HO Alternator/Battery for 03 Civic Sound System
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HO Alternator/Battery for 03 Civic Sound System I recently bought three MB Quart amps off Crutchfield when they had that clearance sale on them but now when I went to my installer they told me my stock alternator/battery might have some problems running them. My installer doesn't do either (strictly car audio/video dealer) so he is unable to solve my problem and recommended I look for a high output alternator.
I searched the forums for relevant topics but nobody really said exactly what to get. The amps each have a fuse rating of 30Ax3 so I am guessing I need around 270AMPs to run them at full power. I was considering getting a JL 450/4 amp since it runs at a lower 60 amp versus my MB Quart 4200 I was planning on using for my front and rear speakers. If I get the JL amp I will only need 240Amps max (2 MB Quarts = 180amps 1 JL= 60amps) so I figure it will put less strain on the car.
I checked with online HO dealers but the best I was offered was a 180-amps alternator (03 Civic LX 1.7L engine) for $295 which I don't think will be sufficient for ear-deafening blasting. I also was looking at Optima Yellow (group 51 for 03 Sedans I think) which runs about $139 at Sears. I heard some other battery brands but everyone has been telling me to go with Optima.
That is my plan right now but I wanted to know if anyone had a better solution. (Less costly). I was also thinking on getting a second battery to put in the trunk.
I searched the forums for relevant topics but nobody really said exactly what to get. The amps each have a fuse rating of 30Ax3 so I am guessing I need around 270AMPs to run them at full power. I was considering getting a JL 450/4 amp since it runs at a lower 60 amp versus my MB Quart 4200 I was planning on using for my front and rear speakers. If I get the JL amp I will only need 240Amps max (2 MB Quarts = 180amps 1 JL= 60amps) so I figure it will put less strain on the car.
I checked with online HO dealers but the best I was offered was a 180-amps alternator (03 Civic LX 1.7L engine) for $295 which I don't think will be sufficient for ear-deafening blasting. I also was looking at Optima Yellow (group 51 for 03 Sedans I think) which runs about $139 at Sears. I heard some other battery brands but everyone has been telling me to go with Optima.
That is my plan right now but I wanted to know if anyone had a better solution. (Less costly). I was also thinking on getting a second battery to put in the trunk.
Joined: Mar 2004
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Originally Posted by nick95673
go the ground kit if you havent yet. with the stock battery and ground kit i run at 14v with the lights never dimming with 2 amps running at a combined 1000w rms.
but I digress... go get yourself a group 34 size battery (Exide 34XCD is what I run or you can get an Optima Yellow Top) and a high output alternator from 4alterstart.com (http://www.4alterstart.com/pages/sto...tors&uid=15711 or http://www.4alterstart.com/pages/sto...tors&uid=15632)
Do upgrade your grounds an alternator wires too, I just wanted to mention that merely upgrading your grounds would be a waste.
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Rep Power: 787 it would be senseless to make the pulley either bigger or smaller becuase it would have a pretty noticable affect on the electrical system
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: B.C., Canada
Rep Power: 787 dont underdrive your pulley
never heard one personally, but I have heard some good things about some of their amps so I would say they are a decent product
never heard one personally, but I have heard some good things about some of their amps so I would say they are a decent product
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: B.C., Canada
Rep Power: 787 my guess is a smaller pulley would of course spin your alternator faster, heating it up more/quicker, and eventually overheating it and ruining it... same would go for the stock alternator... your choice
I am not sure what you want to run?
what are you currently running, and to what?
Do you have a cap?
I just need some more info. I will assume you already have a system with subs running off off an amp, with about a one fered cap, and are just planning on running a four channel to power your speakers. I would recomend, upgraded battery, like someone said the yellow optima is very nice, with a larger cap. Upgrading an alternator is very expensive i would just get a bigger cap, and make sure to upgrade battery as well because a larger cap will drain the stock one pretty fast. Off course this is just a guess because i do not know what kind of system you have or want to run, give more details and i will try and help.
what are you currently running, and to what?
Do you have a cap?
I just need some more info. I will assume you already have a system with subs running off off an amp, with about a one fered cap, and are just planning on running a four channel to power your speakers. I would recomend, upgraded battery, like someone said the yellow optima is very nice, with a larger cap. Upgrading an alternator is very expensive i would just get a bigger cap, and make sure to upgrade battery as well because a larger cap will drain the stock one pretty fast. Off course this is just a guess because i do not know what kind of system you have or want to run, give more details and i will try and help.
hook it all up and see if you even need anything changed. if you do get a battery. if you still need more get an alternator. but setting it up b4 you upgrade anything wont hurt. and you never know you may get away with doin nothing
Electric Boogaloo...
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Rep Power: 330 Hook it up and see what happens. If no dimming, you don't need anything. Got dimming, well, there are several options, I prefer to go by cost.
1. Big 3 upgrade
2. Battery
3. Alternator
You might want to try a cap before going with an alternator. Getting a bigger cap isn't going to do anything, as it will supply up to the needs for a millisecond which is how fast it discharges, but it won't go further. It's not going to give you more power or less power than the battery, sorry charlie, just can't happen. How many watts do you have? 1 farad per 1000 watts is the rule of thumb. Figure up how much you need that way.
The cap isn't going to drain the battery faster, regardless of size. You don't need to upgrade the battery to run a cap, that's myth.
1. Big 3 upgrade
2. Battery
3. Alternator
You might want to try a cap before going with an alternator. Getting a bigger cap isn't going to do anything, as it will supply up to the needs for a millisecond which is how fast it discharges, but it won't go further. It's not going to give you more power or less power than the battery, sorry charlie, just can't happen. How many watts do you have? 1 farad per 1000 watts is the rule of thumb. Figure up how much you need that way.
The cap isn't going to drain the battery faster, regardless of size. You don't need to upgrade the battery to run a cap, that's myth.
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: B.C., Canada
Rep Power: 787
Originally Posted by jackburton
I am not sure what you want to run?
what are you currently running, and to what?
Do you have a cap?
I just need some more info. I will assume you already have a system with subs running off off an amp, with about a one fered cap, and are just planning on running a four channel to power your speakers. I would recomend, upgraded battery, like someone said the yellow optima is very nice, with a larger cap. Upgrading an alternator is very expensive i would just get a bigger cap, and make sure to upgrade battery as well because a larger cap will drain the stock one pretty fast. Off course this is just a guess because i do not know what kind of system you have or want to run, give more details and i will try and help.
what are you currently running, and to what?
Do you have a cap?
I just need some more info. I will assume you already have a system with subs running off off an amp, with about a one fered cap, and are just planning on running a four channel to power your speakers. I would recomend, upgraded battery, like someone said the yellow optima is very nice, with a larger cap. Upgrading an alternator is very expensive i would just get a bigger cap, and make sure to upgrade battery as well because a larger cap will drain the stock one pretty fast. Off course this is just a guess because i do not know what kind of system you have or want to run, give more details and i will try and help.
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