Currently I have a Kenwood xr-4s and a Alpine 1.600 running 4 speakers and a sub. I have a Kinetik HC1800 Battery running 1/0 gauge to a distribution block and 4 gauge to the amps. I have the Big Three Upgrade already. I am planning on replacing the Kenwood with a Zapco ref750.2. Currently my battery reads about 12.5-12.7 after driving around. Have never had problems with dimming lights unless I had bass up more than normal and was playing very loud. The speakers I plan on running are 3ohm speakers so about 210w per channel with the Zapco which comes out to be less than the Kenwood but would the Zapco amp use less power than rated when using different ohms? The Kenwood does 600w max while the Zapco is rated at 750w max. Kenwood also has 2 30amp fuses while the Zapco has 3 25amp fuses. I am not the type to just sit somewhere and blast music. I am always driving around, how should I say, spiritedly. I have the gain on the Kenwood set so that at 3/4 volume the speakers are getting their max power before distortion and the sub is getting full 600w rms from the alpine at 3/4 volume and I never turn the volume past that. I adjusted the gains with a multimeter that can read rms in real time and used a test tone for the tweeters and a 0db tone for the sub.

Thanks, Mike

 

you might need to upgrade your battery not alternator.. get more amp battery, and get the stabilizer.

 

post is kinda hard to read but what I got from it was that your battery reads12.5 - 12.7 volts, is that with the car on or when your car is off?

If that's when your car is running and your radio is turned up you need to upgrade your electrical.

If you get 12.5 volts when you car is off, thats normal.

where are you taking the voltage rating and with what device?

wattage and ohms don't play as much of a factor as much as current/amperage does.

 

Yeah sorry was in a rush this morning. 12.5 was this morning with the car off after not driving since yesterday. Using an expensive multimeter and measuring at the battery posts. Will take readings of the car on and off when I get home today in about 2 hours.

 

Ok so here is what I got straight from the battery posts:

Off Overnight=12.5v
Idle =14.08v
Off for 10sec=13.05v

The Zapco amp looks as though at max it only used 15 more amps than my current Kenwood by looking at the fuses combined. With these numbers now could anyone make an educated guess so to speak on if this will hinder my electrical system? Currently my start ups are practically instant. One or two turnovers and it starts right up np. Also forgot to add that the Zapco is a class A/B amp versus the Kenwood is a class D so the Zapco will probably a little less efficient.

Thanks, Mike

 

Biggest xs power batt you can fit under the hood
Proper sized wiring and distrubution.

...profit.

 

Didn't really answer my question. I wasn't looking to buy another battery because the one I have is perfectly fine and actually barely fits since my battery cover only clips on one side. I have proper wiring and distribution. I'm asking if with what I have and plan to get will my current electrical system be able to handle everything.

 

yes the class a/b will be less efficient but you wont know how the cars electrical will react until you try it.

Id get the zapco amp and then go from there.

 

Sounds good. Thanks. Just hope it works so I don't to have that nice zapco sitting around until i get funds for a new alternator.

 

I don't have alot of experience with electronics, but have you considered a capacitor, might take some of the strain off your batt. Never used one myself, but some of my buddies have and seem to have good results...

 

^ capacitors are a waste in car audio. The usable power from them is negligible, and adding complications to a car audio setup is always discouraged.