Do i have the power?

[Toonsketcher 0]

I am looking to but 1 18" BTL Fi subwoofer. I can build the box (i hope) and can do a proper job installing it. I have a sufficient enough amp sending 3500 watts continuous power its way. I have 0ga power wire ran 10ga speaker wire. But i have the stock alternator and battery. Is this a problem? would a nice cap handle the difference? Or what should i get to solve the problem?

[thebiggmann12 14]

you will need a high output alternator. i would look at irragi, dc, or mechman. i dont have an opinion on any of them since i have never used one but those are the 3 that came to mind. also you will need a good battery up front and then probably 2-3 in the back. do not use a cap.

[hardrock2401 8]

Ya you would deff need a h.o. alternator, what kind of amp do you plan on running.

[jrod1050 5]

I am looking to but 1 18" BTL Fi subwoofer. I can build the box (i hope) and can do a proper job installing it. I have a sufficient enough amp sending 3500 watts continuous power its way. I have 0ga power wire ran 10ga speaker wire. But i have the stock alternator and battery. Is this a problem? would a nice cap handle the difference? Or what should i get to solve the problem?

you wont be getting 3500 rms without atleast 2 batts and a ho alternator. Without good electrical your a amp that big will die fast

[jcarter1885 995]

I am looking to but 1 18" BTL Fi subwoofer. I can build the box (i hope) and can do a proper job installing it. I have a sufficient enough amp sending 3500 watts continuous power its way. I have 0ga power wire ran 10ga speaker wire. But i have the stock alternator and battery. Is this a problem? would a nice cap handle the difference? Or what should i get to solve the problem?

Yes it is a problem, a cap wont help you period no matter how nice it is. Your gonna need to get a HO Altenator, a secondary battery or two depending on how you play your system and what HO Alternator you get. Your gonna need to install a voltmeter so you can monitor your voltage to let you know if your electrical is up to par, the Big 3 wiring will need to be done also.

[Julian 641]

I can personally suggest DC Power Engineering, GREAT GREAT alts! good price too. my voltage sits at 14.7-14.8 at idle, even higher when its cold outside

[Mac N Cheese 90]

I can personally suggest DC Power Engineering, GREAT GREAT alts! good price too. my voltage sits at 14.7-14.8 at idle, even higher when its cold outside

Good deal

[ShagggDiesel 25]

Don't mean to sound like a broken record of these guys.. But I would highly suggest at least the HO alt. Make sure you get all the electrical out of the way before you worry about the install. Just to be safe, I'd get a alt., at least one more battery, and have you done the Big 3? Powering a 18 with that much wattage is going to inhale your electric system without these updates

[tobio 0]

hey im in the same boat, my 18" BTL should arrive soon and ill build the box for it soon, now i just need to upgrade my electrical my first upgrade will be a high output battery maybe an optima yellow top D34 or the Soundstream BATT-700 Dry Cell Battery not sure on which one yet the car i have is a 2006 mazda 3 so i think the alt shouldnt be to bad, and i dunno if i can upgrade my alt cos its a company car type of thing, so will this be enough? amp i have is an aq2200d

[ShagggDiesel 25]

hey im in the same boat, my 18" BTL should arrive soon and ill build the box for it soon, now i just need to upgrade my electrical my first upgrade will be a high output battery maybe an optima yellow top D34 or the Soundstream BATT-700 Dry Cell Battery not sure on which one yet the car i have is a 2006 mazda 3 so i think the alt shouldnt be to bad, and i dunno if i can upgrade my alt cos its a company car type of thing, so will this be enough? amp i have is an aq2200d

You shouldn't intercept someone else's post of a question with a question of your own problem. If you need help with something of your own, you should create a new thread. Not to sound like an ass.. just saying. Some people find it rude, and annoying to have other people take over their post with a problem of theirs other than posting advice or help to the original posters question.

[tobio 0]

hey im in the same boat, my 18" BTL should arrive soon and ill build the box for it soon, now i just need to upgrade my electrical my first upgrade will be a high output battery maybe an optima yellow top D34 or the Soundstream BATT-700 Dry Cell Battery not sure on which one yet the car i have is a 2006 mazda 3 so i think the alt shouldnt be to bad, and i dunno if i can upgrade my alt cos its a company car type of thing, so will this be enough? amp i have is an aq2200d

You shouldn't intercept someone else's post of a question with a question of your own problem. If you need help with something of your own, you should create a new thread. Not to sound like an ass.. just saying. Some people find it rude, and annoying to have other people take over their post with a problem of theirs other than posting advice or help to the original posters question.

yeah ok, didnt think about that sorry m8.

