Anybody swap out there alternator?

[FunInTheMud]

Hey Guys,

 

I was just wondering if anybody swapped out their old alternator?  I think it is time to change mine.  I have a two stereo amplifiers one draws 250 watts, and the other draws around 450 watts.  I also have fog lights and quad beams.  Whenever I play my music, all of my lights go dim.  I know my alternator puts out 100 amps, so I am thinking of getting one around 300-400 amps.  Any suggestions as to what I should do?

FunInTheMud

[Victory Red]

LOL!!!!!!

 

I got a suggestion..... TURN DOWN THE MUSIC and DON'T DRIVE AFTER DARK!!!

 

DUDE! You don't need a bigger alternator, you need more batteries. LOTS OF THEM!

[FunInTheMud]

HA HA

 

Yea Yea Yea Victory Red, you sound just like my parents.  I love my classic rock though.  More batteries you say.  Hmmm, I could put another one in there, after all I got plenty of room.  I still don't understand- why would I need more batteries instead of a higher output alternator.  Slightly confused yet craving more POWER

FunInTheMud

[PFarkas]

FunInTheMud, you may need a higher output alternator.  

 

Additional batteries will help (somewhat) with the voltage sag you're probably experiencing on dynamic and sustained bass sections.  A better solution to this problem is to add a large capacitor.

 

If your lights get dim and continue to get dimmer the longer you operate your equipment, you need a larger alternator.  More batteries won't help this.  

 

If your lights dim, but only momentarily, and then come back, additional batteries will help (as well as add weight and take up a lot of room), but a large capacitor would be better.

 

 

Google is your friend:

 

Check out this link alternators:

http://www.google.com/search?....rnators

 

Check this link out for capacitors:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=s...ening+capacitor

[Victory Red]

LOL!

 

I'm probably old enough to be your parent too! Check out Crutchfield.com for capacitors, etc... If those guys can't help you , then nobody can.

 

Vic

[chevy4x4trucks]

I'd say get a dual battery set up and high output alternator, I believe you can get a alternator at www.truckperformance.com

[CapnDean]

Have you tried looking to see what a BETTER battery will do first?

 

 Anytime you drop a heavy electrical load on a 12V system you are going to notice a voltage drop (unless of course you install a high capacity capacitor inline somewhere).  This will be evident in dimming of the headlights etc...  The question is;

 

Are you using 12V faster than your alternator can replace it?  If so...how much faster?  If you are using it way too fast, you will wind up killing your battery in short order. Otherwise you'll be okay and just notice the fluctuation.

 

Rather than wiring in a capacitor which would require you to ground it out everytime you diconeected your battery for safety's sake):  Try installing a larger/more powerfull battery.... See if that helps.  If that don't get it...install a second battery to power your stereo only, run a charging leg from your alternator to it.  Problem solved! (plus you'll have the ability to jump yourself off)

 

CapnDean

[Kansas Kid]

I'm so glad my next truck will have dual alternators and dual batteries.    

[96 Vortec]

WOW!!!! A 300-400 amp alternator!!!!  Where would you find something like that???? And how much would it cost and is the flux capacitor included in the deal.

 

I don't mean to be rude but don't you mean that you have one amp that PUSHES 250watts and a second around 450 watts. If you look at the amp ratings you can find out what amperage they will pull.  Some amps even have fuses sticking out of them.  Add the numbers up and that is the maximum amount they could pull without blowing the amp fuses.  You should be running an inline fuse between the battery and your distribution block. That should have a fuse in it that can handle the full load of your amps.  

 

I am running a 50 amp fuse and have two amps pushing 600 rated watts but more like 1000 after figuring my impedence loads.  I too can dim the lights at night with the stereo cranked.  However, with the radio off you can dim the lights by holding the window switches down after the windows are all the way down.

 

I am running the stock alternator and a Die Hard battery.  I suggest you get a bigger battery.  I personally think a stiffening cap is a waste of money. Once you drain it, you will continue to pull enough of a load that it can't effectivly "refill".  Granted a 1 farad cap is BIG, but once you drain it the power will simply travel through it to your amps.  it won't store any power until you are finished pulling a load through it.

[FunInTheMud]

Hey Guys,

 

Thanks for all the replies.  There are some good suggestions.  I think I will start out with a peppier battery, then as PFarkas suggested, get a large capacitor.  Man, are those things are expensive.   CapnDean, I like your dual batter idea and the point you stated- "plus you'll have the ability to jump yourself off".  I will probably need to do that after my stereo system drains all of my power  Victory Red, I'm only 18, so pretty much anybody is old enough to be my parents  Chevy4x4trucks, I love truckperformance.com.  I think it is the best site out there for soupin up your trucks.  Kansas Kid, I didn't know that you could run dual alternators, but I'm interested in how you can do it.  96 Vortec, My Kicker amp has a 25 amp fuse.  I have to check what the Rockford has in it.  I know they sent me a slip saying that the amp will draw somewhere around 450 watts.  Your right however, when you hold the window switch up, the lights go dim.  It also seems like the window is ready to break in half.  That's ok, all of the motors in my truck are overpowered, and there's nothing wrong with that

FunInTheMud

[Kansas Kid]

Quote from FunInTheMud, posted on Nov. 06 2001,9:16

Kansas Kid, I didn't know that you could run dual alternators, but I'm interested in how you can do it.  

 

Its pretty simple actually.  Buy a new Duramax or PSD.  LOL  Those are the only two engines I know of that you can actually get with dual alternators.  I will look to see if anybody has a kit out that would allow you to run them on your 350....