sound system need new alt?

[Jmulv]

i have a 97 explorer and i was wondering if an alternator with 200 amp or so would be a good idea. i havnt put in anything yet as i still am saving money but i would like to know that if a new alternator would make a big difference with a system or not.

 

[davesexplorer]

If you are pumping a good amount of wattage, a higher amperage alternator would be a good choice....

 

[Cartman]

It depends on how big of a system are you planning on. I have about 1000 watts running off a stock alt and have no problems, if you install you're system and have problems then you can buy the alternator later.

 

[Pheonixx77]

even if you get the alternator, a capacitor ("cap") would be a good move, caps will save the battery and alt from overwork when the bass hits. the sudden drain is what makes your lights dim etc...for 80-200$ (depends on brand and quality) it is a very safe and smart move...

 

[davesexplorer]

caps are relative to wattage like everything else, currently I have 8,000 watts rms, and not even a 50farad cap helped me, a high amp alternator is the solution for me...

(my voltage can drop as low as 10v with car ON!)

 

[goobenet]

8,000w RMS? What the hell kindof inefficient speakers are you using?! I've seen professional comp vehicles pushing 3k RMS and 8k PEAK. (these guys are hitting around 157db) Instead of trying to boost the alt and single battery, try putting a batcap in, or more than one battery, or put a few caps in series? single 50 farad cap is useless. Try using 20 .5 farad caps. Takes less time to fill a small cap in series than it does to fill a single large one. There's only 3 companies in the world really making caps, so it doesn't matter which one you buy, electrolyte is still electrolyte.

Best rig i've ever seen was he had 10 1 Farad caps in series, hooked up to 4 yellowtop batteries, single 200AMP alternator, and an isolator. He was driving 4 15" eclipse subs, a full set of MB Quartz components, and 8 Viper/DEI amps. (4 Monoblocks ~900x1 RMS 1300x1 peak, and a bunch of 2-channel amps for the rest)

Simple math can solve this problem. Lots of small add up, or put the strain on one large? I'll take the lots of small.

 

[davesexplorer]

Db drag street B, car is off, only allowed one battery... and a max of 1 farads of capacitors... The electricity is the limiting factor.

The speakers aren't really inefficient, its that theres only 2 of them, 12"s.... and I'm willing to bet those high numbers weren't on the new pressure sensor...
On a old linear x mic or whatever theyre called, I can do a 155 outlaw.... But I dont count that, because I dont think of the old systems as very linear in nature, nor very consistent...

And explain to me how a 50 farad cap differs from say 5- 10 farad caps, or 50 1 farad caps? My point is really that caps dont really mean much (batcaps aside) at high levels this has been proven, I have a couple mags where they were tested etc.
How many extreme competitors use caps? Really the only ones use them for the digital monitoring, ha!

Thats enough of that, I'm going to enjoy a yuengling

 

[goobenet]

Most the 50 farad caps i've seen are "banks" of 10 farad caps in series. So really it's still 5 - 10 Farad caps. I'm newer to the USACi stuff, so i apologise since i'm not well versed in the rules.

 

[DirtMcGirt]

capacitance is larger when wired in series. It adds up when u wire capacitors in series as apposed to just one equivelant cap.

I forget the equation but its simple physics, i think i learned it last year but i could always be wrong .

Also, ur pushing 8000 watts and only hitting 150? Im pushing 1266.66w at 1 ohm and im hitting 145. (1 farad cap, 1 batt, and soon to put in 200 amp alt. on termlab mics.)

Maybe should invest in a good custom SPL enclosure, or learn how to build one... Cuz with 8000 watts, i'd be hitting about 154 give or take 2.

 

[DirtMcGirt]

hey!! i just noticed ur in state college PA, like right near PSU main campus? WE should meet sometime

 

[davesexplorer]

Hey anytime, about to start school yet again up here.....

That 8k watts is at 14.4, I am getting nowhere near that..... How many subs you have? Cuz 150 on the termlab is pretty loud! The record worldwide in my class is only 154.2! I'm currently the loudest in my class in the state.
Oh yeah and this isn't an spl box.... tuned to ~35hz tis for daily driving, I have aeroports coming in the mail for my spl box...

 

[davesexplorer]

And before I forget... Do you compete much, I'm goin to a couple comps here soon... um the weekend of the 22nd I believe, down in maryland on saturday, and on sunday... one in brodheadsville PA, If you'd like to go? Lemme know, cuz its usually just me and my g/f that roadtrip to non-local comps...

 

[DirtMcGirt]

i compete at a local shop, audio sensations, and its not very much competition :/ I guess around here not alot of people are into like REALLY LOUD bass... just a little bump.. so im currently undefeated.

I know the guy that owns the shop so he lets me fool around with the mics sometimes when the day is going slow.

I'm running 2 audiobahn flame q 12's, with a LA x1.1000.1d (1266.66w @ 14.4v). And then 5x7 comps in the front, and 6x8 coaxials in the back. And custom SQL enclosure from powered4sound.