I was just woundering what the safe voltage is for running a system, i have heard from some that anything below 12volts will cook a system, others 11 volts and others say just play it till it distortes and others till the battery is flat. So what voltage do i turn of my system??
Replies (7)
ttocs on 04/30/2005 09:13:32
below 12 volts will cause problems, I don't think anything will cook, just not work. Unless you get a pwr surge it will just cause the car and equip to turn off.
lessismorespl on 04/30/2005 09:41:25
I agree, I do not think you will fry anything, you may end up replacing the alt b/c if your voltage drops it will be stressing to keep up the rest of your car's electrical needs. Amps usually require at least 12.0V to operate properly and if they are not getting the correct voltage, they will either shut down or sound real muddy. The rest of your car's electrical needs will suffer. The norm in most car audio equipment is a min. of 12.5 and a maximum of 14.4, some of the high current amps can operate as high as 17 volts, but suffer severely when voltage drops below 12.5.
swez on 04/30/2005 10:45:21
If the amp happens to have an "unregulated" power supply system, (cheap amp designs) when voltage to amp drops below its needed working parameters, the amp will shut off. When the voltage builds up above that threshold again, the amp will usually re-fire and work as normal until the voltage dips again.
Swez
15-11-1988 on 05/3/2005 06:48:22
Im a little lost now, for the record i have twin sound storm D500.4s running of a seperate bocsh deep cicle. So your saying that i can run my system untill the battery is flat and it will do no dammage to my amps at all, they will either shut off at bellow 12 volts or run the battery flat.
I distinctly remember on this forum being told that is amps run at bellow 12volts they drag out more to try and make up for the voltage loss and that causes amps to cook or melt or just not work anymore.
Please try to under stand my deck and all other car instraments and neons [5amp max] run off my regular battery and the two amps run of the deep cicle battery, that is bridged via relay isolater that will close at below 12 volts so the res of my car will not suffer from a voltage loss.
All im really worryed about is stuffing my amps so will running my batery flat do that???
swez on 05/3/2005 09:58:39
When the relay shuts down, so will the power flowing through it to your amps. Is good that you have a dedicated BAT to the car and one for the audio system. The real question is more about voltage monitoring your overall system. This can easily be done from the cigarette lighter with a voltage display monitor.
Have a look around and see if you can find a voltage display system that accurately monitors voltage output from the ALT/BAT. That will help you stay on top of severe voltage drops. Am sure you can make one if you already have a meter. Just a patch cord, male cigarette lighter power tap and some wires to attach your meter will do. Just make sure the leads do not short or you will blow a fuse. OBSERVE POLARITY HERE !!!
My major concern is that your 2nd battery may be just one more load on a light duty ALT. That 2nd BAT will add at least 10A more loading to your charging system. This just means more load on the ALT to maintain the whole system charging properly. That will shorten the life of the ALT to some degree. How much? Hard to say as it depends on how hard you push your system and what voltage levels are available when you have a few other items on as well... lights, AC blower etc.
Swez
PS If that Isolator does shut off below 12.0 volts, your amps should be OK with that. They will also shut off until the system voltage rises enough to power up the isolator. However, the Deep Cycle BAT will still have some reserve power and the amps will continue to run until the BAT drops to the point that the amps shut off. Having a voltage monitor on the 2nd BAT would be a very good idea. When that shows below 12.0 volts, shut off your audio gear and allow the electrical system to recharge again.
15-11-1988 on 05/4/2005 03:49:26
I have done an alt upgrade dont know the output but it is more than it was before.
When my bank acount recharges im planning to get a full set of guages including a battery voltage guage and near it mount a switch so i can switch from one battery to the other.
So what your saying is "Yes if you run your system below 12 volts or untill the battery is flat it will reck your amps, so turn of your system when it drops bellow 12 volts"
Correct??
As above it says "the Deep Cycle BAT will still have some reserve power and the amps will continue to run until the BAT drops to the point that the amps shut off."
and "When that shows below 12.0 volts, shut off your audio gear and allow the electrical system to recharge again"
The reason im asking is i dont mind showing off now and then and want to know that i can play my system for a long time without breaking anything.
swez on 05/4/2005 09:11:05
Monitoring your electrical system performance is a good idea. Once the system output drops below 12.0 volts, basically running off the BAT only.
Most electronic devices in the car will work until system voltage drops below 11 volts. (for a short time) When the voltage drop to about 10.5 volts, the engine will soon quit and not start until you get a jump. Avoid this scenario as it shortens the BAT life on your mains. A Deep cycle BAT can take many deep discharge cycles and recharges. A normal lead/acid start BAT cannot. After a few deep discharges on a L/A start BAT, the battery life drops rapidly.
As for your amp(s), they do have a minimum low voltage limit. Once that range has been reached, the amp(s) will usually shut off to protect themselves. However, if you monitor that voltage, just shut off the radio and the amps will also shut off via the REMote signal from HU.
Finally, if you have chronic low voltage problems, the ALT cannot keep up with the load. That could be due to incorrect installation of the ALT/BATs or there is too much current draw and the system cannot keep up. A LARGER ALT WILL USUALL SOLVE THAT. Also, upgrading the "Big 3" wires will often improve charging and power distribution to the rest of the system.
