how much electricity?

[festetech]

Hey! I recently installed a amp into my car, and it constantly pulls 500 and it peaks at 1000.
I'm concerned that i'm going to kill my alternator and battery, so i took it down to a local auto store.
They did some test on it, and they said, "it's pretty much fine, just a little low."
I remember hearing the guy saying the alternator can't put out more than 1300 units of w/e, and as long as when everything is on and under 1300 units, i'm fine.

Has anyone had this concern before?
I'm debating adding a capacitor before i need a new alternator and battery.
What are your opinions and experiences?

 

[BeatBox]

Hey! I recently installed a amp into my car, and it constantly pulls 500 and it peaks at 1000.
I'm concerned that i'm going to kill my alternator and battery, so i took it down to a local auto store.
They did some test on it, and they said, "it's pretty much fine, just a little low."
I remember hearing the guy saying the alternator can't put out more than 1300 units of w/e, and as long as when everything is on and under 1300 units, i'm fine.

Has anyone had this concern before?
I'm debating adding a capacitor before i need a new alternator and battery.
What are your opinions and experiences?

hows the voltage?
do your lights dim when the beat hits?
did u do thebig3? if not do it, that should help you out alittle
what kind of wire do you have running to ur amp?

for the most part when u put in a system u should worry about being able to power it, but with something like what u have its should be ok. Toss the capacitor idea out, just wasting ur money. if anything get a second battery instead. If it were me i wouldnt run anything over a 500rms amp on stock electrical, i had a small temp system in mine and i did thebig3 upgrade in 0g wire, ran 0g wire straight from the alt to a SECOND yellow top battery in the rear and my voltage for the most part stayed pretty stable at 14.2 volts but when that beat hit it dropped to the mid 12s. Im def gonna upgrade my alternator to a bigger unit. only thing they are NOT cheap im paying $550 for mine

heres a video
[YOUTUBE="beat in the teg"]CfMAfZRRwEU[/YOUTUBE]

any more Q's let me know

 

[festetech]

I've seen that video, cheers xD
Thanks for the post. I'll upgrade the wires once i bleed my breaks

 

[mirrorimg]

When you say "500w constant, peak 1000w," did you actually measure? Or are you going off of what the Amp says?

I dont think any Amps actually meet those stated levels.

 

[sylvaner01]

ahhh whats 1300 units..? I did the math for my 92

Alternator output: 65amp
Headlights: 65w
Turn signals: 21w x 2
Licence plate: 5w
stop/tail lights: 21w
Spoiler light: 18w
Amp: 500 watt

= 672 Watts constand
converted into amps = 56 Amps

This seems a little high to me.



I have killed an alternator in my 92 before and I have a critical sugestion which could save it..

INSTALL A SWITCH!
all you have to do is run the wire from the HU to amp which turns it on through a switch mounted at your dash, Turn the amp off at night so you dont get any worries about headlight dim and only use it at night when you really really want to.

I was driving to my mates place at night, music pumping, all of a sudden my HU switched off, back on and off again and my headlights started fading, I lost all power, this was because my alternator was fried and my battery was the only thing keeping the components going.

Just install a switch dude, my only suggestion.

 

[Prozon]

A switch to turn your amp off, so your subs won't have power...?
That doesn't sound right lol.

 

[sylvaner01]

A switch to turn the amp off, this will only give power to your speakers but the amp will stop pulling power from the alternator and battery.
If OP is worried about blowing an alternator then at night he can simply switch it off so the headlights are the only thing pulling power.

did I explain it wrong?

 

[BeatBox]

When you say "500w constant, peak 1000w," did you actually measure? Or are you going off of what the Amp says?

I dont think any Amps actually meet those stated levels.

yeah i didn get that either might be what the amps ratings 1000w but it only does 500w rms

INSTALL A SWITCH!
all you have to do is run the wire from the HU to amp which turns it on through a switch mounted at your dash, Turn the amp off at night so you dont get any worries about headlight dim and only use it at night when you really really want to.
Just install a switch dude, my only suggestion.

that wouldnt really help him, its a good idea to have but when he turns it on and for some reason it burns up the alt, its too late switch or no switch. i have a switch so that the subs arent on all the time, gets annoying for those early morning drives to work

A switch to turn your amp off, so your subs won't have power...?
That doesn't sound right lol.

yeah you would install it on ur amp turn on wire, i always have one. but its not on the dash its out of view in the lower left kick panel

 

[sylvaner01]

"for some reason it burns up the alt"
why would that be any different to the switch to your headlights...?
They install that remote wire for a reason, to switch on by a source. it wouldnt wreck the alt dude

"its too late switch or no switch"
Ahh what do you mean?

No disrespect Beatbox

 

[Prozon]

I understand what you mean Sylvaner. I just think it would be better to upgrade the alternator if you had a problem like that.

 

[sylvaner01]

I understand what you mean Sylvaner. I just think it would be better to upgrade the alternator if you had a problem like that.

Oh yeah, I completely agree with you on that one mate.

 

[BeatBox]

"its too late switch or no switch"
Ahh what do you mean?

No disrespect Beatbox

Ahh no problem

what i meant was that if your alt is gonna burn up because of your system, weather you put a switch or not if the alt cant handle the power its going to burn up either way. thats all

 

[sylvaner01]

True.
If op has the battery light on then you might want to check the alternator voltage..
If an alternator it on its way out you can do much to fix it