Should I get a new alternator?
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=16036
Printed Date: July 21, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Topic: Should I get a new alternator?
Posted By: crichols82
Subject: Should I get a new alternator?
Date Posted: July 08, 2003 at 10:37 AM
I am going to get a Kicker solo-baric L7 12" sub and hook it up to a Memphis Class-d 1100 watt mono amp. I am going to buy a 1 farad cap to give the extra power I need, but I'm not sure if I should get a better alternator too. I have a 97 Honda Civic LX.
Replies:
Posted By: sufferrar
Date Posted: July 08, 2003 at 10:40 AM
You don't need one at this time ... check if your lights dimm when you max your music....
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"I'm So Loud It Hertz"
Posted By: bberman1
Date Posted: July 08, 2003 at 10:42 AM
I would defiantly suggest you get a new alternator. A cap dose not generate power which is what you need. The amplifier alone will use around 85 amps.
Posted By: sufferrar
Date Posted: July 08, 2003 at 10:48 AM
a stock alternator gives about 70-80 amps output . if your amp pulls about 85 then you'll have to upgrade...
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"I'm So Loud It Hertz"
Posted By: Sebastian018
Date Posted: July 08, 2003 at 11:00 AM
YOu should definitively get a high Output Alterntor like 165amp.. If you are going to have Kicker solo-baric L7 12" sub and a Memphis Class-d 1100 watt mono amp..Then I would get a New Battery like a Yellow Top Optima//
Hope this helps
Posted By: fuseblower
Date Posted: July 08, 2003 at 12:21 PM
I would upgrade my alternator...
Posted By: crichols82
Date Posted: July 08, 2003 at 2:43 PM
So many different opinions! I think I'll hook up my system and see if the lights dim and fade. If so, then I'll upgrade. Any suggestions for alternators?
Posted By: tdsteele
Date Posted: July 08, 2003 at 4:17 PM
With that much power your lights will definately dim alot, trust what bberman and sebastion are telling you.
Posted By: pmh61
Date Posted: July 08, 2003 at 5:35 PM
if you want to know how to get almost all of you the dimming to stop all you have to do is upgrade the ground wire on the alternator cuz think about it if you are running a 4/g and 0/g to for all your power, you have to match that with a ground so if you got a smaller ground than you do power then it won't work as well......... something i learned a jl like running 4/g for power to amp and 10/g for the ground big miss match up grade the ground on the alternator and i think the stock one will do fine you should have to get another alternator unless you plan on competeing seriously
Posted By: MAXST
Date Posted: July 08, 2003 at 6:26 PM
bigger battery will do too. i would get a cap ne ways..it helps on the hits.
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Posted By: crichols82
Date Posted: July 09, 2003 at 10:12 AM
Thanks again guys, big help....Im gonna get a new alternator, battery and ground it properly
Posted By: Sebastian018
Date Posted: July 09, 2003 at 10:19 AM
 !!!Good Decision!!!
Posted By: bberman1
Date Posted: July 09, 2003 at 9:00 PM
If you upgrade your alternator which in your case is a must in order for both the car and the amplifier to function correctly. You must also upgrade all power and ground cables going from the alternator battery and chassis . It dose not do any good to upgrade the ground and not the power cable as mentioned above. Now as far as the battery goes the only reason you would need to upgrade it is if you listen to the radio with the engine off.
Posted By: pmh61
Date Posted: July 09, 2003 at 10:04 PM
explain to me why upgrading the ground wire would not help with dimming or anything else so are you saying that you could use an 8, 10, or even 12 gauge wire as a ground if you didn't read waht i wrote i said to upgrade all power and grounds smart guy
Posted By: bberman1
Date Posted: July 09, 2003 at 10:32 PM
I glanced over your post and no I didn’t read the part about all the wires, so I am sorry for misquoting you. However when you say he should be fine with the stock alternator unless he plans on competing, I strongly disagree.
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