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Silver Member Username: Iufan4lifeulPost Number: 540 Registered: May-05 | Took it to the local audio store. They said my alternator was putting out 12.5volts+ at idle with everything maxed and 14.4 while driving so it is fine. He said one of the terminals on the subwoofer was touching a metal part of the sub and causing it to heat up and send the amp into protection. He fixed it and now they work PERFECT. They are loud, accurate, and have awesome SQ. Loving every minute of them. I will reccommend them to everyone. The only question I have is how high can I turn it up... The gain is set halfway up on the amp, The subwoofer output on the HU is 0 on a -6 to +6 scale and I can crank the CD player and the more I turn up the volume the louder it gets. How do I know what is too much? Thanks! Chris |
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Gold Member Username: CarguyPost Number: 4718 Registered: Nov-04 | Something's not right. Your alternator is suppose to generate 13.8v - 14.2v at idle. According to your post, it's 12.5v. That has to be from the battery. Do not touch the gain/level setting. It has nothing to do with volume. As you know, almost ALL HUs will distort around the max setting. So if you play at that setting for too long, you risk the chance of blowing your subs and the amp. Listen to the music carefully. You should be able to tell when it's distorting. |
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Anonymous | there is nothing wrong with the alt putting out 12.5 at idle with the system going.... For those people that think this will clip their amp, then never run it with the car off b/c they will only get 12v. OMG As long as you don't run your car at idle for EXTENDED periods of time you are fine. When you are driving and the voltage goes above 13 or so, your batteries are charging. Think about it, it makes sense..... The electrical system in cars were designed to run in between 12 and 15 volts. If you don't believe me, look in your manual. |
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Gold Member Username: CarguyPost Number: 4723 Registered: Nov-04 | Whoa there anonymous, go to www.bcae1.com and read up on charging system. Be very careful when you give out free advices. Chris, if at idle your voltage hit 12.5v at night, you will either stall the car or cause some serious dimming lights. Your headlights will use up almost 15A - 20A of current. |
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Gold Member Username: Taylor17Kopperl, Texas Post Number: 3185 Registered: Jan-05 | Lol really? My voltage has hit 11.5 and it didn't stall... was I close? |
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Gold Member Username: CarguyPost Number: 4725 Registered: Nov-04 | Well it depends on your car. Some will stall, others it will sound like your car's going to die. If you see 11.5v, you're pretty close to killing your battery (unless it's deepcycle). |
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Gold Member Username: Taylor17Kopperl, Texas Post Number: 3187 Registered: Jan-05 | Lol, that would explain it.:-) I'm actually wating for the Alt to die so my dad has to buy an HO alt. |
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Bronze Member Username: Wolf_houndPost Number: 18 Registered: Sep-05 | Well i had a older car that did 9.0 9.5 volts while driving my battery didnt die my cxar dindt stall and my system hit loud there was a short in my car and i still drove it like that for like 6 months nothing happened. my car did seem to run a little ruffer but not much. i dont know what happerned after that since i sold vthe car |
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Gold Member Username: Taylor17Kopperl, Texas Post Number: 3197 Registered: Jan-05 | Theres all ways an exception to every rule though... |
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Gold Member Username: Kd7nfrMontpelier, ID United States Post Number: 1055 Registered: Apr-05 | My Jeep's alternator doesn't kick anything out until 800rpm... |
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Silver Member Username: Iufan4lifeulPost Number: 542 Registered: May-05 | Well, since I mainly drive the car while listening to it. Once in a blue moon do I park it and keep it idleing and turn up my system. I think that i am fine considering the guy said it was reading right around 14.4 while everything was going and the car was moving. He said that my alternator is perfectly fine although he did say just to play on the safe side, keep it lower when at night with A/C and lights on etc. |
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Gold Member Username: CarguyPost Number: 4729 Registered: Nov-04 | Julian, be glad you weren't the one buying a used car like that. Jake do you have HO alternator? Mine produces even at idle. The voltage reading is 14.6v at 700rpm. With full stereo blast, it drops to 13.5v. Anyhow, if you get 12.5v, it means the power is being sucked from the battery. Not a wise move with one battery. Don't do it during winter. |
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Bronze Member Username: Wolf_houndPost Number: 20 Registered: Sep-05 | lol isaac i sold that crap for 700 dollars. How do you find out how a car has a short anyway and where its coming from. I never took it to a shop cause people told me it would cost too much. |
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Gold Member Username: CarguyPost Number: 4740 Registered: Nov-04 | Julian, you will need DMM and isolate the problem one wire at a time. It shouldn't take that long either. Any normal car battery will die once it drops 11v. Therefore, your problem could've been a bad ground somewhere. |