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Author Topic: Rule of thumb: H/O Alternator Output?  (Read 964 times)

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Offline Fusion

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Rule of thumb: H/O Alternator Output?
« on: October 28, 2006, 01:16:30 PM »
As above. Say if your system are X Watt powered, then you must have at least Y Amp output from the alternator?

Or you upgrade the alternator when you started to experience symptoms?

Or the more output the merrier?
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Offline Zenn

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Re: Rule of thumb: H/O Alternator Output?
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2006, 02:29:59 PM »
for SQ systems dont really need to upgrade alternator, unless it wasnt a good alternator in the first place.  unless your running megawatt system playing lot of sub bass tunes all the time, no need to upgrade.

so ill go with the 2nd option, upgrade after symptoms...
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Offline GRexer

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Re: Rule of thumb: H/O Alternator Output?
« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2006, 10:25:32 PM »
Well... if you wanted to be safe, get something +30A from your battery(say your battery is a 60A, then get a 90A alternator), so that it can fully charge your battery(which your ICE is draining power from) while having enough extra power to power up other electrical items in the car.
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Offline Fusion

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Re: Rule of thumb: H/O Alternator Output?
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2006, 12:46:41 AM »
I had once heard one of a car audio installer that if you want to upgrade your sound system the first thing you must do is to upgrade the alternator. He also said that even if you have bought expensive amps you won't get the most from the amps if you do not have sufficient electricity supply from the alternator to your amps. The next following suggestion from him is to get a power capacitor.

I don't know much about car things but is it true that alternator can supply more than rated current, which comes to why in most cases you don't have to upgrade the alternator until you have experience symptom such as headlight dimming?
« Last Edit: October 31, 2006, 12:50:40 AM by Fusion »
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Offline netken

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Re: Rule of thumb: H/O Alternator Output?
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2006, 08:05:33 AM »
agreed unless u have a voltage conditioner such as the rare Accuvolt because the car electrical system fluctuates badly ...
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Offline appleyard

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Re: Rule of thumb: H/O Alternator Output?
« Reply #5 on: November 02, 2006, 11:51:19 AM »
I am sure not a believer of caps. It just help a bit but overall does not solve problems and also a slow killer of your alternator as it adds extra burden.

Installing Voltage Stabilizer also does not helps as it only reduces the voltage drops, this can be address to your alternator is run out of steam (dropping to 12v and below) which your overall system runs by battery. It takes a mega amp with mega watt to do that and voltage stabilizer just helps i to drops slowly, but overall it is still dropping. If that happns rather than installing voltage stabilizer or caps, I'll opt for alternator upgrade and bigger battery.
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