Swez
Replies (7)
ttocs on 04/30/2005 09:13:32
below 12 volts will cause problems, I don't think anything will cook, just not work. Unless you get a pwr surge it will just cause the car and equip to turn off.
lessismorespl on 04/30/2005 09:41:25
I agree, I do not think you will fry anything, you may end up replacing the alt b/c if your voltage drops it will be stressing to keep up the rest of your car's electrical needs. Amps usually require at least 12.0V to operate properly and if they are not getting the correct voltage, they will either shut down or sound real muddy. The rest of your car's electrical needs will suffer. The norm in most car audio equipment is a min. of 12.5 and a maximum of 14.4, some of the high current amps can operate as high as 17 volts, but suffer severely when voltage drops below 12.5.
swez on 04/30/2005 10:45:21
If the amp happens to have an "unregulated" power supply system, (cheap amp designs) when voltage to amp drops below its needed working parameters, the amp will shut off. When the voltage builds up above that threshold again, the amp will usually re-fire and work as normal until the voltage dips again.
Swez
15-11-1988 on 05/3/2005 06:48:22
Im a little lost now, for the record i have twin sound storm D500.4s running of a seperate bocsh deep cicle. So your saying that i can run my system untill the battery is flat and it will do no dammage to my amps at all, they will either shut off at bellow 12 volts or run the battery flat.
I distinctly remember on this forum being told that is amps run at bellow 12volts they drag out more to try and make up for the voltage loss and that causes amps to cook or melt or just not work anymore.
Please try to under stand my deck and all other car instraments and neons [5amp max] run off my regular battery and the two amps run of the deep cicle battery, that is bridged via relay isolater that will close at below 12 volts so the res of my car will not suffer from a voltage loss.
All im really worryed about is stuffing my amps so will running my batery flat do that???
swez on 05/3/2005 09:58:39
When the relay shuts down, so will the power flowing through it to your amps. Is good that you have a dedicated BAT to the car and one for the audio system. The real question is more about voltage monitoring your overall system. This can easily be done from the cigarette lighter with a voltage display monitor.
Have a look around and see if you can find a voltage display system that accurately monitors voltage output from the ALT/BAT. That will help you stay on top of severe voltage drops. Am sure you can make one if you already have a meter. Just a patch cord, male cigarette lighter power tap and some wires to attach your meter will do. Just make sure the leads do not short or you will blow a fuse. OBSERVE POLARITY HERE !!!
My major concern is that your 2nd battery may be just one more load on a light duty ALT. That 2nd BAT will add at least 10A more loading to your charging system. This just means more load on the ALT to maintain the whole system charging properly. That will shorten the life of the ALT to some degree. How much? Hard to say as it depends on how hard you push your system and what voltage levels are available when you have a few other items on as well... lights, AC blower etc.
Swez
PS If that Isolator does shut off below 12.0 volts, your amps should be OK with that. They will also shut off until the system voltage rises enough to power up the isolator. However, the Deep Cycle BAT will still have some reserve power and the amps will continue to run until the BAT drops to the point that the amps shut off. Having a voltage monitor on the 2nd BAT would be a very good idea. When that shows below 12.0 volts, shut off your audio gear and allow the electrical system to recharge again.
15-11-1988 on 05/4/2005 03:49:26
I have done an alt upgrade dont know the output but it is more than it was before.
When my bank acount recharges im planning to get a full set of guages including a battery voltage guage and near it mount a switch so i can switch from one battery to the other.
So what your saying is "Yes if you run your system below 12 volts or untill the battery is flat it will reck your amps, so turn of your system when it drops bellow 12 volts"
Correct??
As above it says "the Deep Cycle BAT will still have some reserve power and the amps will continue to run until the BAT drops to the point that the amps shut off."
and "When that shows below 12.0 volts, shut off your audio gear and allow the electrical system to recharge again"
The reason im asking is i dont mind showing off now and then and want to know that i can play my system for a long time without breaking anything.
swez on 05/4/2005 09:11:05
Monitoring your electrical system performance is a good idea. Once the system output drops below 12.0 volts, basically running off the BAT only.
Most electronic devices in the car will work until system voltage drops below 11 volts. (for a short time) When the voltage drop to about 10.5 volts, the engine will soon quit and not start until you get a jump. Avoid this scenario as it shortens the BAT life on your mains. A Deep cycle BAT can take many deep discharge cycles and recharges. A normal lead/acid start BAT cannot. After a few deep discharges on a L/A start BAT, the battery life drops rapidly.
As for your amp(s), they do have a minimum low voltage limit. Once that range has been reached, the amp(s) will usually shut off to protect themselves. However, if you monitor that voltage, just shut off the radio and the amps will also shut off via the REMote signal from HU.
Finally, if you have chronic low voltage problems, the ALT cannot keep up with the load. That could be due to incorrect installation of the ALT/BATs or there is too much current draw and the system cannot keep up. A LARGER ALT WILL USUALL SOLVE THAT. Also, upgrading the "Big 3" wires will often improve charging and power distribution to the rest of the system.
Swez
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