I am running a diamond d6300.4 and am getting ready to install a d61000. I am running 4 gauge, it is a short run in a regular cab truck, and I plan on adding a 1 farad capacitor. I have a 2000 ford f150 and am hoping that I wont have to upgrade the battery/alternator. The 300 has 60 amps in fuses and the 1000 has 120 amps. I am planning on running the 1000 into a 2 ohm load so it will only be generating 500 watts. Do I need to make sure that there is 180 amp (fuse) at the battery? I have a lightning audio circuit breaker, I have had it so long that I cant remember what it is rated for. Is this going to work? How strong is the stock electrical system in these vehicles? I appreciate any insight or help.
Maximum fusing for a 4 gauge wire is 150 amps, see https://www.the12volt.com/info/recwirsz.asp But running the 1000 at 2 ohms rather than the max of 1 ohms means that you can virtually cut the amperage pull in half. Count that as 60 amps and figure for the other amplifier the same way. If you're running it at 4 ohms instead of 2, cut it's pull in half as well. You might be drawing no more than 90 amps when the system is full tilt.
Replace a breaker that you can't find the value of. If it's old and has weathered the heat of an engine for some time it should be replaced with a new one anyway.
I don't know if the stock alternator is potent enough to include your sound system or not. You can find that out after you've completed the install and have tested it during the evening hours while burning headlights. Those lights will tell you if there's too much pull on the alt. As for the battery, if it's more than 3 years old replace it.
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Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.
Thanks Stevdart I really appreciate the help.
I can't think of ANY stock electrical system that could handle an ADDITIONAL 90 to 100 amp load. Whatever you think, or whatever you have been told, you're going to HAVE to upgrade your alternator.
And don't think the cap is ging to help you one iota, either - it won't. If you have not bought it already, take that 150 dollars or so, and put it toward the requisite alternator. Those'll only run about 300 dollars, so you'll already be half way there.
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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."