[Duran 387]

Do the math, for 3,500 watts you should have 350 amps of power on tap as they will be your maximum current draw, not taking into account the rest of the car's electrical system, and the amp you will have on your other speakers. I guarantee you'll need a high output alternator, the largest you can fit in your vehicle, an upgraded starting battery, and one but probably two large batteries in the rear.

It takes power to make power.

[audiolife 14]

I would suggest battery wise to go with agm batteries like kinetik, optima yellow/blue, deka intimidator odyssey pc, etc ect..they are easier to recharge than normal batteries and require less maintenance, are sealed and are deep cycle.

[Toonsketcher 0]

k so new battery, or 3... a new alt high output, and please explain the big 3 I'm not much of a sub wiz i just know what sounds good and have my buddy help me. just being honest.

[PHATBOi 38]

Big 3- Big 3 - Realm of Excursion

[PHATBOi 38]

Figure voltage requirements-

[Toonsketcher 0]

wow haha now i feel dumb i didnt look that up on my own :/ haha thanks all who helped out

[Toonsketcher 0]

Ok so i worked everything out i have the big 3 done and installed in my car and i looked up alternators and ordered a 250amp alt from 4xspower.com now for the battery i still need 454.4 AH ... im lost now and have no clue what i need for a battery because some are rated in AH but others are not what should i be looking for in battery's to buy? i have looked at optima yellow and blue but neither are in AH.. is AH similar to reserve power? help? haha

[Sir-Lancelot 216]

Ok so i worked everything out i have the big 3 done and installed in my car and i looked up alternators and ordered a 250amp alt from 4xspower.com now for the battery i still need 454.4 AH ... im lost now and have no clue what i need for a battery because some are rated in AH but others are not what should i be looking for in battery's to buy? i have looked at optima yellow and blue but neither are in AH.. is AH similar to reserve power? help? haha

I have the Optimas and they are nice, but they do not have big AH numbers so you would need a bunch of them. Look at Deka or XS Power and get one big one. If I had it to do over again that is what I would do.

Want to buy 4 Optima batteries? lol, but no seriously?

[Toonsketcher 0]

Ok so i worked everything out i have the big 3 done and installed in my car and i looked up alternators and ordered a 250amp alt from 4xspower.com now for the battery i still need 454.4 AH ... im lost now and have no clue what i need for a battery because some are rated in AH but others are not what should i be looking for in battery's to buy? i have looked at optima yellow and blue but neither are in AH.. is AH similar to reserve power? help? haha

I have the Optimas and they are nice, but they do not have big AH numbers so you would need a bunch of them. Look at Deka or XS Power and get one big one. If I had it to do over again that is what I would do.

Want to buy 4 Optima batteries? lol, but no seriously?

how much do u want for the batteries? and where do u live cuz i dont want to travel 1/2 way across the US haha. and the 454.4 AH was way off cuz that video had wrong calculations. its much closer to 31.42 AH or somthing like that

[Sir-Lancelot 216]

Ok so i worked everything out i have the big 3 done and installed in my car and i looked up alternators and ordered a 250amp alt from 4xspower.com now for the battery i still need 454.4 AH ... im lost now and have no clue what i need for a battery because some are rated in AH but others are not what should i be looking for in battery's to buy? i have looked at optima yellow and blue but neither are in AH.. is AH similar to reserve power? help? haha

I have the Optimas and they are nice, but they do not have big AH numbers so you would need a bunch of them. Look at Deka or XS Power and get one big one. If I had it to do over again that is what I would do.

Want to buy 4 Optima batteries? lol, but no seriously?

how much do u want for the batteries? and where do u live cuz i dont want to travel 1/2 way across the US haha. and the 454.4 AH was way off cuz that video had wrong calculations. its much closer to 31.42 AH or somthing like that

I am in SC you in MI. I doubt it would be a good deal for you. I will check on shipping and PM you what I can do. Which are you looking for? I have yellow and red.

[Third Eye Vision 0]

When he gives an example of a 2000W amp, is he talking about RMS or peak value?

[jcarter1885 995]

RMS nobody goes by peak value.

[Third Eye Vision 0]

RMS nobody goes by peak value.

Thanks dude, after watching those vids I realized I am in desperate need of a spare battery. I'm running off an 80A alternator. doing the math provided that gives me 1152W to spare, and with the cars electrical system using around 40% im left with 483W to divide between my two subs. I'm sure even less than that since I haven't done the big 3. And here I thought I was actually gettin 500w to each sub with my 1000w amp.

Edited January 28, 2010 by Third Eye Vision

[jcarter1885 995]

If you cant afford any big upgrades at least do the Big 3 for now, will be the cheapest electrical upgrade you can do that will help out some.