I'm surprised there isn't a detailed DIY on this. Hint hint g35man04. I just installed a pretty powerful sound system and it's draining bad. Lights are dimming, lagging up shifting, lagging downshifting, actual noticeable loss of power at low rpm cruising when the bass hits. It's pretty ghetto. I need a serious fix if I want to run this system. There is a 220 amp alternator available for our cars. Uses a smaller pulley so I'd need a different belt and a thicker cable running to the battery. According to what I've read g35man04 write. A better battery may be needed as well. If someone has done this help me out or give me some other suggestions. From what I understand, Capacitors don't solve the problem and second battery's still strain alternators. By the way, I've got an 03 Sedan and am trying to push about 640 watts RMS. Amp says it's 1800 watts at 2 ohms, that may be a little over stated.

 

What amps?

If you're gonna swap alts, go all the way and get a 320 amp

 

These alternators produce more power by decreasing the size of the pulley. More revolutions equals more power production. They're wound more as well. This means you lose HP from the motor that goes into electrical energy production. I don't plan on running a Christmas lights with it during the holidays. I just need to figure out how best to power my amp.

 

well, what amps are you gonna use

 

Thinking about this alternator http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...em=#vi-content

for the Kenwood 9104D at 2 ohms.

 

You don't need an alt for that

Big 3 + batt is enough.

Use that alt money toward better amps

 

Is there a big 3 kit u can buy?

 

not that i know of

 

just google big 3, its super easy to do.



http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/4/255554.html

 

Anybody have any experience with how effective a big 3 upgrade was on our cars? I'm assuming that a big 3 would work if restriction is the issue. Not sure how effective it would be if the alternator isn't producing enough amperage.

 

its quite easy to change i went with a 260 amp and wow major improvement.. and added grounding

 

Who's was yours made by?

 

The big 3 should be the first thing you do. Even if you got with a bigger alt you should still do the big 3 for maximum current flow. So, if it has to be done regardless you might as well start there and see if it makes a difference.

I would think that the big 3 alone would be enough for what you are trying to do.

 

I did 'the big 3' and put in a 'yellow top' battery when I replaced everything. No problems using the stock alt.

 

I am using 2 400 watt Focal amps