Multi-Amp Setup

[04Silverado5.3]

Right now Im running 2-12" Rockford Power HX2 subs with a Rockford 1501bd mono amp with some help from a 1-Farad cap. I also have a small Memphis amp powering my highs, but I want to add another Rockford 1501bd (1 amp for each sub) for more power.

 

Should I get another cap or upgrade my battery/alternator? or maybe both? Each sub RMS is 1000 and can peak at 2000, and each amp is rated at 1500+ watts. Just want to know how I can set it up without running my battery down too much. My highlights still dim even with the setup I have now. I can get pretty good deals on everything, so money isn't a big issue. Any advice or ideas?

[Wingnut]

If the lights are dimming now, you are using too much for your charging system as-is.

 

You need a bigger alternator, possibly an extra battery as well....BEFORE you add another amp.

[maroonsilverado]

money isn't an issue? well i'd get a big ol' altenator, a 2nd battery, and run a fat piece of wire from the altenator to the battery. a 5 farad capacitor wouldn't hurt matters any either upgrade the ground wire too.

 

i honestly don't think you could upgrade just the altenator and make it. that's alot of juice for 1 battery to supply. if anything i'd get a 2nd battery before i would a bigger altenator. i'm running 2000 watts RMS in my fiance's grand am, and all i did at first was add a 2nd dry cell battery in the trunk and add a piece of 4 ga. wire from the altenator to the battery under the hood. and it run on the factory altenator for a long time....about a year, before it died on her.

 

only thing about running 2 batteries is you have to run some type of relay to keep one of the batteries isolated while the ignition is off. if you don't you'll come out one morning and both batteries will be dead.

 

and if you add that 2nd 1501 you'll also need to upgrade your power wire. unless you put the 2nd battery by the system, then you could just run both amps off the battery with some 4 gauge wire. but if you run a power wire from under the hood you'll need at least 1/0 gauge wire going to a distribution block. not to mention a bigger fuse.

[6Burgh]

I would definitely add a cap if your lights dim when the bass hits and keep your eye on the volt meter. The cap will supply the reserved power needed for your amps that your alternator can't anticipate.

[DSZ71]

There are several things to consider in this upgrade, and exactly what to upgrade as well. If you are looking at upgrading the alternator, say to something like a 200 AMP model, you MUST upgrade the BIG 3 in your truck. Here is a list of what you might need just for this upgrade:

1) battery positive to alternator (approx. 4’),

2) battery negative to chassis (approx. 4’),

3) engine block to chassis (approx. 5’),

4) 4 ring terminals,

5) heatshrink (to cover ring terminals),

6) flex loom

I would estimate the total cost of supplies to be $50-100, depending on the wire size/color and connector type. Its recommended to use either 4 ga or 0 ga cabling.

 

Here is a link for more information: http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120517

 

Then comes the alternator. There are many choices to chose from, but I would like to recommend two. Iraggi Alternators (custom made) and Mean Grean alternators. Some have done well with Ohio alternators too.

 

After this is all said and done, you would need somewhere between 300-500 AMP at any given time to run your system. If your alternator can do 200 AMP (the advantage of higher quality alts like the ones I listed is they will do that at idle). You should be fine with adding some more Caps. The 2nd battery is not needed if you upgrade everything listed above. Good luck