In order to calculate the amps your system is drawing, divide RMS watts by 12.7V. For example, a 1200 RMS Watts system will need about an extra 94.5 Amps. If your car is running only a 110 amps alternator, then for sure you will need at least a second battery and or alternator upgrade.
And that's assuming your amplifier is running at 100% efficiency. The full formula is: (wRMS÷12.4volts)÷efficiency=Amps For a class D at 70% efficiency and running 1200w RMS it will look like this: (1200÷12.4)÷0.70=138.25amps Edit: but that also assumes you're using all 1200w all the time playing sine waves. Music only uses the full power in little pulses, playing notes. Bass heavy music, like rap, will only utilize the full power about 50% of the time, while rock or pop will be closer to 25-30%. So after you find the maximum possible it can pull, multiply the total by the percentage that matches your music tastes.
I'm an old man this day in age concerning car audio. Everyone that approaches me about my car audio setup, the first question they always ask is, "how big of a capacitor do you have?" I do not have one, and I will never use one. I tell them them that is just a band-aid that will kill their alternator. They look at me and treat me is disbelief. Despite me showing them what I have done. Christ these are people that don't understand ACC vs OFC, and the benefits.
couple of things i want to point out. -Even with a new drop in alternator, your gonna need a new and slightly smaller belt if you want that alternator to do its claimed power. -As for the alternator, for daily listening, your 2000 rms amp is not going to draw 180-200 amps of power at all times. Music is dynamic meaning the current draw will be fluctuating up and down. Hence people choosing to get batteries over the alt because it'll regulate the voltage. Only when you are SPL burping in competitions will you see that high of a current draw. -That being said, when getting a H/O alt, you still need to account for the power draw of both your 4 channel amp and sub amp along with AC/heater/dvd/other accessories in your car. -For batteries, its a rule of thumb of 55 amp hours for every 1000 rms your running. Alternatives to these super hyped up AGMS are Dekas, sears diehard platinum and many of your local AGM producers, grab the biggest group 31 you can fit.
Thats true.if you watch my vids you'll see that I have a group 31 diehard platinum marine secondary batt.stopped my light dimming at high volumes.voltage doesn't drop below 13.7 full tilt
One thing that a lot of people seem to forget is that yes you may have say 2000 or 3000 watts worth of amps for your sound system but how often do you really drive around town with the volume at 100%? I usually drive with the volume at half or lower most of the time and I only tend to turn it up for a song or two or sometimes when showing off to friends. Your battery should have enough capacity to not let the voltage drop too much. And, I've listened to music with the engine off for up to an hour (not at full volume, of course) and when I start the engine, the starter doesn't seem to be struggling for power (it sounds just as strong as usual, not like it does when you battery is going bad) so I don't think I'm really draining my battery too much anyways.
Mr. Canna Farmer if it does even dim the lights, then you can just add a capacitor and that should fix that, it shouldn't be too much of a problem, only when you run it for a long time or at a really high volume.
I upgraded from 110Amp to a 150Amp alternator. I only use Genuine Maxwell 3000F Ultra Caps in a 6S3P configuration. 200KJoules. And the biggest Optima Yellow Top available. Ride the lightning.
I ended up adding a second alternator just dedicated for battery and amps. I left factory alternator and start batter factory. I found with the alternators separated the stereo and car is happy. Of course I upgraded the alternators while I was at it and wiring to all that. Much cleaner sound and no lights dimming and sound great and clean. What your saying is right to about the load on alternator. If adding system is great to upgrade alternator and wiring to it to. I love your advice and other videos. Keep up the good work and advice.
Running all your accessories in the car the alternator generally has a 30% reserve. So if you have a 100 amp alternator you have a 30 amp reserve. This being said you have 30 amps to play with every accessory on. Vehicle charging is only as good as the alternator. Alternator first. Batteries secondary. Caps if you are running banks of them. Maxwell or XS Power. Real caps. Banks of them.
Yup. The alt in cars/trucks are designed to handle having every option that that vehicle has running all at one time plus some reserve.That usually only leaves room for a small to moderate system to be added on top without adding a better alt.
Those capacitors are are made of two sheets of metal with a dielectric in between, In this case they just roll that assembly up. You don't have to go edward scissor hands to tell if its a fake. Just test the time constant. tc= RC, and 5tc is the time it takes to be considered charged or discharged. Take the cap with a reasonably sized resistor; wire them in series with a low voltage dc source, have a voltage meter across the cap and measure how long it takes the cap to charge to source voltage. Divide that by 5, and then by the resistor value. The result will tell you the capacitance.
@@filipT97 I honestly don't suggest that allot of the people I have seen do that end up with wires burning up etc I honestly feel you should buy another battery doing a big 3 and puting a 500a fuses and isolator between the 2 bats
Do amps use their full rated rms power all the time? For example, if I have a 500 rms amp, will it always be pulling 500rms, or is 500 the max it will pull (at max volume and max gain, etc?)
you can judge a factory alternator by the current ratting, alternators on today's cars have such a large pulley many of them hardly put out any power at idle. batteries are more common than not used as a band aid just like caps, If the alt can't make enough power it will just draw from your collection of batteries until your lights dim and voltage drops. you should do a video highlighting mechmans alts and regulators, show people how to calculate the belt size for their new alt, maybe a power comparison of oem and mechman drop in.
Hey! I had a quick question about the set up I’m try to build. I bought 2 12” SA V2’s. A SFB 3000D amp, and the D4S LTO 12v 3k-5kw battery. From the D4S website. I have a 0gauge wire kit too. When I was back and forth between emails I was under the impression that I was getting a battery to replace the stock one under the hood. But this is what I was paired with. Do you think I’ll be okay on power supply with this set up? Its for a 2019 Honda Accord 2.0t. The install is scheduled for the 12th of January and I just want to make sure everything is ready to go and I won’t have any issues.
