Do I really need a Big 3 and a better battery?

[Cloudsplitter]

I'm finishing up my stereo install in the next two weeks, the final components are shipping. I'm wondering if I really need to do the Big 3 with 0 gauge power wire and upgrade the battery to an Optima yellow top?

 

2009 Silverado Ext Cab LT

Stock HU with JL Audio Cleansweep

JL Audio HD 700/5 Amp (700 watt)

4 Infinity Kappa 6.5 speakers (coaxial out back, component set up front)

Alumapro CAP 5 V2

4 gauge power wire

Monster Cable 402 XLN 16awg speaker wire

Digital Designs 10 insch sub (this won't go in until later, but it handles 300W RMS at 4 ohms)

 

So, I'm pretty sure the stock alternator on this truck is 145 amp. Stock AC Delco battery is 615 CCA, 70 Amp hr.

Measuring the stock pos and negative leads off the battery with calipers it's 3/8", which is about 4 awg right?

 

So, for running one 5 channel amp and using a 5 farad cap, you think a Big 3 upgrade and Optima Battery would be overkill?

[wtbrowne]

It couldn't hurt and would certainly be a recommended upgrade; however, everything might be fine without the Big 3. The truck isn't very old and the existing grounds and factory wires may be perfectly adequate for your system. Give it a try and upgrade if you have problems.

[Cloudsplitter]

It couldn't hurt and would certainly be a recommended upgrade; however, everything might be fine without the Big 3. The truck isn't very old and the existing grounds and factory wires may be perfectly adequate for your system. Give it a try and upgrade if you have problems.

 

Thanks. I think I'll install the system and monitor the voltage and see how it plays out. I might be just fine.

 

Looking at the cost of the Optima Yellow Top plus the amount of 1/0 AWG I would need it might $400 I don't really need to spend.

[Cablguy184]

That Cap is not going to do you any good ...

 

Capacitors are a gimmick, why add a cap that will be useless and inaffective (from personal experience and testing). A capacitor doesn't store enough power to sustain an amplifier trying to reproduce a heavy bass line, and once the capacitors charge is depleted the alt has to work even harder to recharge the capacitor and still supply the amplifier with the current it needs.

 

Capacitors, by nature work perfectly like they are supposed to, attempting to equalize the DC voltage ripples caused by your amplifier(s), BUT they are far too small, one farad, is an incredibly inadequate amount of power. It will take a 180,000 farad capacitor to store the same amount of power as your average car battery, again that isn't your typical, 100+ amp hour audio batteries we are all accustomed to, that is a basic 50 amp hour car battery.