Battery? Alt?

[sgreer5 0]

hey guys i need some help for my new setup in my 2000 Celica

here is what i got

80amp alt

Fi Q w/cooling

saz1500

zx350.4

Im waiting on my 1/0 awg to come in so i can upgrade the big 3 but what else would you guys recomend? Second battery? H/O alt. I dont have a ton of money so keep that in mind..

[smashedz28 110]

i would use what you got so far, keep an eye on voltage and if its dropping bad or lights dimming consider a 2nd batt

[Shogen 325]

I'd immediately budget for replacing the starting battery... Preferably a Kinetik or XS Power... Either would be great options, Kinetik being cheaper but not by alot....

[sgreer5 0]

I'd immediately budget for replacing the starting battery... Preferably a Kinetik or XS Power... Either would be great options, Kinetik being cheaper but not by alot....

So your saying instead of putting anothr one in the trunk, just upgrading the one under the hood? Sounds like something that i could do. im a little skeptical about running all those extra wires to the back of my trunk for putting in a second batt so keeping it simple sounds much better. any more ideas guys?

[ssh 924]

A second or better starting battery will help, but if you plan on using that saz1500d to full potential driving to work and what not, your gonna need a h/o alt.

But just because the amp produces "1500" watts at appropriate gain setting, doesn't mean you can't set the gain lower and put less stress on your electrical.

[Shogen 325]

I'm saying doing that for now is the appropriate thing to spend money on. You probably haven't replaced your starter yet and being that it is most likely a standard battery it wouldn't be the best option for you to keep that in and add a new battery..

This way after you do the BIG 3 and get a better upgraded starting battery you might not need a second... If you notice voltage drops then hang back on the gain a bit...

[sgreer5 0]

I'm saying doing that for now is the appropriate thing to spend money on. You probably haven't replaced your starter yet and being that it is most likely a standard battery it wouldn't be the best option for you to keep that in and add a new battery..

This way after you do the BIG 3 and get a better upgraded starting battery you might not need a second... If you notice voltage drops then hang back on the gain a bit...

Ok so any suggestions from anyone on a new starting batteries? Any experience with? One that doesnt cost an arm and a leg..

[Shogen 325]

HO alternator should be next on the list if you notice that the system is draining/struggling the way YOU use it... Sometimes adding a second battery on a stock alternator doesn't always help.... But every system and every person is different... If I notice any issues, I drop back on the gain until I can figure the issue out... I did purchase an HC800 for the rear just because I'm a freak like that...

[sgreer5 0]

HO alternator should be next on the list if you notice that the system is draining/struggling the way YOU use it... Sometimes adding a second battery on a stock alternator doesn't always help.... But every system and every person is different... If I notice any issues, I drop back on the gain until I can figure the issue out... I did purchase an HC800 for the rear just because I'm a freak like that...

How big of a battery do i need if I am just going to replace the one iv got and run everything off of my new one?

[Shogen 325]

Depends on what fits.... I don't recommend only going by my statements but if it can fit under the hood and in the spot where the old one came from then get it... What car do you have? Do you know the battery it uses? Post your car and year.

[smashedz28 110]

find a good battery that will fit your stock location, or a bit bigger if you can modify the holder a little bit, up to you there but as someone else said, kinetik or xs power is what your going to want. if it were me i would see how everything performs first before spending any money, sounds like you got everything needed to get it in and together. keep a close eye on voltage if it drops too low then i would add another battery or a h/o alternator till the problem is fixed.

in my tahoe im pretty sure i should have went with a Kinetik hc 1400 or 1800 for under the hood size but was able to just barely fit the HC2000 under there. pain in the ass but works just fine.

Edited January 21, 2011 by smashedz28

[sgreer5 0]

Depends on what fits.... I don't recommend only going by my statements but if it can fit under the hood and in the spot where the old one came from then get it... What car do you have? Do you know the battery it uses? Post your car and year.

I have a 2000 Celica

[Shogen 325]

Just FYI... Your car comes up with D35 on autozone's site...

This battery should fit... Measure your current battery though...

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/p_20383_Kinetik_KHC1800.aspx

[swagger_wagon468 53]

Like everyone said... watch your voltage and go from there. That's what im doing. Order a stinger volt meter off ebay so you can monitor your voltage. Only like $25 shipped. Mines on its way. Good luck. Be sure to make a build log!