Hi guys. I have a 2004 Nissan Armada LE 4x4 with GPS factory and I want to put a new stereo the Kenwood DX271 but the BIG problem is the part with the service settings is going to be remove. My Q is How can I keep the service Settings in my Suv? or What can i do? Helppppp please.
well I have a 140amp alternator I hav 2 batteries I am running a 1500rms ds18 for mids an a 3300rms Stetson for bass an the voltage do nt drop should I upgrade my alternator
I have an old RF Punch 120 a2 amp and a Kenwood 1000 watt mono block amp. Which would be best to run my 2 Kenwood 12's 500 rms a piece subs and best for my mids and highs? I have 100 amp alternator and 2 duralast 1200 cca batteries front/back
Why not an extra alternator or two if u have the room and Use one for starting and normal vehicle function and the other/s for stereo system exclusive and it’s battery/s and amps so that way if u bump up the voltage from 14.4 to 15.5 then your amps will actually give u more wattage.
A good cap provides a short reserve to allow the alternator time to increase the current output. Because an alternator can take up to 50 milliseconds to increase the output and the capacitor gets first dibs on the alternator because it has a much lower internal resistance than the battery so you are not drawing power off the battery unless the engine is turned off and I agree with what you say. The best way to deal with an underpowered electrical system until you have the money to upgrade it is to be conservative with the volume. My brother had 2 kenwood 10s on a 1000 watt rms kenwood amplifier and what it really needed was a big 3 upgrade with 4 gauge wire not a capacitor. Up to 2000 watts of bass is doable with a stock 80 amp alternator and a 0 gauge big 3 upgrade but, you will accelerate the wear and tear of your alternator.
hey guys i just did the big 3 and upgraded my alternator on my o3 civic lx coupe. after doing this i reconnected my negative battery termanal and my sterio wont come3 on i checked all the fuses and still wont come on when i hook it up dirctly to the battery it works do you have any idea on what is wrong
I have a 2006 750li bmw, this car are very sensitive to low voltage, any idea what can I do to keep my electrical system healthy, I cant seem to find anyone to upgrade my alternator like you mention, thanks
Do I need a second battery?..I already did the big 3..an upgrade my alternator too a 220..going in hyundai sonata 2.4. 1,500.. system nothing outrageous? (4- 6.5 Rockford Fosgate.. 1 12 at this point.
I’m plan on sticking with my stock 80 amp alt for my future 1750 watt Fi sub because I’m mostly going to play my system at 16 volume or lower on my pioneer head unit and my primary goal is SQ. I have an AGM battery though and plan on doing the big 3 before getting my bigger amp and the better sub.
The capacitors should not be used as batteries, or as an replacement for the alternators, if you are using subwoofers, amplifiers or anything else that draws huge amounts of current in small periods, they take strain off of your batteries and/or alternator which should be better for your battery/motor.
I'm looking for a new head unit for my car. I have 2 aftermarket amplifiers. Does the out put voltage of my head unit rca's make a difference for gain settings on my amplifiers?
Hey Guys. My ? is the following we bought 2 3000watt dvc woofers we now want to connect these to a 7000watt 1 channel XTC Monoblock amp. how do we go about doing this.
question for you guys I have Alpine iva d310 hooked up to 2012 f150 with wire connector kits. I am getting static though rca cables in bluetooth mode or usb mode, I don't get noise from radio or dvd player, its not engine noise its produced when engine is off too. I have used different usb cables and female connectors nothing improves the noise. Is it a ground issue with the radio or brain of the unit??? Thanks Joe
I’ve done the big 3 upgrade , stock alt and battery on my 07 Ford Expedition. One run of 0 gauge running a sundown sfb3000 watt amp to an x12v2 and a 4 gauge running a 1000 watt skar amp on my 4-6.5, 2 -8 and 4 tweeters which I’m running all of it to the max and pretty hard. Just running my voltage Is sitting at about 14.7 and don’t drop below 14 till max volume but if I keep driving the sub harder at max will drop low 12 which I don’t like. What would anyone suggest for my setup?. I imagine I have a high output stock alternator already cuz the voltage is very good at normal person volume. Haha! Not sure where I’m running out on my voltage kinda why I’m askin. Prolly could figure out myself just thought I’d see what yalll gots to say. I can’t push as hard at idle obviously which prolly means I need a alt upgrade. Let me know guys! Thanks!
I have an 06 Scion xB that I just put a stereo system in I want to go bigger and better but I can't find the company that makes a high output alternator quality do you guys have any suggestions whom I should look for?
Hey guys, I have a question. My 2013 Civic has a 95-100 amp alternator and I wish to run a sound setup that will run around 1500 rms (speakers and sub combined with two amps). I want to upgrade my alternator, but after research, it is said that the alternator on the Civic is "computer controlled," meaning that no matter what alternator I run, the computer will only run the stock setting. What can I do? I really want to upgrade my sound.
I HAVE A 2012 NISSAN altima 2.5L engine 110 amp alternator I'm running 1800 rms watts my lights don't dim but my voltage drops I have a yellowtop D35 battery should I do the Big 3 upgrade because I can't fine a alternator that fits my 2.5L altima they only have high output alternators for the 3.5L
I also have a nissan, Nissan Sentra with a 2.0 engine. There's a few website that do carry high output alt. for your car and mine. Trouble is the price they charge is from 310 to almost 700 bucks depends on what website u go to. Too fucking much! I recently went to the junkyard and bought a used alt. for 25 bucks. I was planning to take it to the alt. n starter rebuilt shop, and ask how much they charge for a upgrade on it. I have not had a chance to ask, maybe Mon. Just trying to give u some options that won't break the bank.
I have a 03 sable with electronic climate control and desperately need an aftermarket radio. I have already tried every loc there is and they just don't cut it. How can I manipulate it to change the stock head unit?
Hey i have a question. What major or degree can i work towards to actually have a career alike meade or custom fabricators? Or even a shop like what you guys do? Please help!
I have 1500 watts total. I just replaced my 200 amp alternator with a new 155 amp and my bass doesn't seem to be as loud as before. (just done big 3, new battery,) is this the cause or is it all in my head??
It's NOT in your head. NO matter how many batteries you have, if they are not being charged, the sound will peter out! After operating ambulances for several years, the older ambulances had 3-4 batteries, AND dual 200 amp alternators to charge, and operate all those lights. Now days with LED lighting, the power consumption is much lower and less demand for all that power. you may look in to dual 200 amp G.M. alternators and at least 3-4 batteries. Use 1 battery for your car it self, and an "Isolator" to keep your main car battery from being taxed to the point, that it will no longer start your gar. Isolators can be sourced from R.V. supply or Ebay.
