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=49095
Printed Date: April 25, 2024 at 5:54 PM
Topic: alternator?
Posted By: ty
Subject: alternator?
Date Posted: February 01, 2005 at 4:00 AM
I have done my searching and I just want to double check before I invest. I am currently running 1000 watts rms for my sub and 150 rms for mids, however will soon be running about 300 to 400 rms for mids, so totalling 1300 to 1400 watts rms. I have read that you take the rms wattage, double it and divide by 13.8 and that gives you amperage, if that is the case, I will be running 188 to 202 amps. As of right now I am running stock alternator, stock battery which I know I need to change very soon. The only high output alternators I have seen though for my 00 civic are 150 amps, will this alternator be enough? I have also read that you can run a second battery in the trunk and just run an isolated wire from the alternator, will this help my situation? Should I buy the alternator and the yellow top and run an isolated wire? Please any input would be appreciated, thanks.
Replies:
Posted By: cruelneo
Date Posted: February 01, 2005 at 8:04 AM
i would buy the red top battery and buy a cap. before getting the alternator.
Posted By: Paradigm
Date Posted: February 01, 2005 at 8:36 AM
cruelneo wrote:
i would buy the red top battery and buy a cap. before getting the alternator.
This will be a waste of his money and will not alleviate the problem. Buy a high output alternator FIRST - that alone should be enough if you can find one for your vehicle and amperage draw. THEN you might think of getting a RED / yellow top Optima battery, and lastly (if at all) a capacitor. Hope this helps. ------------- VEHICLE: 2002 GMC Sonoma ZR2
Alpine CDA-7940
AudioControl EQT x2
JL Audio 1000/1
JL Audio 10W6 (originals) x3
Kicker ZR120
Kicker ZR460
Polk GXR-6 x4
Polk GXR-4 x2
Posted By: wheelerdr
Date Posted: February 01, 2005 at 8:43 AM
if your looking at your auto store for your alt yes around 140 to 150 amp, go online and check some companies some will build one for your I would get atleast 200 or 300, and forget the red top get yellow top.
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Posted By: aphinney28
Date Posted: February 01, 2005 at 2:47 PM
i would do the big three then if that doesn't work get a HO alt then i would get a deep cell battery and if that all fails...WHICH IT WON"T i would then get a cap...but CAPS ARE WORTHLESS...WASTE OF YOUR MONEY.
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aphinney aka the loudest 17 year old
Posted By: ty
Date Posted: February 01, 2005 at 3:25 PM
the big three meaning engine grounds right? What gauge wire should I use?
Posted By: supradude
Date Posted: February 01, 2005 at 4:03 PM
I would go ahead and get the HO alternator. Forget the idea of a cap. They are only good for wearing on top of your head.
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'85 Toy
Posted By: jvillefinest
Date Posted: February 01, 2005 at 6:51 PM
Yea definatly forget the cap i got a tsunami capacitor and it did nothing. So now i have a $150 paper weight instead of having that money toward a high output alternator! grrr oh well good lesson learned! ------------- 2007 Acura TSX
SQ setup in the works
Posted By: Paradigm
Date Posted: February 02, 2005 at 8:10 AM
jvillefinest wrote:
Yea definatly forget the cap i got a tsunami capacitor and it did nothing. So now i have a $150 paper weight instead of having that money toward a high output alternator! grrr oh well good lesson learned!
You just illustrated my previous point.  ------------- VEHICLE: 2002 GMC Sonoma ZR2
Alpine CDA-7940
AudioControl EQT x2
JL Audio 1000/1
JL Audio 10W6 (originals) x3
Kicker ZR120
Kicker ZR460
Polk GXR-6 x4
Polk GXR-4 x2
Posted By: DDexter
Date Posted: February 02, 2005 at 11:15 AM
ALTERNATOR and supporting wiring gage first. All the battery is used for is to start your car. If you listen to your system with the engine not running, then you should look into a battery. CAP = I agree, big waste of money ... Your battery is effectively a CAP. It has been repeated many times. When the engine is running, the ALTERNATOR is supplying electrical power to everything and charging the battery (unless something has gone wrong of course).
Posted By: ty
Date Posted: February 02, 2005 at 7:59 PM
what gauge wire should I use for the big three, I was thinking 1/0 (running 1200-1400 watts rms)?
Posted By: wheelerdr
Date Posted: February 04, 2005 at 8:58 PM
2 guage will be fine I have always used the same guage wire that i use for my ground and power wire
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Posted By: pjoseph
Date Posted: February 04, 2005 at 9:30 PM
I also plan on putting in a HO alternator for my 2002 altima. I was wondering if I will notice a decrease in engine power from a HO alternator? Thanks
Posted By: duramax
Date Posted: February 05, 2005 at 4:30 PM
Not much
Posted By: duramax
Date Posted: February 05, 2005 at 4:31 PM
Not that you will notice.
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