Have you stereo doods gotten a bigger alternator?

[ESPZ71]

Okay, my stock alt is 100 amp, and I have a small system with 2 12" rockfords and a rockford amp.  The deck is s*%tty, all the stuff was in it when I bought it.  I plan on getting better highs and an amp on them, and I am needing a new alt very very soon.  My question is, when I replace it, how big should I get?  I think 200 amp is a little excessive, but I dunno if I shoudl get a bigger one than stock.  ???

[oogabooga]

100 would be fine for what you want.  But if you have to replace it anyway, you might as well get a bit bitter one, just incase you decide to add a little more stuff in the future.  It would be better to spend a little bit more now, than have to buy a whole new one again.  That's just my opinion.

 

130-150 would be plenty, unless you plan on going crazy with the stereo.

[Off Road Red]

Just buy a 1.0 farad capacitor for your subwoofer amp, they usually work just as good as putting in a bigger alternator

[ESPZ71]

Just buy a 1.0 farad capacitor for your subwoofer amp, they usually work just as good as putting in a bigger alternator

That's an idea I hadn't considered.  Farad caps are pretty good to have if your amp is draining a lot of power.  I was just wondering if I could get by with getting a bigger lt since I need one anyway.  I still dunno what I'm gonna do, I'll probably be forced into making a decision when it quits on me in the middle of a blizzard or huge rainfall.    That's my luck.  ;)

[Cyclic]

Another MAJOR thing to look at is the stock wire from the alternator to the battery. Upgrade it to atleast an 8 gauge. The factory wire is a limiting factor in the current going into your vehicles system. Another item to double check is the battery and chassis grounds.

On the 99+ trucks the cable looks to be a 10 or 12 guage wire from the alternator.

[MarkD]

Look here!

 

Alternators