I just got hired for a job at a local car audio shop and I start this friday. It would be my first actual job in car audio. Do you have any tips for first day or first few days?
I got a 2003 dodge ram and i already replace my alternator once and i just got an higher amp alternator, but do i need to upgrade something else like wires or batteries because i dont want to damage any of the electrical
You always want to do the "Big 3" upgrade which is power from alternator to battery, battery to frame, and engine to frame. Some also recommend alternator to engine/frame though the alternator is already grounded to the engine through the mount. Best to do large cable like 1/0 gauge if you can.
Do Capacitors get old? For example I got a capacitor that’s a little over 10 years old that was hardly used. Would it still be good? It’s one of the good expensive brands so I’m wondering if it would still work good.
As far as alternators go, if you can afford it get the thing right away you will be soo happy with the results that the price will be negligible. If you go on amozon you can find HO alternators for cheap like 200 and up.
I have a 2000 Toyota Avalon running 2 jbl s3's I have an audiopipe 1500 1d with a rms @ 2 ohms of around 960 some odd watts and the s3's are 500 watt rms each ! I have a deep cycle battery (AGM) and that's it! however my headlights dim like a b!tch! I'm considering adding a second (AGM) battery would this solve my problem??
Well they don't make any bigger alternator than i already have in my car and im not adding multiple batteries cuz i have no room so i honestly just wanted to try to see if a capacitor could keep my lights from flickering as much
hey sonic electroix could a vehilce factory system output 300 or more watts peak ? iv got a 07 dodge nitro and iv got boss chaos 6.5 in the doors and my factory speakers hit harder then they do there 250 watts a piece ?
Richard Walkey no, most factory head units output a max of 25 rms per speaker. my personal vehicle ouputs about 16 rms on the factory head unit. If its not sounding as well make sure that the installation is correct. The speakers should be flush agaisnt the door if they're not try using something like FAST Rings to remedy the problem, it will fix the gaping issue and help more with the mid bass aspect of it
Do you guys think it would be ok to upgrade the internal components (like adding more coils, for example) to an existing stock alternator rather than buying a new HO alt? The manufacture HO alt for my truck is like $500!
I have a question!! Im going to buy a 2k rms sub and im buying an extra battery 140Ah, main battery is 100Ah, so its 240Ah total. The Question is what alternator should i get? Should i upgrade my alternator or add second?
Check out the range of shallow mount subwoofers and find something that you like. I got on the Sonic Electronix website and since I'm actually about to get an '89 standard can s10 I'm planning ahead for my build. I personally like the soundstream Picasso 10(?) I believe it is. After you get new door speakers and decide on what sub you're gonna get, decide on whether you're gonna amplify the speakers or go straight to the radio and then find an amp for the sub. Once you do that get on the12volt.com and grab some paper and a pencil and start experimenting with different dimensions using the12volt's wedge enclosure 2. Make sure it's 2! That is very crucial since it's gone be hard to use the first wedge enclosure style. I hope this helps enough. And I personally for such a small build would only use 4 gauge for the power and ground wire and them just kinda see what size you wanna use for the remote wire (doesn't need to be too big since it splices into the radio wiring which isn't made with very large wires.)
Sir iam vishnu from indiai have groumd zero 1000rms spl subwoofer and focal 2200rms subwoofer and componenet of focal. I have suitable 3 amplifier also.but i dont get the original power from the factor system.now i connected using hi low converter. What should i sue to maximise ppwer on sub and component .my car is ford ecosport
What about a JL HD1200/1 would I need a alternator even with a extra battery capable of 1000watts. I have a 2013 Dodge Avenger 3.6 pentistar with a 160amp alternator.
I have a 2001 f150 5.4 stock alternator and a stock battery and a XS power 2400 in the back and all 0 gauge and big 3 pushing a Memphis mojo amp 4,000 rms pushing my 2 15s mojos Xseries and my lights still dim :( idk what type of alternator to get
So im running a 2500 watt amp for my 15inch kicker off the battery in my 01 civic ... lol so I should definitely get a better alternater and probably a bigger battery? ..btw new at this so yeah haha
That has got to be the MAX rating of your amp which does not matter! What is it's RMS rating and what ohms do you have your sub wired to? What amp do you have?
Dortiz116 I love how dudes are like i have 2500watt amp but the RMS is 1200watts then hook it up to a tester and there only making 923watts... do your homework and research before you buy or talk shit...
Ohms law will help you calculate how much power your alternator can support. Keep in mind that it needs to be able to produce more power than is used so it can charge your car's battery.
I've been running a punch amplifier for aver 6 months with no problems with 2 12 inch kickers L7s and since yesterday the amplifier has been going into protect mode on and off? What could cause this? Btw the amplifier is 1000 watt
Check your ohm load. If you're running a 2 ohm stable amp at 1 ohm it will go into protect mode. Also check your ground wire connection to your amp. If you need to increase ohm load look up some wiring diagrams to see how to get you 2 speakers wired to 2 ohm in the amp.
I want to know what's a good amplifier for Orion HCCA 15 inch subwoofer for it to sound good I got a 2400 watt hifonics Brutus amp pushing it but i wanna know if there's something out there that can push it harder
That amp should suffice if you have it wired at 2 ohms. You could get a better amp to push it a little further but sound wise you wouldn't hear much difference.
I've got a 2000 ford explorer, xls. stock electrical system and I'm putting a 1k watt amp and 2 10's that draw about 300 watts RMS each.... can anyone tell me if I'll need a higher output alternator? they are so expensive in my situation
If you're putting in a 1000+ watt RMS system in your car.Just to be safe...BEFORE you put in any audio equipment....Do this: Upgrade your battery,Buy a high output alternator, and do the big three upgrade.Might cost close to $600 just in parts...but worth it..you can't put a price on piece of mind.
I have a question? Will doing the big 3 upgrade help with the dimming head lights? or getting a high power decent capacitor? I'm running 4000 watt amp at 1 ohm. don't really want to get another alternator unless I have to.
