how do i get more battery?

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.

slatham wrote:

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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.

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Just out of curiosity, what installers told you that?

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

nj-installer wrote:

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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"?

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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.

i wouldnt return to that shop either. they clearly dont know what a car will need for a high current draw system. as mentioned many times before my other members in this thread, the big 3 and alt upgrade is the best.

caps are waste of money. they say the cap will prevent a voltage drop ("protects hardware") but devices can only draw as much as it needs. if your amp draws 200amps  for example, and the stock alternator can only allow 100amps, you are now 100 amps over the peak and you can burn out your alternator or worse fry your electrical system. so just a recap, caps are really just bs. a cap can only fill in a power gap for a second or so, then recharges. which is no help.