15" mag causing battery failure

[joshp 0]

Well after running my 15" mag for a while I noticed recently that it seemed like it was running out of juice when I'd turn it up. It was like it wanted to get louder but couldn't. My lights at night seemed to dim really bad. Then a few days ago I go to turn my car on and the battery is almost completely dead and the engine won't turn over. I didn't leave any electrical on overnight. I got a jump and the battery seemed to work to start the car two more times that day but I left my stereo off so there was no strain on the electrical system. I lifted the battery out to replace it and there was a large puddle of battery acid in the battery tray. I had to use all kinds of baking soda to neutralize all the acid, it was even on the engine block of my car.

My question is, will excessive current draw cause a battery to fail/ explode? Does anyone know where I can pick up a high current alternator for a 97 Saturn SL2? My current setup is pulling around 1250 watts rms or (104 amps) and I usually have my stereo cranked as most of my driving is freeway. Also since I've replaced the battery it seems like my system isn't being choked off.

[djjdnap 78]

that sounds like a problem i dont think ur amp caused ur battery to explode unless u had it hooked up wrong some how.

Maybe your battery was already going bad if it was leaking in the first place.

[joshp 0]

that sounds like a problem i dont think ur amp caused ur battery to explode unless u had it hooked up wrong some how.

Maybe your battery was already going bad if it was leaking in the first place.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So you think I'll be okay turning the stereo up with the new battery? I just don't want another one to fail like the last one because it makes a mess and takes a while to clean up before you can install the new battery. Nothing is hooked up incorrectly; I've had this setup running for over 2 years, the only change was bridging my amp down to 1 ohm for the d2 15" which caused a considerable increase in dimming of the lights compared to my old system that had the amp running at 2 ohms. I turned my sub up briefly and it gets even louder than it had gotten before the battery failure but I was afraid to leave it turned up. Do those Optima (or whatever they're called) batteries really make a difference? Are they more rugged/ last longer?

Edited January 31, 2006 by joshp

[Tirefryr 1,742]

There's a whole list of problems here that could be possible. YOu've gotten a new battery and everything seems well enough. If the problem happens again, then you have to look elsewhere. Could be in the alt, your wiring, a drain somewhere, etc. Electircal problems can be a nightmare sometimes. I really wouldn't concern myself with it if the problem is now gone.

[joshp 0]

There's a whole list of problems here that could be possible.  YOu've gotten a new battery and everything seems well enough.  If the problem happens again, then you have to look elsewhere.  Could be in the alt, your wiring, a drain somewhere, etc.  Electircal problems can be a nightmare sometimes.  I really wouldn't concern myself with it if the problem is now gone.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't think it's an electrical drain from a device staying on because that would just cause the battery to go dead. My battery left a large puddle of battery acid, not typical of the battery being drained from some unit not shutting off. The alternator is charging the battery as I have daytime running lights and have driven the car for a few days without any slow engine turnover. Since no one else seems to have had a battery problem like this with their high current drawing systems I'm guessing that it was just a messy battery failure. We'll see how long a $34 battery lasts from costco.

[Eldorado 0]

The kirkland signature batts arent to bad.

MAybe your battery was past its due and just over flowed

[splblazer98 1]

usually boil overs are caused by over charging... could be your regulator in your alt going by by