+George MCFADDEN You're running 4000 Watts and you haven't done a big 3 upgrade yet? That should definitely be your next step. If headlights still dim after that you will probably have to think about upgrading the alternator.
+George MCFADDEN if your lights are dimming that means your volts are going off 14 volts no longer providing the essential amount of charge your vehicles electrical system needs to operate the way its designed to, in return over heating your electrical system and ruining your battery at least. Not to mention the dip in volts will eventually ruin everything in your electrical system including that 4000 watt amp. Take my advice and go get a high output alternator that will run in a way that will provide allot more outgoing amps at idle then your factory alternator that is obviously not keeping up and will save you large in the long run.
+George MCFADDEN Simple math can tell you that your never going to get that out of the amp, and possibly fry the power supply section! So 4000 watts goes into 13v (doubt it goes above that with voltage drop) = 307.6 amps just for THAT amp alone. I dont know of a stock 300+ amp alternator, so your just putting off the inevitable. Also you bass will hit SOOOOOO much harder than now. You may even see an improvement by getting a smaller amp.
I have a 2014 Ford fusion I also have two 15in Memphis m3 mojo subs and two 1200 watt Memphis amps (one for each sub) is this to much bass for this car
Can anybody tell me if the old school TSUNAMI 40 FARAD CAP THATS NOT ROUND BUT IS SHAPED LIKE A SMALL AMP REALLLLLLL OR NOT REALLY?????? PLEASE, I STILL HAVE IT AND AM PUTTING IT IN SOON.
I'm gonna keep my cap that I won in an auction off ebay for 17 bucks that goes for 40 bucks at Sonic... I'm gonna keep it just for looks so people can say woowwwwwww. Afterall it's just a 17 dollar piece of decoration. :D
I had the rockford 2 farad but just took it out when installed new mechman 240,I'm not even gonna cut it up I paid almost 300 for it, it better be thick.
Contrary to popular belief, size doesn't necessarily matter in today's cap industry. Graphine is changing all that. I have seen a series of super cap sets that produce 2500 farad at half the size of that 1 farad cap in this video. Enough to start your car and hold juice for several weeks to start it again later. Look up car boost pack.
I had the same setup. new battery same as old, new alternator, same as old one, good grounds, 4 gauge power and ground, never an issue. so if you drive a Saturn like I did, you're good to go.
this is the list of capacitors they cut open in my opinion. cheapest one... POWER ACOUSTIK.... the slightly better one ROCKVILLE..... the best one ROCKFORD FOSGATE..... anybody else agree??????
Amperes x voltage = watts. Example my stock dodge dart alternator most likely has 63 idle amperes and 100 max so i realisticaly only have 30 amperes i can drain consistently without hurting anything to bad 30 amperes x my supply of 14 volts i can go as far as an amp with less then 420 watts i chose the ar1500m its a 360 watt amp only costed me $50 ofcourse right now i am currently only getting 25% efficiancy becuase i am using 4ohms so by math i am getting 180 watts from it.
Any one wanna help me out i got a 2004 ford expedition and i use my battery alot too charge my phone, im looking to upgrade to 2 alternators and a extra battery Around how much would a proffesional install? I also got a 12 kicker and a amp, they ran well for a year my battery recently died i tjink because i was not letting the battery charge completely due to not using my suv more than twice a week for long distances
In order to calculate the amps your system is drawing, divide RMS watts by 12.7V. For example, a 1200 RMS Watts system will need about an extra 94.5 Amps. If your car is running only a 110 amps alternator, then for sure you will need at least a second battery and or alternator upgrade.
And that's assuming your amplifier is running at 100% efficiency. The full formula is:
(wRMS÷12.4volts)÷efficiency=Amps
For a class D at 70% efficiency and running 1200w RMS it will look like this:
(1200÷12.4)÷0.70=138.25amps
Edit: but that also assumes you're using all 1200w all the time playing sine waves. Music only uses the full power in little pulses, playing notes. Bass heavy music, like rap, will only utilize the full power about 50% of the time, while rock or pop will be closer to 25-30%. So after you find the maximum possible it can pull, multiply the total by the percentage that matches your music tastes.
The answers given are always worth the time to listen, watch and keep coming back to see whats next. keep it up
So happy I found you guys, what is a good amount of pot to smoke before I make a video about this stuff
🙃
They dont even know simple math 120x10.. jeez does sonix even ask for a ged
Free Mind it’s 1200
Depends on how many tree rings
@@Llegando_Tarde GED???, They're lucky they even passed the sixth grade.
I'm an old man this day in age concerning car audio. Everyone that approaches me about my car audio setup, the first question they always ask is, "how big of a capacitor do you have?" I do not have one, and I will never use one. I tell them them that is just a band-aid that will kill their alternator. They look at me and treat me is disbelief. Despite me showing them what I have done. Christ these are people that don't understand ACC vs OFC, and the benefits.
couple of things i want to point out.
-Even with a new drop in alternator, your gonna need a new and slightly smaller belt if you want that alternator to do its claimed power.
-As for the alternator, for daily listening, your 2000 rms amp is not going to draw 180-200 amps of power at all times. Music is dynamic meaning the current draw will be fluctuating up and down. Hence people choosing to get batteries over the alt because it'll regulate the voltage. Only when you are SPL burping in competitions will you see that high of a current draw.
-That being said, when getting a H/O alt, you still need to account for the power draw of both your 4 channel amp and sub amp along with AC/heater/dvd/other accessories in your car.
-For batteries, its a rule of thumb of 55 amp hours for every 1000 rms your running. Alternatives to these super hyped up AGMS are Dekas, sears diehard platinum and many of your local AGM producers, grab the biggest group 31 you can fit.