[hondakilla98 29]

You might be able to save a couple bucks by going with a Deka battery. And somebody around here sells blemish Deka 9a31 batts for a good price. I think he's out of Kentucky. That would be a good second battery to put in the back of your car. As it definitely wouldn't fit under the hood. I'm going to run a blem 9a31 in my trunk. I have an almost new interstate megatron up front. And will be running a 240 amp alt rebuild.

[Shogen 325]

By rebuild you mean rewound??? Isn't that kind of risky??

[hondakilla98 29]

By rebuild you mean rewound??? Isn't that kind of risky??

My setup is going in a 95 Cadillac. It uses a common gm alt that was factory equipped as 200 amps for ambulances and limo's. So a rebuild to a higher amperage is easy to get and cheap. It'll be no dc power. But should be enough for my setup. Probably not something available for your car. If I was you I'd go dc power and not have to worry about it.

[Shogen 325]

Yea, I'm trying to get a DC Power but they haven't responded to me yet so I can't spend my money lol

[j-roadtatts 1,129]

If the battery you have now is good, why replace it? I would focus on a HO alternator first and use the battery you have. The reason I recommend this is a battery is a storage tank and the alternator is what makes the power. A QUALITY 200 amp alternator will produce all the power you need with ease and the battery will reinforce it. If you put a bigger or multible batterys only, your 80 amp alternator will be staining just to keep the battery charged, the power has to come from somewhere.

I have a blazer with a 200 amp alt and a single battery, I can unhook the battery and run the Warn 9000# winch with no load and the voltage stays steady. NOW to the other extreme, my Honda has two XS Power batterys, and my 250 amp alt just broke forcing me to reinstall the factory alt. SO with ONLY the factory alt and TWO XS batterys, I have voltage drop even at moderate volumes.

The math alone proves the point, but personal experience confirms the facts.

You can buy a cigarette plug voltage meter at walmart if you don't want to install a permanent voltage meter.

[sgreer5 0]

If the battery you have now is good, why replace it? I would focus on a HO alternator first and use the battery you have. The reason I recommend this is a battery is a storage tank and the alternator is what makes the power. A QUALITY 200 amp alternator will produce all the power you need with ease and the battery will reinforce it. If you put a bigger or multible batterys only, your 80 amp alternator will be staining just to keep the battery charged, the power has to come from somewhere.

I have a blazer with a 200 amp alt and a single battery, I can unhook the battery and run the Warn 9000# winch with no load and the voltage stays steady. NOW to the other extreme, my Honda has two XS Power batterys, and my 250 amp alt just broke forcing me to reinstall the factory alt. SO with ONLY the factory alt and TWO XS batterys, I have voltage drop even at moderate volumes.

The math alone proves the point, but personal experience confirms the facts.

You can buy a cigarette plug voltage meter at walmart if you don't want to install a permanent voltage meter.

Ok so how easy are these alternators to install? Pretty simple??

[j-roadtatts 1,129]

Most alternators are easy to get to on the vehicle and install as long as the one you get fits. Does your alt look easy to get to? Do you own the tools to swap alts?

[sgreer5 0]

Most alternators are easy to get to on the vehicle and install as long as the one you get fits. Does your alt look easy to get to? Do you own the tools to swap alts?

I have not really looked but I looked and the biggest i could find for my car was a 145 amp and it was over $250

[j-roadtatts 1,129]

Two things that may limit the size of alt you can use, space available and the size of you engine. I suggest starting a thread in the DC Power section and ask whats available for your car. They will give you a good idea of what is possible and not possible based on their research. There are other companys I can recommend contacting, but thats a good place to start.

[sgreer5 0]

Two things that may limit the size of alt you can use, space available and the size of you engine. I suggest starting a thread in the DC Power section and ask whats available for your car. They will give you a good idea of what is possible and not possible based on their research. There are other companys I can recommend contacting, but thats a good place to start.

Ok well I will look into that I found a 165 amp alt. Need bigger?

[j-roadtatts 1,129]

For your car I would replace the alt with the biggest one available. I would avoid cheap alts like the ones on ebay, and a few other companys.

180 would be ideal, if you can find one. Quality HO alts are not cheap, but will solve the problem. Unlike a battery which depending on your listening habits could be hurting more than helping.