I was wondering if you guys with high powered systems have any problems with your electrical system. The car I had 2 years ago I installed a 1,000 watt amp and after about 2 months it turned my alternator into dust (literally). I installed an 800 watt amp in my cavalier I had and it seemed to really "hurt" the alternator. The voltage on it usually dropped to about 10.5-11.25 volts while it was on. I got a 1.5 F cap to help but it didn't seem to do much.
Just got a new 2003 eclipse 5-speed GTS last week and gonna install the 800 watt amp in it and would rather not destroy the alternator in it the first year I have it. It doesn't look like there's much room under the hood to put a larger alternator in it and last time I was considering buying one, i priced them at about 1000 bucks. From what I know the stock alternator only puts out about 125 ampheres and the amplifier uses 60 ampheres (according to the manual). Is there anyway to figure out how much current each component of the electrical system uses? And where would be a good place to get an accessory wire for the amp? Would rather not have to turn the amplifier off manually with a switch.
Any help/comments would be great. Going through withdrawals from lack of bass.
Try these sites,
https://www.jacobselectronics.com/products/caraudio/caraudio.htm
https://www.batcap.net/home.htm
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Sound Pressure
You know you have the right amount of pressure when your eyes start to water! Now you've got Juice!
I checked out those 2 sites and the thing is....how do caps and regulators help with a high amphere current? With the alternator spitting out 125 ampheres and the single amplifier using almost 60, that doesn't leave much power for the rest of the car. They obviously help if you have a short burst of high power consumption. But what if the system uses that high amount of current for alonger period of time? Then it puts a lot of strain on the alternator to keep up and would eventually destroy it, right? That also means you can't have the amplifier running while you have the heat/air on also since both are using such a large amount of power.
- caps just help with the power spikes
- the regulator just tells the alternator the limits at which it can put out.
- correct
- correct
- you are on the right track
- yes
- yes
If you are consuming that much power then the only option I see is to put a high output alternator on your car. They make brackets that will enable you to adapt it to your car. $1,000 is about the going rate for a good alternator.
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(owner/installer)
Chase's Accessories
Ridgecrest, CA
in business since 92
I must have just been having good luck then. I've never had to run another alternator (Of course, I don't COMPETE). I run a pair of Audiobahn amps, (A1300HC, and an A2150HCX)each pretty hard, and believe it or not, had them in a 96 Avenger, which had a STOCK alternator, which was only rated at about 60 amps to start with. I had a major problem with lights dimming, but a pair of 1 Farad caps cleared it up completely. But, I hope you have better luck with your Eclipse (nice ride, btw) than you've had before.