Hi, I finally got back from Switzerland about 3 weeks ago and my brother and I bought a car off our friend. A 93 Honda Civic SI. Now I finally got around to ripping out the old audio system and want to install my own.
My Question is this. I need to purchase a new alternator and I dont know how big it is. How can I find out how many amps my system is drawing. I have no idea how big of an alternator I need, here are the items in my system that are drawing power:
2 x MTX T9512-44 Subwoofers (Dual Voice Coils, 12”, 1000 watts RMS each)
https://www.mtx.com/caraudio/products/subwoofers/thunder9500.cfm
2 x MTX TA81001 Monoblock Amps (1000W Each at 2Ohms)
https://www.mtx.com/caraudio/products/amplifiers/thunder81001.cfm
1 x Clarion APX640.4 – 4 channel Amp (4 x 80 RMS watts)
4 x Clarion SRX1384 – 5 ¼” Speakers
So just my audio system is drawing lets say 1000w + 1000w + 320w = 2320 watts (I know amps are not 100% effic)
so if I have that kind of pull from the audio with all the other regular car systems how many amps do I need to run the system and still charge my two Optima batteries. (Think Im going with 2 red tops)
Also I have Kicker 0 Gauge wiring kit (300 amp fuse) as my power wire from the batteries. Is the 300 amp fuse enough or should I go with the 350?
Lastly do I HAVE to get a custom made alternator or can I just ebay one from say a truck and fit it into my car? Any thoughts on the matter would be helpful, as custom made alternators are pricy
Thanks in advance for any help.
The 1000 watt amps are digital, yes? 80% efficient. So, 2000w/.8=2500 watts in (sub amps, only)
320W/.6=533 watts in (highs amp)
2500+533=3033 watts in / 14.4v = 210A
That's what you need just for the amplifiers. The Si also had power stuff - windows, defroster, A/C, fog lamps(?)...
My 07 Civic, just to run, with NO accessories turned on, requires about 10A, high-beams bump that to 32A, A/C bumps it to 70A (with the fan on high), turn signals, brake lights, and defroster running, too? I can easily go to 100 to 110A with the stereo just turned on, and playing at a reasonable volume.
Not being completely familiar with the 93 Si, I can't say you COULDN'T stuff a large case GM 300A model under the hood; I know in my 86 Si, there was PLENTY of space for a bumped up alternator.
Call over to
HOAlternators, 866-446-8878, and ask for Phillip at extension 106. That guy knows his stuff! I'm betting they can make, or even have on the shelf, a bracket mod for your car.
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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."
im pretty sure the rule of thumb that i have always been told is wattage/12.5 (vehicle voltage) with that said your is somewhere around 185 amps.
2320/12.5=185.6
not 100% sure on that but a 200amp should do you well although good luck on finding one for a civic
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2007 Acura TSX
SQ setup in the works
jvillefinest wrote:
im pretty sure the rule of thumb that i have always been told is wattage/12.5 (vehicle voltage) with that said your is somewhere around 185 amps.
2320/12.5=185.6
not 100% sure on that but a 200amp should do you well although good luck on finding one for a civic
That's figuring 100% efficiency, which amplifiers are not. Also, you are not allowing for accessories, which I have done. 200A won't be big enough, especially if, as I said, he likes to play it WFO.
Also, H-O-Alternators, as I suggested above, DOES have a 200A alternator, even for my '01 Civic. The early 90's Civics also had PLENTY of room under the hood for upgrading their alternators to a larger case, like the GM 300A I suggested.
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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."
ahhh should have read your post more closely...
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2007 Acura TSX
SQ setup in the works
Awesome thanks for the responses guys. Im going to give that guy over at HO Alternators a call sometime in the next 2 weeks....im so busy at the moment that I just dont have the time to work on the things that I want to work on...