how do i know if i need 2 batteries

 I tries looking for something similar to this but i was not able to find it. I would appreciate the help thank you. I wanted to know how i can figure out if i need two car batteries for the sound quality of my bass to be better aswell as my highs. Currently i have two 12 inch audiobahns (1100 rms) 4 6.5 pioneers (120 rms i think) 2 6x9 boston acoustic and six tweeters. My highs are powered by a 600.4 pioneer amp and my bass with a audiobahn 2200hct (1600watts) i currently have a hifonics 2 farad cap. I wanted to know if i should add a second battery.

Also my question would be what is better yellow top optima batteries or SVR batteries>?

Yes, a second battery would help you. Your alternator will thank you!!!

As far as battery brands go, I've had optima and svr, and personally I prefer svr batteries. Look for a 75-12 series or a 100-12 series to add in place of your cap. The 100-12 series battery can be had for about $229 at an svr dealer.

j_darling2007 wrote:

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The purpose of a second battery is to be able to run your stereo while the car is off. If your alternator is not strong enough, a second battery won't help, it may actually hurt, because your alternator has to charge 2 batteries back to full instead of one.  If you don't play your stereo much with the car off, don't waste the money on a battery, and save up for a HO Alternator.

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That's not entirely true. Sure a HO alternator is better than adding batteries, but thats' not what he asked. A spare battery is not for just running your system with your car off.  Almost every true spl competitor (high wattage classes) runs at least one extra battery whether they have an HO alternator or not. And we never, ever, run our systems with the vehicle off unless it is hooked to a high amp charger. I have 4 SVR batteries in my yukon right now, powering a 6000 watt rms system without a HO alternator and don't even experience any significant light dimming at high volumes. I have run my systems this way for many years, and have yet had to replace an alternator because of it.....I've also left my headlights on overnight in a drunken stupor and when I got up the next morning my truck would still start. Let's see a replacement alternator do that!

From Car Audio Magazine:

"Batteries are rated by the amount of cold-cranking amperes they produce. A small import car is likely to have a battery rated at 500 CCA. A large battery would have a CCA rating of 1,000. How big a battery should you install? Most experts say get one as the available space will allow. If your vehicle's charging system is significantly short on amperes, then adding a bigger battery will only create additional problems. Adding a second battery is an option, but is not recommended for a variety of reasons.

"I think multiple batteries are a bad idea for vehicles that are daily drivers," says Jeff Triplett, director of technical services for Memphis Car Audio. "A second battery has to be charged by the alternator just like the primary battery, so you're just creating more work for the alternator. If the motor is off and the system is running off battery power, the multiple batteries are OK. However, daily drivers simply have little to gain from multiple batteries."

Another strike against having multiple batteries is the safety issue. Batteries can be dangerous if improperly installed, so great care should be taken if you are thinking of putting in a battery in a non-stock location. Consult a qualified installer if you feel you must have a second or third extra battery."

What is the factory alt rating on the yukon??

A second battery has to be charged by the alt aswell as the original batttery plus any other electronics are powered by the alt.  If the alt dosnt have the amps to power the equipment while the engine is running the batteries supply the rest of the current.  wen turned off two batteries would be more benifical but they woiuld eventaully drain aswell, i wuld do alt and big 3, then look at ur position maybe go to a better primary battery check out this link

https://www.bcae1.com/charging.htm

jlord16 wrote:

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What is the factory alt rating on the yukon??

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My Yukon has a 100 amp alternator. Its' the same one that came on the truck when I bought it new in 96'.  I did the big 3 upgrade shortly after I  purchased it. I added 1 battery and have had no less than 3,000 watts rms of audio equipment in it ever since. Right now it is closer to 6,000 watts and I'm running 4 batteries.. It has been almost 10 years and still running strong. My personal experience is what I base my opinions on, not what I read somewhere or was told by a "guru". All the quotes in the world from audio gurus and techheads won't convince me to change it!  It worked for me, am I alone in this conclusion?

jlord16 wrote:

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Personal experoce counts for the most, but then again some people have bad expericenes.  By no means am i saying a second battery is bad, but other things like the big 3 need to be taken care of aswell as djfearny2 outlined.  Now i have a question, how the hell do u find out what ur stock alt is rated at.  Mine says nuthing about it in the manual specs or anything.  If you do a setup properly with a second battery it will work, the only problem some people ahev is they overlook things or use the wrong parts. 

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Probably the simplest way to find out amperage on your alt would be to call an autoparts store and have them look one up for your vehicle. More than likely they will be able to tell you the amperage. Thats' what I did. There may be some where online you could look, but I'm not sure.