lights dim 2nd battery
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=64099
Printed Date: November 09, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Topic: lights dim 2nd battery
Posted By: qmw54
Subject: lights dim 2nd battery
Date Posted: October 09, 2005 at 2:28 PM
my lights flicker when my subs hit ... and i was wondering if i put a 2nd batt in my 99 silverodo and just hooked up my amp to it would it solve the problem .... or can a stock alt. hand charging 2 batts. ?? thanks qmw54
Replies:
Posted By: Bigsingh
Date Posted: October 09, 2005 at 2:41 PM
shud be fine wioth a second batt
-------------
6* Rockford T2's
6* POWER AMPs
BLACK CORRADO
BAANNGGIINN
Posted By: footbaldd
Date Posted: October 09, 2005 at 9:15 PM
As far as I know adding a 2nd battery will actually put more load on your alt, so if it was me I would save the money and get an ho alternator.
Posted By: arrow12
Date Posted: October 09, 2005 at 9:39 PM
go with a an HO alternator because your second battery will drain quickly.
-------------
That's my opinion. Take it, leave it, or correct me.
Posted By: qmw54
Date Posted: October 10, 2005 at 11:27 AM
...... i dont kno what a good alt would be .... i am running a sony xplod 1200 with two 350 watt 10's but i plan to ugrade to some 450 or 800 watt 12's .... dont really kno what the right size alt or price would be ... thats where yall come in any names ... sites .... prices .... would be very helpful thanks qmw54
Posted By: Bigsingh
Date Posted: October 10, 2005 at 11:59 AM
if you're running these kinda wattages your battery should be fine. rather than going to the extra expenditure, why not jus get a cap. but i think a second battery shouldn't put too much of a burden on ur alternator. no need for a better alternator
-------------
6* Rockford T2's
6* POWER AMPs
BLACK CORRADO
BAANNGGIINN
Posted By: evanc
Date Posted: October 10, 2005 at 12:08 PM
I'd stay away from a cap and a battery. An additional battery will just help if you are playing your music with the car off for long periods of time, which doesn't appear to be what the problem is. Your lights are flickering because they are pulling more current then you have available, thus your lights are not getting enough current (as are other parts of your car) to make up for it. I would get a meter out and test all the connections and make sure everything is grounded correctly. If all that checks out, you will need a higher-output alternator. For the size of the alternator, I would just go with the biggest you can fit in your vehicle without any modifications so if you upgrade your system later, you won't be lacking in the charging department.
Posted By: sneakycyber
Date Posted: October 10, 2005 at 12:37 PM
evanc] wrote:
P>An additional battery will just help if you are playing your music with the car off for long periods of time, which doesn't appear to be what the problem is. Your lights are flickering because they are pulling more current then you have available, thus your lights are not getting enough current (as are other parts of your car) to make up for it.
Agreed, adding a second battery is not going to solve your problem.. A cap would be just a bandaid to the situation look at getting a high output alternator. -------------
Posted By: alpine_king
Date Posted: October 10, 2005 at 1:28 PM
yah a cap is only good when you have the power to store, and in your situation it sounds like you dont have the power in the first place. ho alt for sure, and if you plan on upgrading to two 12's 450 or 800 watts? you will definatly need a better amp man.
-------------
1993 Ford Ranger.
Head Unit.Alpine CDA-9831
Front Speakers.Infinity 6010 Reference Series
Amp.Alpine MRD-M1005
Subs.3 Kicker CVR10
Rear Speakers.SPL CS-573
20" Boss 312's, lowered 3/4
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: October 10, 2005 at 3:30 PM
Read the groundng sticky at the top of the forum, it applies to you for sure.
-------------
Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: auex
Date Posted: October 10, 2005 at 3:48 PM
Cap! Battery! Blah! Blah!
Caps are not a solution, only a bandaid. If you have power problems then adding a battery won't solve them. Check all of the vehicle's grounds, upgrade the battery to frame/chassis ground. Then if problem still persists upgrade the alt, or atleast have it checked.
-------------
Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.
I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.
Posted By: supradude
Date Posted: October 10, 2005 at 4:15 PM
Upgrading the BIG 3 will help a lot. Also, HO alternator.
-------------
'85 Toy
Posted By: ragoal12
Date Posted: October 10, 2005 at 10:41 PM
everyone is telling this guy to get an ho alternator.. but if he gets say a 200 amp alternator thats not going to totally fix his problem.. a single battery is not enough for the power he is running... he is going to need two batts for that purpose and the HO alt. will keep them charged... plus u should always upgrade the BIG 3.. if im wrong someone with some expertise please let me know then... cause i have the same problem as this guy thanx
-------------
S.O.B custsoms.. South Omaha, Nebraska
Posted By: qmw54
Date Posted: October 11, 2005 at 12:21 AM
what is a HO alt ??? and no one answered my questions..... what would be a good alt .... pirce ..... new to the world of speakers ..... shed a lil light lol ..... 99 silverodo .... sony xplod 1200 watts.... pioneer 10's 350 watts but plan to go bigger like 450 or 800 watts ......
Posted By: supradude
Date Posted: October 11, 2005 at 8:37 AM
HO alternator= high output. You can look at ohio generators site. Also, Irraggi alternators are great. He has some on ebay and I think I have his e-mail address if you need it. If you haven't upgraded the big 3, do that first. That is the wires associated with the battery and alternator, including the ground wires. Stay away from alterstart.com. I've had bad experiences with them. You shouldn't need but 1 battery. I'm running a Hifonics Brutus 2200D on my 2 Fosgate 15's with 1 battery with no problem. No cap, one battery, just got HO alternator and the big 3 upgrade.
-------------
'85 Toy
Posted By: qmw54
Date Posted: October 11, 2005 at 8:14 PM
see that the thing tho ..... i dont kno what a ho alt is ..... i dont kno whats good for my truck ...... im kinda a dumb *** ..... but yall prolly already kno that
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: October 11, 2005 at 10:17 PM
Here is your issue. The stereo is demanding more power than the vehicles stock electrical system can provide. Remember that electricity is an algebra equation, so what you do to one side, you must do to the other. First thing is to READ THE FRICKEN GROUNDING STICKY dude. It will explain a ton to you. Next is no matter how big the battery is in your vehicle, it does not run the stereo. The alternator in the vehicle runs the whole show. No alternator = no show. Too small alternator = small show. If you want the big show, then you need a big (HO - stands for High Output)alternator.
If your amplifiers draw 200 amps of current at full pull and your tiny little alternator only puts out 70 amps at maximum on a good day with the wind pushing it, there is no way that the battery or batteries will be able to keep up with the demand. In your case, the demand > the availability. Get a bigger alternator.
Alternators are built to fit most vehicles, by putting in one that has a higher amperage rating, you can expect to meet the demands of the audio system much better. Hopefully this clears things up for you.
-------------
Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: boulderguy
Date Posted: October 11, 2005 at 11:45 PM
forbidden wrote:
First thing is to READ THE FRICKEN GROUNDING STICKY dude. It will explain a ton to you.
So in this guy's defense, yes there's a great wealth of info in the ground sticky but he doesn't realize he's asking a grounding question, sort of. Your explanation goes a long way to sorting that out for him. I think it would be worthwhile to post a sticky on "most comman questions & searches." Not just a FAQ, but what terms to search to answer comman questions. We could just sticky the answers, but they're continually evolving. So for instance, "whining noise in speakers, search for alternator noise & ground loops." I think the reason we see so many of the same questions isn't b/c people don't know how to search, but b/c they don't know what to search for.
|