Upgrading my electrical need advice

[Darkhunter139 1]

I posted this on another forum but didn't really get the best answer so I figured I see what you guys had to say

First off I am going to be running an 800 watt sub amp with an FI sub (Not sure which one yet)

And probably a speaker amp around 100x2 watts

I have a 94 honda accord with a 70 amp stock alt, I am going to be doing the big three for sure.

What other upgrades do you think I am going to need to do? If I have to upgrade my alt would one from ebay do the trick or is that not recommended?

I was looking at this battery for the trunk as well

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_7324_Kinetik+HC+600.html

[KU40 173]

I'd upgrade the alternator. Not sure about ebay stuff, but if it were me I'd get one with a warranty.

[Darkhunter139 1]

What about this one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA-ACCOR...sspagenameZWDVW

They say they give you a 90 day warranty.

Or this one

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA-ACCOR...sspagenameZWDVW

That gives you a year.

Also my alt might be 80 amps actually if that makes any differnce. I plan on installing my sub amp and sub soon think id be ok to just run them off my stock alt until I can upgrade my alt, then ill add my second amp.

Edited May 16, 2008 by darkhunter139

[Darkhunter139 1]

Ok yeah its an 80-90 amp alt

[johnecon2001 82]

Those were both Remanufactured alts. Stay away.

[Darkhunter139 1]

Alright think I could get away without one if I just run the 800 watt amp?

[Darkhunter139 1]

Ok here is what I plan on doing

big 3

Buying that kinetik HC 600 for in the trunk

And just running the 800 watt amp for now

Think that will be good on my 80-90 amp alternator?

[philsteroni 0]

one of my buddies is running 2000watts on his stock alt in a 96 civic (60 amp). no big 3 and also a stock battery. his lights dim like mad when he blasts his subs but other than that it still runs and sounds fine. you should be ok with stock electrical with 800 watts. if you want to do things right though get an alternator, a battery will just delay the time it takes for stereo juice to run out and put more strain on your alt...as a mechanic i would look into getting my hands on an acura alternator at your local scrapyard, you just might be able to fit one on your car since honda and acura are the same. the acura alt will probably put out more amps and won't cost very much if you get one from a scrap yard.

[KU40 173]

Those were both Remanufactured alts. Stay away.

I would generally agree unless you get a good warranty. I think Napa has a deal where you give them your old alternator when it goes bad and they sell you a remanufactured one for a pretty good deal, but then you also have a lifetime warranty on that alt. I did that on my old car and the alt was good for a couple years before I sold it.

[djjdnap 78]

u should be fine off of the stock alt..imo

i ran a jbl 1200 off of stock alt and batt and never had any problems....

but to each his own....

And there is nothing wrong wt re-manufactured alternators, people buy them from autopart stores all the time...ever wonder where a core charge came from?

[Darkhunter139 1]

Will the battery help if I stick with the stock alt though?

[fritosaregood 0]

I've got a 95 accord, 80 amp alternator stock. stock batt. I'm runnin a 1600watt hifonics and a 680 watt hifonics, ive got 2 out of the Big 3 done, all that happens when mine is turned up is the lights dim, but once i start drivin it goes away for the most part

[Darkhunter139 1]

I've got a 95 accord, 80 amp alternator stock. stock batt. I'm runnin a 1600watt hifonics and a 680 watt hifonics, ive got 2 out of the Big 3 done, all that happens when mine is turned up is the lights dim, but once i start drivin it goes away for the most part

Thats basically exactly what I have. Dang so your running 1600 watts and dont even have an extra battery?

[shizzzon 461]

if ur not gonna upgrade your alt, then do not install an hc600 or hc800.

Any additional devices that store power will be another load on your alt.

the problem with these 2 models is they discharge quicker than there other batteries.

So, you can look at these as humungous caps.

That setup will work if you drive for a period of time all the time without a big laod on the electrical system so u can let the alt charge the batt back up.

IF you got a regular batt back there, it would be a lot better but you would still need to let the alt take time to keep the batt in the rear charged as well.

Of course the stock alt isn't powerful enough to run the car AND these amps or even just the 800w 100%, your lights may dim slightly but it won't damage anything unless your daily driver consists of daily clipping which would put a bigger strain on the current draw.

[Darkhunter139 1]

Whats daily clipping mean?

[shizzzon 461]

it's not called daily clipping, i was saying if you clip your amp(s) daily all the time when you listen to music.

Clipping will draw more current which is bad for your scenario and clipping is never good.

For subs, it's hard to hear clipping unless it's as high as it can go...

Clipping heats up speakers without the proper increase in spl, there are several bad things about clipping.

When clipping occurs is when on a simple explanation, you have it turned up too high. A lot of people do this when they have an amp that is not as powerful as they would ever want so they try and get the most out of it and end up clipping the amp(s) because you can't hardly hear clipping in subs so when it starts really getting loud, people just tend to think they've found the amps sweet spot...

[Darkhunter139 1]

I plan on running my amp at the rated power so it shouldnt be clipping

Will it run better if I am in park or would it be better to be driving?

[djjdnap 78]

like i was told along time ago, extra batts dont help ease the load, It only lets u wang longer wt the car off..

and ur gonna have dimming, regardless once u start pullin so many amps.

and i think wat shiz is tryin to say is, if u play ur music for long periods of time at full tilt u will prolly run into prollems

[shizzzon 461]

yea thats what i'm sayin because i'm gonna have that problem with my install.

I have 4,900w going into this install but only 1 alt.. don't know if it's gonna be 225 or 300A yet and 237aH worth of batts.

Whereas the batts will keep the voltage up for a little while, there will be times where i must not wang at full unclipped power so i can let the alt keep the rear bank charged.

This is where a voltage meter is required to make sure i am not prematurely killing the batts.

[Darkhunter139 1]

Alright thanks for all the info guys!

[beastoakland 0]

yea thats what i'm sayin because i'm gonna have that problem with my install.

I have 4,900w going into this install but only 1 alt.. don't know if it's gonna be 225 or 300A yet and 237aH worth of batts.

Whereas the batts will keep the voltage up for a little while, there will be times where i must not wang at full unclipped power so i can let the alt keep the rear bank charged.

This is where a voltage meter is required to make sure i am not prematurely killing the batts.

225 are u talkin about a alt.. if so where?