Sound Systems and Alternator Problems
#1
Sound Systems and Alternator Problems
Hello there I was wondering if you could answer a few questions I have.
My friend recently installed a sound system in his Mercury Cougar and after a few days of his gauges dimming every thump of the bass his battery and alternator died and he hasn't been able to drive his car for a few weeks now.
Would the xB suffer from the same problem? I am thinking of getting one 10 inch sub with a 600watt amp and a power cap (I hear those help).
I do not want to suffer any battery or alternator problems with my sound system so can you please tell me if I will encounter difficulties and what I should do to prevent them or if I will be alright.
My friend recently installed a sound system in his Mercury Cougar and after a few days of his gauges dimming every thump of the bass his battery and alternator died and he hasn't been able to drive his car for a few weeks now.
Would the xB suffer from the same problem? I am thinking of getting one 10 inch sub with a 600watt amp and a power cap (I hear those help).
I do not want to suffer any battery or alternator problems with my sound system so can you please tell me if I will encounter difficulties and what I should do to prevent them or if I will be alright.
#3
Chances are his alternator was already going, how old was the car? The only time you should really have to worry about upgrading your alternator is when getting a really in depth big system. The only other thing i would say is save the money on the cap and get a yellow top or red top battery, caps are overrated. just my .02 though
#4
fact is most cars these days are already taxinf the alternator STOCK
when you install a plethora of AV equipment you are compounding the problem
We need to find a place to get High Output Alt's for this application
Capacitors are Band-Aids, they only store a set amount of electrical energy when components need it, discharge then recharge......very quickly
they do not address the need for more power (amperage)
extra batteries only help to increase engine off play time
i have been putting off my monster AV system becuase of this fact
If anyone has better ideas or can get HO alternators for these car please post.....we need the juice BAD!!!!
when you install a plethora of AV equipment you are compounding the problem
We need to find a place to get High Output Alt's for this application
Capacitors are Band-Aids, they only store a set amount of electrical energy when components need it, discharge then recharge......very quickly
they do not address the need for more power (amperage)
extra batteries only help to increase engine off play time
i have been putting off my monster AV system becuase of this fact
If anyone has better ideas or can get HO alternators for these car please post.....we need the juice BAD!!!!
#6
^^^^yeah someone or company would make a killing if they made one *hint hint* cause I'm also looking for one. I believe that with a good alternator and a good battery you wouldn't need a cap...(speaking thru my CRX with a 135amp alternator which had a 60amp stock and boy did that make a difference)
just my 2 cents,
just my 2 cents,
#7
just left a message with these guys
they will call me back tomorrow
http://www.highoutputalternator.com/index.htm
they will call me back tomorrow
http://www.highoutputalternator.com/index.htm
#9
stero--
i am thinking about puttin 3 Amps in my car I ran 0 guage wire already- I bought a set of 6 1/2 quarts for the front an 6 1/2 for the back had to do a lil moditication to the back ones but they will fit easy-- I am having a fibergalss boax made goin to hold 2 12w6's
sean
i have a TC
sean
i have a TC
#10
you are so gonna kill your stock alternator
these things are not indestructable, HEAT is the main killer
and when you ask them to do way more than they are designed to do....the capacitors in them normally go smokey bye bye
i guarantee the dealer will laugh if you take it back for warranty work with a huge system
if there is enough interest, i will work with the guys from HOalternator to see if we can get a "group buy"
volume is always cheaper, i just don't know if they are willing to ship everywhere and still give us a discount, most group buys work with one buying many then shipping out to everyone
i will not be responsible for all these orders, nor do i want my living room full of alternators........
but lets think positive and hope for the best
bed time now, will update when i hear something tomorrow
these things are not indestructable, HEAT is the main killer
and when you ask them to do way more than they are designed to do....the capacitors in them normally go smokey bye bye
i guarantee the dealer will laugh if you take it back for warranty work with a huge system
if there is enough interest, i will work with the guys from HOalternator to see if we can get a "group buy"
volume is always cheaper, i just don't know if they are willing to ship everywhere and still give us a discount, most group buys work with one buying many then shipping out to everyone
i will not be responsible for all these orders, nor do i want my living room full of alternators........
but lets think positive and hope for the best
bed time now, will update when i hear something tomorrow
#11
I'm running two 1000 watt Hifonics amps and one 440 watt Hifonics amp in my car right now with a crap load of tv's and dvd players and I have yet to have a problem out of my alternator. Going on 6+ months without a hitch. If it lasts a year I'll be more than happy
#12
Originally Posted by Munch
I'm running two 1000 watt Hifonics amps and one 440 watt Hifonics amp in my car right now with a crap load of tv's and dvd players and I have yet to have a problem out of my alternator. Going on 6+ months without a hitch. If it lasts a year I'll be more than happy
but i'm running 1800 and i'm going strong.
caps are a waste of money when it comes to saving your alternator: it wont.
