I finally got my system the way I want it for awhile till I actually get some subs to use. The only thing I need to change now is the battery and a circuit breaker to put on the line from the batt. and my inverter.
Is there a really nice battery I can buy with top and side terminals like GM's, maybe from Auto Zone or Advanced Auto Parts?
Where would I be able to buy 75-150 Amp circuit breaker?
thnx
Replies (9)
Swez on 08/7/2003 21:15:52
Hey, WalMart sells Interstate batteries for ~$75.00 in the 800 CA range. Sure, you can buy Optima Red top or Yellow tops for almost double that price... but why bother unless you are competing.
I've been told that NAPA sells a gell cell (may be a clone of Optima) for a bit over $120.00 and that's a good deal too. Just get the largest battery (CCA rating) that you can fit in the battery cage. If you have a GM car, look for a battery that has both side and top mount terminals. Side terminals only, are a real pain!
Swez
Tray on 08/8/2003 09:19:28
Do you have Costco around you?
If so, they sell the Optima Red Top for $105. It comes with top and side mount terminals.
accusedmonk on 08/8/2003 12:14:42
Well as of right now I'm not to worried about price, plus if I get the red top now, which I saw for about $134 I wont have to worry about it later. I noticed at least one person on the forum has a blazer as weel, would the optima battery fit the cage?
Oh, any idea where to get self-resetting circuit breakers?
accusedmonk on 08/8/2003 12:32:34
http://www.thezeb.com/caraudio/lightningaudiosubs.html
I want those...
Swez on 08/9/2003 10:12:10
Pretty massive subs there monk... I am not 100% sure, but think Lightning is now a division of Rockford too.
Circuit breakers are useful in lieu of fuses. You might find some in the Crutchfield site or Parts Express as well.
Swez
accusedmonk on 08/10/2003 10:02:26
Is there a good way to put in another battery in the quite limited space I have? My Dad's sayin put it in the back seat... he's serioius BTW... But that would mean large gauge wire running to the charging system which I dont wanna do.
The Alt on it now is about 85 amps, so for now I'm pretty good there, but the battery I'm using is years old. Actually now that I think about it, it's prolly the one that came with it brand new... Which was 16 years ago.
I'll figure out something, we're going Tuesday to buy a new battery to go in it.
Pinch on 08/10/2003 13:31:16
Just some food for thought. Depending on what size wire you used to power your existing system, you may just be able to splice the battery in to that on its way to your amp (which I am assuming is in the back compartment somewhere). If your amp is under a seat, you could just install a "T" connection at your amp, and run wire the rest of the way to the new battery.
One thing to be careful about when you install a battery in a non-factory location is that you should make sure that it doesn't rest on the bare body of the vehicle. Some people say you don't need to worry about it since the cells of the battery are enclosed in plastic but the fact is, electricity is all about finding the shortest and easiest way to get to ground. If there is any conductivity between one or all of the cells of the battery and the body of your vehicle, you're gonna be installing a constant drain on your electrical system instead of a second source of power.
Oh yeah one more thing. I bought my battery from Wal-Mart a year ago, and my little 880 watt system will play for hours out in the hills with the vehicle off while me and the crew sit around a camp fire. Hmm, that sounds nice...
Well, there's my 2 cents. :)
Swez on 08/10/2003 21:44:07
Mounting a battery in the battery cage, under the hood is best as it is close to the ALT. With a few good measurments and maybe a few tweaks to the mounting tray and hardware, you can fit most reasonable sized batteries in them.
As for installing the battery in the back seat area... if a gell cell, probably can be done. But if a typical lead/acid battery... NOPE! These emit Hydrogen gasses while charging and this is not safe without proper venting of same. Hydrogen gasses are exposive!!!
Swez
PS If you don't believe that... ask the makers of the Hindeberg... nasty fire brought this huge Zepplin down in flames.
Relax_The_Mind on 08/11/2003 06:31:58
Actually. This has recently came to my attention. my bro-in-law works in the shop on base (not saying which one)
If you can find a army surplus store or know someone who works in the vehicle shop on base. The military uses all Optima batteries except they are army green (of course) The Hummers use two big 18v i think. They can probably order one for you (I have no idea if thats legal). Army surplus stores can usually order anything for you.
If not... Your average 800+ cca battery is fine. biggest plus about optimas or gell batts are that you can mount them anywhere and not worry about them.
Make sure you keep the battery clean. Over time the space between the terminals can get grimy with just about everything from oil, dirt, etc... and become conductive which can damage/drain the battery and all that fun stuff.