Thats true.if you watch my vids you'll see that I have a group 31 diehard platinum marine secondary batt.stopped my light dimming at high volumes.voltage doesn't drop below 13.7 full tilt
One thing that a lot of people seem to forget is that yes you may have say 2000 or 3000 watts worth of amps for your sound system but how often do you really drive around town with the volume at 100%? I usually drive with the volume at half or lower most of the time and I only tend to turn it up for a song or two or sometimes when showing off to friends. Your battery should have enough capacity to not let the voltage drop too much. And, I've listened to music with the engine off for up to an hour (not at full volume, of course) and when I start the engine, the starter doesn't seem to be struggling for power (it sounds just as strong as usual, not like it does when you battery is going bad) so I don't think I'm really draining my battery too much anyways.
pctomactechtalk what you said bro i got a zv3 12 on ab phantom 4k i only play it for like maybe 30 seconds full tilt then turn it down
So what about dimming lights then
Mr. Canna Farmer if it does even dim the lights, then you can just add a capacitor and that should fix that, it shouldn't be too much of a problem, only when you run it for a long time or at a really high volume.
Haha love it @ 10:45 Allyn throwing the frame box. Got it Caps= waste of money.
I upgraded from 110Amp to a 150Amp alternator. I only use Genuine Maxwell 3000F Ultra Caps in a 6S3P configuration. 200KJoules. And the biggest Optima Yellow Top available. Ride the lightning.
I ended up adding a second alternator just dedicated for battery and amps. I left factory alternator and start batter factory. I found with the alternators separated the stereo and car is happy. Of course I upgraded the alternators while I was at it and wiring to all that. Much cleaner sound and no lights dimming and sound great and clean.
What your saying is right to about the load on alternator. If adding system is great to upgrade alternator and wiring to it to. I love your advice and other videos.
Keep up the good work and advice.
Running all your accessories in the car the alternator generally has a 30% reserve. So if you have a 100 amp alternator you have a 30 amp reserve. This being said you have 30 amps to play with every accessory on. Vehicle charging is only as good as the alternator. Alternator first. Batteries secondary. Caps if you are running banks of them. Maxwell or XS Power. Real caps. Banks of them.
Yup. The alt in cars/trucks are designed to handle having every option that that vehicle has running all at one time plus some reserve.That usually only leaves room for a small to moderate system to be added on top without adding a better alt.
Those capacitors are are made of two sheets of metal with a dielectric in between, In this case they just roll that assembly up. You don't have to go edward scissor hands to tell if its a fake. Just test the time constant. tc= RC, and 5tc is the time it takes to be considered charged or discharged. Take the cap with a reasonably sized resistor; wire them in series with a low voltage dc source, have a voltage meter across the cap and measure how long it takes the cap to charge to source voltage. Divide that by 5, and then by the resistor value. The result will tell you the capacitance.
Thanks... but anybody needing that info is not going to go through all that trouble. LOL
DRDEE hey i have pioneer sub 400 watt rms and i plan adding 2 more thats like 1200-1300 watt rms am i be able to do it on a 65amp alternator?
@@filipT97 no
@@alexisking4316 what about if i add capacitator?
@@filipT97 I honestly don't suggest that allot of the people I have seen do that end up with wires burning up etc I honestly feel you should buy another battery doing a big 3 and puting a 500a fuses and isolator between the 2 bats
Can you post a link for the calculator?
i couldent find it
Do amps use their full rated rms power all the time? For example, if I have a 500 rms amp, will it always be pulling 500rms, or is 500 the max it will pull (at max volume and max gain, etc?)
Music is dynamic. The amp will push x amps briefly depending on the song. But it constantly fluctuates
It is called ohms law. You guys should know that.
you can judge a factory alternator by the current ratting, alternators on today's cars have such a large pulley many of them hardly put out any power at idle. batteries are more common than not used as a band aid just like caps, If the alt can't make enough power it will just draw from your collection of batteries until your lights dim and voltage drops.
you should do a video highlighting mechmans alts and regulators, show people how to calculate the belt size for their new alt, maybe a power comparison of oem and mechman drop in.
Hey! I had a quick question about the set up I’m try to build. I bought 2 12” SA V2’s. A SFB 3000D amp, and the D4S LTO 12v 3k-5kw battery. From the D4S website. I have a 0gauge wire kit too. When I was back and forth between emails I was under the impression that I was getting a battery to replace the stock one under the hood. But this is what I was paired with. Do you think I’ll be okay on power supply with this set up? Its for a 2019 Honda Accord 2.0t. The install is scheduled for the 12th of January and I just want to make sure everything is ready to go and I won’t have any issues.
Hi guys. I have a 2004 Nissan Armada LE 4x4 with GPS factory and I want to put a new stereo the Kenwood DX271 but the BIG problem is the part with the service settings is going to be remove. My Q is How can I keep the service Settings in my Suv? or What can i do? Helppppp please.
I have a golf mk1. I can't seem to find a high output alternator for it. What else can I do?
well I have a 140amp alternator I hav 2 batteries I am running a 1500rms ds18 for mids an a 3300rms Stetson for bass an the voltage do nt drop should I upgrade my alternator
@TurboDuckHeadHD In HD thanks bt I have done my upgrades an thing thanks
I have an old RF Punch 120 a2 amp and a Kenwood 1000 watt mono block amp. Which would be best to run my 2 Kenwood 12's 500 rms a piece subs and best for my mids and highs? I have 100 amp alternator and 2 duralast 1200 cca batteries front/back
Why not an extra alternator or two if u have the room and Use one for starting and normal vehicle function and the other/s for stereo system exclusive and it’s battery/s and amps so that way if u bump up the voltage from 14.4 to 15.5 then your amps will actually give u more wattage.
I'd have to say the good Cap was a Rockford Fosgate for sure.
Or an nvx since they promote their products and the box was behind them🤣
Cap should only be used to stabilize power draw, not to patch up a under powered electrical system.
mines basically just an expensive distribution block and ground
A good cap provides a short reserve to allow the alternator time to increase the current output. Because an alternator can take up to 50 milliseconds to increase the output and the capacitor gets first dibs on the alternator because it has a much lower internal resistance than the battery so you are not drawing power off the battery unless the engine is turned off and I agree with what you say. The best way to deal with an underpowered electrical system until you have the money to upgrade it is to be conservative with the volume. My brother had 2 kenwood 10s on a 1000 watt rms kenwood amplifier and what it really needed was a big 3 upgrade with 4 gauge wire not a capacitor. Up to 2000 watts of bass is doable with a stock 80 amp alternator and a 0 gauge big 3 upgrade but, you will accelerate the wear and tear of your alternator.
hey guys i just did the big 3 and upgraded my alternator on my o3 civic lx coupe. after doing this i reconnected my negative battery termanal and my sterio wont come3 on i checked all the fuses and still wont come on when i hook it up dirctly to the battery it works do you have any idea on what is wrong
I have a 2006 750li bmw, this car are very sensitive to low voltage, any idea what can I do to keep my electrical system healthy, I cant seem to find anyone to upgrade my alternator like you mention, thanks
Do I need a second battery?..I already did the big 3..an upgrade my alternator too a 220..going in hyundai sonata 2.4. 1,500.. system nothing outrageous? (4- 6.5 Rockford Fosgate.. 1 12 at this point.