The best thing you can do is just buy a new alternator if you're going to need one. Skip the extra batteries and all that bruhaha and get the new alt. Also, don't forget your big 3 grounds under the hood.
#15
ok
just got off the phone with Josh from HO
180amp replacement alternator, will bolt up and uses factory connectors, no prob with ecu hookup
$799 before shipping for one unit
they have never done a group buy for items like this so he is going to check with his boss and see about price breaks for multiple units and see if they can ship individually
like i said, i don't want a living room full of alternators
will post later with more info and pricebreak per units sold
this is honestly not a bad price, when he stated the stock alternator is at best a 90amp unit, double is worth the money
just got off the phone with Josh from HO
180amp replacement alternator, will bolt up and uses factory connectors, no prob with ecu hookup
$799 before shipping for one unit
they have never done a group buy for items like this so he is going to check with his boss and see about price breaks for multiple units and see if they can ship individually
like i said, i don't want a living room full of alternators
will post later with more info and pricebreak per units sold
this is honestly not a bad price, when he stated the stock alternator is at best a 90amp unit, double is worth the money
#16
You can take your capacitor and throw it as far away from your vehicle as you can and it will impact your system them same as if you installed it.
The amount of power you use depends upon you. Most people will use 20% of the amplifier's power with music (600 Watts x .2 = 120 Watts). You can use Ohm's Law to calculate current 120 Watts / 12.5V = 9.6 amps average.
If you are an abusive listener, you will use 50% of the amp's power on average with music 300W / 12.5V = 24 Amps average.
I am not sure what size alternator is installed in your car, but most 4 cyl engines have 60 -80 Amp alternators strapped to them. The vehicle usually needs 40 - 60 Amps to run.
Most stock charging systems should be able to handle a 600 Watt system. As a side note, if the 600 Watt rating is 14.4V input, it will actually be a 420 Watt amplifier in a car. I have a 700 Watt system in my TC and have no problems.
The amount of power you use depends upon you. Most people will use 20% of the amplifier's power with music (600 Watts x .2 = 120 Watts). You can use Ohm's Law to calculate current 120 Watts / 12.5V = 9.6 amps average.
If you are an abusive listener, you will use 50% of the amp's power on average with music 300W / 12.5V = 24 Amps average.
I am not sure what size alternator is installed in your car, but most 4 cyl engines have 60 -80 Amp alternators strapped to them. The vehicle usually needs 40 - 60 Amps to run.
Most stock charging systems should be able to handle a 600 Watt system. As a side note, if the 600 Watt rating is 14.4V input, it will actually be a 420 Watt amplifier in a car. I have a 700 Watt system in my TC and have no problems.
#17
OK ROUND 2
call back on volume dicounts
breaks down like this
1-5 units $799
6-15 units $749
16-25 units $699
26-50 units $599
not bad at all, if there is enough demand (enough people with money and willing to spend it)
NEED SERIOUS BUYERS ONLY
i can set up a week for ordering, that is the longest window he can leave open for orders to get the discount
after that the alternators will be shipped out first come first serve
there will be a two week build time for the alternators
he will ship individually so shipping will be the only variable in price
talk to JOSH at HOAlternators if you are intersted in this
or keep this post alive, i will give him the link to show our intentions
call back on volume dicounts
breaks down like this
1-5 units $799
6-15 units $749
16-25 units $699
26-50 units $599
not bad at all, if there is enough demand (enough people with money and willing to spend it)
NEED SERIOUS BUYERS ONLY
i can set up a week for ordering, that is the longest window he can leave open for orders to get the discount
after that the alternators will be shipped out first come first serve
there will be a two week build time for the alternators
he will ship individually so shipping will be the only variable in price
talk to JOSH at HOAlternators if you are intersted in this
or keep this post alive, i will give him the link to show our intentions
#20
yet i have yet to hear anyone ridiculed for spending 300-500 on a hood
or 3200 on a supercharger kit that is essentially just a show piece
and two batteries is not the answer, they will only double the need for a better alternator
or 3200 on a supercharger kit that is essentially just a show piece
and two batteries is not the answer, they will only double the need for a better alternator