RTM
PS. When refilling acid batteries ALWAYS use distilled water.
Is there a really nice battery I can buy with top and side terminals like GM's, maybe from Auto Zone or Advanced Auto Parts?
Where would I be able to buy 75-150 Amp circuit breaker?
thnx
Replies (9)
Swez on 08/7/2003 21:15:52
Hey, WalMart sells Interstate batteries for ~$75.00 in the 800 CA range. Sure, you can buy Optima Red top or Yellow tops for almost double that price... but why bother unless you are competing.
I've been told that NAPA sells a gell cell (may be a clone of Optima) for a bit over $120.00 and that's a good deal too. Just get the largest battery (CCA rating) that you can fit in the battery cage. If you have a GM car, look for a battery that has both side and top mount terminals. Side terminals only, are a real pain!
Swez
Tray on 08/8/2003 09:19:28
Do you have Costco around you?
If so, they sell the Optima Red Top for $105. It comes with top and side mount terminals.
accusedmonk on 08/8/2003 12:14:42
Well as of right now I'm not to worried about price, plus if I get the red top now, which I saw for about $134 I wont have to worry about it later. I noticed at least one person on the forum has a blazer as weel, would the optima battery fit the cage?
Oh, any idea where to get self-resetting circuit breakers?
accusedmonk on 08/8/2003 12:32:34
http://www.thezeb.com/caraudio/lightningaudiosubs.html
I want those...
Swez on 08/9/2003 10:12:10
Pretty massive subs there monk... I am not 100% sure, but think Lightning is now a division of Rockford too.
Circuit breakers are useful in lieu of fuses. You might find some in the Crutchfield site or Parts Express as well.
Swez
accusedmonk on 08/10/2003 10:02:26
Is there a good way to put in another battery in the quite limited space I have? My Dad's sayin put it in the back seat... he's serioius BTW... But that would mean large gauge wire running to the charging system which I dont wanna do.
The Alt on it now is about 85 amps, so for now I'm pretty good there, but the battery I'm using is years old. Actually now that I think about it, it's prolly the one that came with it brand new... Which was 16 years ago.
I'll figure out something, we're going Tuesday to buy a new battery to go in it.
Pinch on 08/10/2003 13:31:16
Just some food for thought. Depending on what size wire you used to power your existing system, you may just be able to splice the battery in to that on its way to your amp (which I am assuming is in the back compartment somewhere). If your amp is under a seat, you could just install a "T" connection at your amp, and run wire the rest of the way to the new battery.
One thing to be careful about when you install a battery in a non-factory location is that you should make sure that it doesn't rest on the bare body of the vehicle. Some people say you don't need to worry about it since the cells of the battery are enclosed in plastic but the fact is, electricity is all about finding the shortest and easiest way to get to ground. If there is any conductivity between one or all of the cells of the battery and the body of your vehicle, you're gonna be installing a constant drain on your electrical system instead of a second source of power.
Oh yeah one more thing. I bought my battery from Wal-Mart a year ago, and my little 880 watt system will play for hours out in the hills with the vehicle off while me and the crew sit around a camp fire. Hmm, that sounds nice...
Well, there's my 2 cents. :)
Swez on 08/10/2003 21:44:07
Mounting a battery in the battery cage, under the hood is best as it is close to the ALT. With a few good measurments and maybe a few tweaks to the mounting tray and hardware, you can fit most reasonable sized batteries in them.
As for installing the battery in the back seat area... if a gell cell, probably can be done. But if a typical lead/acid battery... NOPE! These emit Hydrogen gasses while charging and this is not safe without proper venting of same. Hydrogen gasses are exposive!!!
Swez
PS If you don't believe that... ask the makers of the Hindeberg... nasty fire brought this huge Zepplin down in flames.
Relax_The_Mind on 08/11/2003 06:31:58
Actually. This has recently came to my attention. my bro-in-law works in the shop on base (not saying which one)
If you can find a army surplus store or know someone who works in the vehicle shop on base. The military uses all Optima batteries except they are army green (of course) The Hummers use two big 18v i think. They can probably order one for you (I have no idea if thats legal). Army surplus stores can usually order anything for you.
If not... Your average 800+ cca battery is fine. biggest plus about optimas or gell batts are that you can mount them anywhere and not worry about them.
Make sure you keep the battery clean. Over time the space between the terminals can get grimy with just about everything from oil, dirt, etc... and become conductive which can damage/drain the battery and all that fun stuff.
RTM
PS. When refilling acid batteries ALWAYS use distilled water.
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