I’m plan on sticking with my stock 80 amp alt for my future 1750 watt Fi sub because I’m mostly going to play my system at 16 volume or lower on my pioneer head unit and my primary goal is SQ. I have an AGM battery though and plan on doing the big 3 before getting my bigger amp and the better sub.
The capacitors should not be used as batteries, or as an replacement for the alternators, if you are using subwoofers, amplifiers or anything else that draws huge amounts of current in small periods, they take strain off of your batteries and/or alternator which should be better for your battery/motor.
I'm looking for a new head unit for my car. I have 2 aftermarket amplifiers. Does the out put voltage of my head unit rca's make a difference for gain settings on my amplifiers?
Hey Guys. My ? is the following we bought 2 3000watt dvc woofers we now want to connect these to a 7000watt 1 channel XTC Monoblock amp. how do we go about doing this.
question for you guys
I have Alpine iva d310 hooked up to 2012 f150 with wire connector kits. I am getting static though rca cables in bluetooth mode or usb mode, I don't get noise from radio or dvd player, its not engine noise its produced when engine is off too. I have used different usb cables and female connectors nothing improves the noise. Is it a ground issue with the radio or brain of the unit???
Thanks Joe
I’ve done the big 3 upgrade , stock alt and battery on my 07 Ford Expedition. One run of 0 gauge running a sundown sfb3000 watt amp to an x12v2 and a 4 gauge running a 1000 watt skar amp on my 4-6.5, 2 -8 and 4 tweeters which I’m running all of it to the max and pretty hard. Just running my voltage Is sitting at about 14.7 and don’t drop below 14 till max volume but if I keep driving the sub harder at max will drop low 12 which I don’t like. What would anyone suggest for my setup?. I imagine I have a high output stock alternator already cuz the voltage is very good at normal person volume. Haha! Not sure where I’m running out on my voltage kinda why I’m askin. Prolly could figure out myself just thought I’d see what yalll gots to say. I can’t push as hard at idle obviously which prolly means I need a alt upgrade. Let me know guys! Thanks!
I have a 2012 corolla and I bought a Jensen dmx5020 and it is smaller than what I expected it to be. What should I do
I have an 06 Scion xB that I just put a stereo system in I want to go bigger and better but I can't find the company that makes a high output alternator quality do you guys have any suggestions whom I should look for?
Try Js Alternators BrandX or Mechman Alternators
@@MrBigzo32 👍👍
Hey guys, I have a question. My 2013 Civic has a 95-100 amp alternator and I wish to run a sound setup that will run around 1500 rms (speakers and sub combined with two amps). I want to upgrade my alternator, but after research, it is said that the alternator on the Civic is "computer controlled," meaning that no matter what alternator I run, the computer will only run the stock setting.
What can I do? I really want to upgrade my sound.
Just get a secondary battery that has around 80 ah. Look at XS power batteries
I bet it was a nvx cap (the good one)
@sonic electronics just upgraded my battery to a yellow top optima and info on how they perform with the mech man alternator?
I HAVE A 2012 NISSAN altima 2.5L engine 110 amp alternator I'm running 1800 rms watts my lights don't dim but my voltage drops I have a yellowtop D35 battery should I do the Big 3 upgrade because I can't fine a alternator that fits my 2.5L altima they only have high output alternators for the 3.5L
I also have a nissan, Nissan Sentra with a 2.0 engine. There's a few website that do carry high output alt. for your car and mine. Trouble is the price they charge is from 310 to almost 700 bucks depends on what website u go to. Too fucking much! I recently went to the junkyard and bought a used alt. for 25 bucks. I was planning to take it to the alt. n starter rebuilt shop, and ask how much they charge for a upgrade on it. I have not had a chance to ask, maybe Mon. Just trying to give u some options that won't break the bank.
I have a 03 sable with electronic climate control and desperately need an aftermarket radio. I have already tried every loc there is and they just don't cut it. How can I manipulate it to change the stock head unit?
you speak of a calculator on kinetic website I just left didn't see it once you get to site how do you get to the calculator??????
Hey i have a question. What major or degree can i work towards to actually have a career alike meade or custom fabricators? Or even a shop like what you guys do? Please help!
You need to get your MECP Certification.
+TheDozaLife So you really want to be like these two, idiots?
customers and that is it
TheDozaLife Meade is just a crook don't be like him. He is just robbing Noobs with his junk that does nothing.
I have 1500 watts total. I just replaced my 200 amp alternator with a new 155 amp and my bass doesn't seem to be as loud as before. (just done big 3, new battery,) is this the cause or is it all in my head??
Read your comment again, and think about it.
It's NOT in your head. NO matter how many batteries you have, if they are not being charged, the sound will peter out! After operating ambulances for several years, the older ambulances had 3-4 batteries, AND dual 200 amp alternators to charge, and operate all those lights. Now days with LED lighting, the power consumption is much lower and less demand for all that power. you may look in to dual 200 amp G.M. alternators and at least 3-4 batteries. Use 1 battery for your car it self, and an "Isolator" to keep your main car battery from being taxed to the point, that it will no longer start your gar. Isolators can be sourced from R.V. supply or Ebay.
I just got hired for a job at a local car audio shop and I start this friday. It would be my first actual job in car audio. Do you have any tips for first day or first few days?
FvD714 haha
I got a 2003 dodge ram and i already replace my alternator once and i just got an higher amp alternator, but do i need to upgrade something else like wires or batteries because i dont want to damage any of the electrical
You always want to do the "Big 3" upgrade which is power from alternator to battery, battery to frame, and engine to frame.
