My alternator went out last year and the mechanic said it was because of my system. Is this true??? If so, can I hook all of my car audio items up to an extra battery ( system, LCD monitor, playstation, dvd indash receiver ect...)??? How?, and where is the best place for the extra battery??? Please Help!Thanks for your time and knowledge
Replies (4)
Raefin on 04/19/2004 08:31:15
I just recently had a second battery added to my Suburban. You need to be drawing quite a bit of power to actually require a second battery. From what I understand if you were to upgrade your battery for most systems that will be sufficient.
If you want to still go the two battery route, my understanding is that two new batteries both isolated from one another will provide power to both the car and to the system. The singular alternator will keep them both charged. I do not know how powerful your alternator is though so that might be a concern as well.
swez on 04/19/2004 11:14:44
The mechanic was probably correct... your system may indeed, be over- working your present electricals to the point where the alt finally died.
In many small cars, the ALT is also small and has limited output capacity somewhere between 70-90 amperes of output. Couple that with a modest main battery (say 500 CCA) and you have a modest reserve for AUX electronics to add before overloading the system.
You can try upgrading to a larger battery under the hood first. Get the largest CCA rated battery you can fit in the battery cage, and see how that works out.
The other option, is adding a 2nd battery and isolator circuit. One battery will run your car power demands while the other one will act as a "current buffer" (a large energy storage device) to power your amps. The larger the battery, the better. (900+ CCA)
If you use an isolation charger here, the ALT will charge the primary start battery first. When you fire up your amps, charging duties will shift to the battery most in need of electrical support.
Finally, run your small current devices off the primary electrical system. HU's, DVD and video monitors do not draw much power. Your amp will... so that is where the 2nd battery should be employed. Best to install a gel cell in a plastic box and mount it securely in the trunk. Hopefully, this will do the trick.
Swez
PS Afterthought... try upgrading the power line from ALT/BAT and BAT/GND. These are probably small gage wire now. Use a #4 gage wire set here and if your car has a grounding strap between engine and fire wall, add a second strap to increase current flow to your entire system.
ttocs on 04/19/2004 11:50:36
unless your alt is designed to run a second battery, as a suburban is, it is not as easy and just slapping it in. You create a big load for your alt when you add a 2nd batt.
swez on 04/19/2004 21:51:16
Say more on that issue ttocks... what have you seen that works and what does not?
Swez
Replies (4)
Raefin on 04/19/2004 08:31:15
I just recently had a second battery added to my Suburban. You need to be drawing quite a bit of power to actually require a second battery. From what I understand if you were to upgrade your battery for most systems that will be sufficient.
If you want to still go the two battery route, my understanding is that two new batteries both isolated from one another will provide power to both the car and to the system. The singular alternator will keep them both charged. I do not know how powerful your alternator is though so that might be a concern as well.
swez on 04/19/2004 11:14:44
The mechanic was probably correct... your system may indeed, be over- working your present electricals to the point where the alt finally died.
In many small cars, the ALT is also small and has limited output capacity somewhere between 70-90 amperes of output. Couple that with a modest main battery (say 500 CCA) and you have a modest reserve for AUX electronics to add before overloading the system.
You can try upgrading to a larger battery under the hood first. Get the largest CCA rated battery you can fit in the battery cage, and see how that works out.
The other option, is adding a 2nd battery and isolator circuit. One battery will run your car power demands while the other one will act as a "current buffer" (a large energy storage device) to power your amps. The larger the battery, the better. (900+ CCA)
If you use an isolation charger here, the ALT will charge the primary start battery first. When you fire up your amps, charging duties will shift to the battery most in need of electrical support.
Finally, run your small current devices off the primary electrical system. HU's, DVD and video monitors do not draw much power. Your amp will... so that is where the 2nd battery should be employed. Best to install a gel cell in a plastic box and mount it securely in the trunk. Hopefully, this will do the trick.
Swez
PS Afterthought... try upgrading the power line from ALT/BAT and BAT/GND. These are probably small gage wire now. Use a #4 gage wire set here and if your car has a grounding strap between engine and fire wall, add a second strap to increase current flow to your entire system.
ttocs on 04/19/2004 11:50:36
unless your alt is designed to run a second battery, as a suburban is, it is not as easy and just slapping it in. You create a big load for your alt when you add a 2nd batt.
swez on 04/19/2004 21:51:16
Say more on that issue ttocks... what have you seen that works and what does not?
Swez
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