other suggestions? Thanks
Replies:
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: March 08, 2009 at 8:07 PM
LED lights pull no current compared to standard bulbs. Are all of the lights LEDs?
Posted By: coolen
Date Posted: March 08, 2009 at 8:09 PM
ok, i'll put it this way just so you's all know what i'm dealing with. i have grille lights, mirror beams, led lights on my hood, and an led lightbar with take downs and alley lights. i would think there'd be a bit of power being pulled. Thanks
Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: March 08, 2009 at 8:22 PM
THe amount of power being used will not drain your battery in a short amount of time unless you have a bad or weal battery. As long as your engine is running the amount of power thelights consume should not be an issue. If you still think there's an issue, then upgrade the alternator instead of getting a new battery.
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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
Posted By: firstrax
Date Posted: March 09, 2009 at 12:10 AM
Has anyone ever considered changing the pulley size on an alternator to spin it faster at idle? Would it have an adverse affect at high engine RPM? Or would the engine just stall if it did not have enough torque at idle? Am I just thinking up crazy stuff because I cant sleep?
FYI, a Seoul P7 LED draws up to 2.8 amps and a light bar with takedowns and alley lights (Whelen Liberty) can have up to 48 of them (series groups of 3).
Anyway I vote for high output alternator then augment with a battery system if thats still not enough.
Posted By: jsewell
Date Posted: March 09, 2009 at 7:21 PM
the guys right, 2 L.E.D. bars barely pull up to 1A of power. Your problem is probably a bad wire or something else in your car like a big stereo system draining to much power
or just shoot for a new battery if its some "off" brand
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Do it yourself
Posted By: bigjohnny
Date Posted: March 19, 2009 at 7:14 AM
using a smaller pulley will boost your idle amperage. This is what Iraggi does with his Amputator series alts.
Instead of buying a HO alt, see if there is a HO kit available for your.
www.springhillautoelectric.com has a bunch of kits..... I found a 240A kit for mine for $177 after paying $500CAD for my 240A/165A alt from Iraggi.
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