Some also recommend alternator to engine/frame though the alternator is already grounded to the engine through the mount. Best to do large cable like 1/0 gauge if you can.
Ok man thanks, Im going to have to read more about it
Do Capacitors get old? For example I got a capacitor that’s a little over 10 years old that was hardly used. Would it still be good? It’s one of the good expensive brands so I’m wondering if it would still work good.
As far as alternators go, if you can afford it get the thing right away you will be soo happy with the results that the price will be negligible. If you go on amozon you can find HO alternators for cheap like 200 and up.
Not for every car tho sadly... 😔🤕
I have a 2000 Toyota Avalon running 2 jbl s3's I have an audiopipe 1500 1d with a rms @ 2 ohms of around 960 some odd watts and the s3's are 500 watt rms each ! I have a deep cycle battery (AGM) and that's it! however my headlights dim like a b!tch! I'm considering adding a second (AGM) battery would this solve my problem??
Well they don't make any bigger alternator than i already have in my car and im not adding multiple batteries cuz i have no room so i honestly just wanted to try to see if a capacitor could keep my lights from flickering as much
hey sonic electroix could a vehilce factory system output 300 or more watts peak ? iv got a 07 dodge nitro and iv got boss chaos 6.5 in the doors and my factory speakers hit harder then they do there 250 watts a piece ?
Richard Walkey no, most factory head units output a max of 25 rms per speaker. my personal vehicle ouputs about 16 rms on the factory head unit. If its not sounding as well make sure that the installation is correct. The speakers should be flush agaisnt the door if they're not try using something like FAST Rings to remedy the problem, it will fix the gaping issue and help more with the mid bass aspect of it
Do you guys think it would be ok to upgrade the internal components (like adding more coils, for example) to an existing stock alternator rather than buying a new HO alt? The manufacture HO alt for my truck is like $500!
I have a question!!
Im going to buy a 2k rms sub and im buying an extra battery 140Ah, main battery is 100Ah, so its 240Ah total.
The Question is what alternator should i get? Should i upgrade my alternator or add second?
I sall a guy pulling 1800 watts off of stock everything except amp and sub obviously but it did fine besides headlight dim
So I would say it's not needed immediately but it will increase performance to upgrade that alternator
Alternator
Whats the link to that site
How do I setup a subwoofer for my 1989 chevy s10 it has blown original speakers and I was going to upgrade/update them
Is it standard cab or extended?
Standard
Check out the range of shallow mount subwoofers and find something that you like. I got on the Sonic Electronix website and since I'm actually about to get an '89 standard can s10 I'm planning ahead for my build. I personally like the soundstream Picasso 10(?) I believe it is. After you get new door speakers and decide on what sub you're gonna get, decide on whether you're gonna amplify the speakers or go straight to the radio and then find an amp for the sub. Once you do that get on the12volt.com and grab some paper and a pencil and start experimenting with different dimensions using the12volt's wedge enclosure 2. Make sure it's 2! That is very crucial since it's gone be hard to use the first wedge enclosure style. I hope this helps enough. And I personally for such a small build would only use 4 gauge for the power and ground wire and them just kinda see what size you wanna use for the remote wire (doesn't need to be too big since it splices into the radio wiring which isn't made with very large wires.)
Sir iam vishnu from indiai have groumd zero 1000rms spl subwoofer and focal 2200rms subwoofer and componenet of focal. I have suitable 3 amplifier also.but i dont get the original power from the factor system.now i connected using hi low converter. What should i sue to maximise ppwer on sub and component .my car is ford ecosport
What about a JL HD1200/1 would I need a alternator even with a extra battery capable of 1000watts. I have a 2013 Dodge Avenger 3.6 pentistar with a 160amp alternator.
I have a 2001 f150 5.4 stock alternator and a stock battery and a XS power 2400 in the back and all 0 gauge and big 3 pushing a Memphis mojo amp 4,000 rms pushing my 2 15s mojos Xseries and my lights still dim :( idk what type of alternator to get
Kurloz Soriano Singer, Mechman, JS alts, us alternators, Apex alts. Just Google them.
You forgot to tell people to depolarize the cap before taking a saw to it
Depolarize huh....
So im running a 2500 watt amp for my 15inch kicker off the battery in my 01 civic ... lol so I should definitely get a better alternater and probably a bigger battery? ..btw new at this so yeah haha
That has got to be the MAX rating of your amp which does not matter! What is it's RMS rating and what ohms do you have your sub wired to? What amp do you have?
Dortiz116 I love how dudes are like i have 2500watt amp but the RMS is 1200watts then hook it up to a tester and there only making 923watts... do your homework and research before you buy or talk shit...
Ohms law will help you calculate how much power your alternator can support. Keep in mind that it needs to be able to produce more power than is used so it can charge your car's battery.
caps are great if ran in sieries to your amp keeps electric (noise) down
I've been running a punch amplifier for aver 6 months with no problems with 2 12 inch kickers L7s and since yesterday the amplifier has been going into protect mode on and off? What could cause this? Btw the amplifier is 1000 watt
Check your ohm load. If you're running a 2 ohm stable amp at 1 ohm it will go into protect mode. Also check your ground wire connection to your amp. If you need to increase ohm load look up some wiring diagrams to see how to get you 2 speakers wired to 2 ohm in the amp.
Justin Taylor thanks Justin!
couple minutes in im thinkin' "wtf are these douches talkin bout...?" by the end of the vid, I was crackin up and learned somethin'. sub'd
Me too.
I want to know what's a good amplifier for Orion HCCA 15 inch subwoofer for it to sound good I got a 2400 watt hifonics Brutus amp pushing it but i wanna know if there's something out there that can push it harder
That amp should suffice if you have it wired at 2 ohms. You could get a better amp to push it a little further but sound wise you wouldn't hear much difference.
Upgrade your electrical first
I've got a 2000 ford explorer, xls. stock electrical system and I'm putting a 1k watt amp and 2 10's that draw about 300 watts RMS each.... can anyone tell me if I'll need a higher output alternator? they are so expensive in my situation
600 watts rms isn't that much power man. You shouldn't have that much of an issue
If you're putting in a 1000+ watt RMS system in your car.Just to be safe...BEFORE you put in any audio equipment....Do this: Upgrade your battery,Buy a high output alternator, and do the big three upgrade.Might cost close to $600 just in parts...but worth it..you can't put a price on piece of mind.
