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Silver Member Username: Iufan4lifeulLouisville, Kentucky Post Number: 347 Registered: May-05 | So, I was out driving tonight and since it was dark I decided to give my stock electrical system a test to make sure it was up to par. I had my amplifier for my subs drawing about 40 amps as well as 10 amps for my HU, my A/C on at full blast, my driving lights, and my windshield wipers. After a constant 5 minutes of all this stuff the headlights didn't dim once. Not too shabby off an 80 amp alternator. |
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Gold Member Username: GlasswolfWisteria, Lane USA Post Number: 9568 Registered: Dec-03 | why do you think the amp and head unit were drawing 50A? |
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Silver Member Username: QuickshotCharlotte, North Carolina U.S. Post Number: 192 Registered: Aug-05 | probably becuase those are their fuse ratings...your barely drawing the full 50a and good for you that your stuff doesnt dim because my sh!t dims like a b!tch |
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Gold Member Username: GlasswolfWisteria, Lane USA Post Number: 9618 Registered: Dec-03 | those are peak ratings.. chances are you're using a very small fraction of that much current in normal listening even with the volume up quite a bit. |
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Anonymous | hey glass it would be smart to add up all the fuse ratings on yur amps/hu/and about 40-50 for normal operation...so you could have some room to work with...say my 1000 watt sub amp has a 150 amp fuse and my hu has a 25 and my component amp has a 40...so i would roughly want a 250 amp alt...and there would be a lot of room to work with...does that sound good... |
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Gold Member Username: GlasswolfWisteria, Lane USA Post Number: 9651 Registered: Dec-03 | http://www.wickedcases.com/caraudio/charging.html |
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Silver Member Username: Iufan4lifeulLouisville, Kentucky Post Number: 366 Registered: May-05 | I just calculated it doing the RMS of the amplifier (450)/12.5voltsX1.4(A/B amplifier). It gave me 50.4 amps. That is only when it is at full tilt. With my HU at full tilt I am drawing around 10 amps (says "Max current consumption- 10 amps) BUT, I never turn it up all the way so lets say 8 amps max. 50.4+8= 58.4 amps for my entire audio system. Would 21.6 amps be enough for my car? It is an 80 amp alternator. Will I be hurting my electrical system (won't be maxing it out constantly). |
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Silver Member Username: Iufan4lifeulLouisville, Kentucky Post Number: 367 Registered: May-05 | And, if my amplifier says it has 4 gauge power connections, can I still use 8 gauge? |
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Silver Member Username: Iufan4lifeulLouisville, Kentucky Post Number: 375 Registered: May-05 | bump |
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Gold Member Username: GlasswolfWisteria, Lane USA Post Number: 9684 Registered: Dec-03 | power wire size depends on current draw and langth of the wire. www.the12volt.com has charts for that on their menu under "power and ground wire" only real way to know about the alternator is to run the system and use a VOM to see if voltage fluctuates below 12 volts. |
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Silver Member Username: Tdeaton1021Near Tampa, Florida USA Post Number: 772 Registered: Sep-04 | i have my stock alternator with a 300/4 and a 1000/1 and a flipscreen and a/c, lights etc. i have a batcap 800 and my lights no longer dim at all. given my stock alternator is 130A though.... some day i want to get a 235 and add a 1000/1 and a 450/4 and also get a yellowtop or 2... or maybe 2 more batcap 800s |
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Silver Member Username: James_gTN Post Number: 133 Registered: Jul-05 | Go to Glass' site and read about the caps. They might stop your lights from dimming, but also mask charging problems. |