New battery, new alternator, capacitor : 1k amp/sub lights still flicker. Is another battery the only option ?
Its the light bulbs if they are led i dont think you can do anything about the light dimming
Bigger alternator and do the big 3
Thanks for sharing!!!
will i need to upgrade to the big 3 i am runing a 1600watt massive amp and 3 kicker cvr 10 subwoofers
Erik Rivera fuck yeah. especially cuz those massive audio amps do rated power.
Thanks
Erik Rivera u should do the big 4
"UA-cam it if you don't know I recommend it"
I have a question? Will doing the big 3 upgrade help with the dimming head lights? or getting a high power decent capacitor? I'm running 4000 watt amp at 1 ohm. don't really want to get another alternator unless I have to.
+George MCFADDEN You're running 4000 Watts and you haven't done a big 3 upgrade yet? That should definitely be your next step. If headlights still dim after that you will probably have to think about upgrading the alternator.
+George MCFADDEN if your lights are dimming that means your volts are going off 14 volts no longer providing the essential amount of charge your vehicles electrical system needs to operate the way its designed to, in return over heating your electrical system and ruining your battery at least. Not to mention the dip in volts will eventually ruin everything in your electrical system including that 4000 watt amp. Take my advice and go get a high output alternator that will run in a way that will provide allot more outgoing amps at idle then your factory alternator that is obviously not keeping up and will save you large in the long run.
+Sonic Electronix well I'm gonna do the big 3 and already bought a bigger alternator just got to put it on and ima add a extra battery.
+George MCFADDEN Simple math can tell you that your never going to get that out of the amp, and possibly fry the power supply section! So 4000 watts goes into 13v (doubt it goes above that with voltage drop) = 307.6 amps just for THAT amp alone. I dont know of a stock 300+ amp alternator, so your just putting off the inevitable. Also you bass will hit SOOOOOO much harder than now. You may even see an improvement by getting a smaller amp.
dont get a cap get a good drycell battery
so I have a question will adding an extra battery with wire an extra alternator
I have a 2014 Ford fusion I also have two 15in Memphis m3 mojo subs and two 1200 watt Memphis amps (one for each sub) is this to much bass for this car
Best vid I've seen about caps!!! lmao!
what is "high sensing power input for, on any amp?
I have a 1800 wat amp for highs and 1600 watt for bass a cap but my regular battery is old and all my speakers are compatible
Hi guys, what are the best alternator in the case i require to upgrade my electric system
a generator strapped to the roof. Come on just google it lazy ass.
This Model S is beatiful!
I thought it was a Jag myself. lol
Can anybody tell me if the old school TSUNAMI 40 FARAD CAP THATS NOT ROUND BUT IS SHAPED LIKE A SMALL AMP REALLLLLLL OR NOT REALLY?????? PLEASE, I STILL HAVE IT AND AM PUTTING IT IN SOON.
What happened to the weekly sub of the week?
Have another energy drink lol
are memphis car audio 2 Farad caps good?
Clean that damn shop!
Those guys are always Baked out lol
If my alternator is 100 Amps an I go to a 240 can that hurt anything in my vehicle?
Heck no. Thats why you have fuses.
When should I upgrade me cars electrical system? Answer how far do you want to be able to drive your Tesla with your stereo playing? lol
Soooo will my 105 amp alternator
Be fine for a 1200 watt system lol
yes
@@mcfriedchicken1972 lol thanks bud
I'm gonna keep my cap that I won in an auction off ebay for 17 bucks that goes for 40 bucks at Sonic... I'm gonna keep it just for looks so people can say woowwwwwww. Afterall it's just a 17 dollar piece of decoration. :D
Would upgrading an alternator would it over power the battery
I had the rockford 2 farad but just took it out when installed new mechman 240,I'm not even gonna cut it up I paid almost 300 for it, it better be thick.
The Rockford caps are really nice
Contrary to popular belief, size doesn't necessarily matter in today's cap industry. Graphine is changing all that.
I have seen a series of super cap sets that produce 2500 farad at half the size of that 1 farad cap in this video. Enough to start your car and hold juice for several weeks to start it again later. Look up car boost pack.
I have a 115 amp alternator, and I'll be running about 500 watts total, do I need to upgrade alternator? Should I upgrade battery?
Thanks!
I had the same setup. new battery same as old, new alternator, same as old one, good grounds, 4 gauge power and ground, never an issue. so if you drive a Saturn like I did, you're good to go.
this is the list of capacitors they cut open in my opinion. cheapest one... POWER ACOUSTIK.... the slightly better one ROCKVILLE..... the best one ROCKFORD FOSGATE..... anybody else agree??????
can my 45amp alternator from an old vauxhall vx 2300 handle a 150wrms amplifier?
That's Allyn from SoundmanCa
Amperes x voltage = watts. Example my stock dodge dart alternator most likely has 63 idle amperes and 100 max so i realisticaly only have 30 amperes i can drain consistently without hurting anything to bad 30 amperes x my supply of 14 volts i can go as far as an amp with less then 420 watts i chose the ar1500m its a 360 watt amp only costed me $50 ofcourse right now i am currently only getting 25% efficiancy becuase i am using 4ohms so by math i am getting 180 watts from it.
what are good capacitor brands that are out there
No caps
5 years too late but Ultracap banks are a thing
Any one wanna help me out i got a 2004 ford expedition and i use my battery alot too charge my phone, im looking to upgrade to 2 alternators and a extra battery
Around how much would a proffesional install?
I also got a 12 kicker and a amp, they ran well for a year my battery recently died i tjink because i was not letting the battery charge completely due to not using my suv more than twice a week for long distances
I also charge lights and i charge powerbanks
It's an Nvx Cap the good one....
Anytime you do the Big 3 bro
I've got a dmax diesel will 105 amp alternator
cap's are for you're frequencie pieks not you're electrical system ore am i wrong?
non axial caps are for crossover networks, most caps are axial and used for electrical filtering in the micro farad range.
Does anybody make 400 amp alternators for tractor trailer