posted
since jhellemn and mgarreans are the moderators, they should supposedly have vast knowledge of alternators and batteries and what not, so why don't one of you end this dispute about if it is a better buy to get a HO alt or a second battery once and for all??? Give your advice for this question IN DETAIL...most of us have some idea as to how it all works, but you two probably have some extra insight, so how about actually making a post and clearing all this up?
ty
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Posts: 215 | From: San Jose, CA | Registered: May 2000
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posted
Well I'm not a moderator but will try to calm you down a little. Which one is best? That depends on what you are wanting. A HO alt will obviously have a greater current output than your stock alt so when your car is running you have the ability to run more/larger amps without as large of a voltage drop. A HO alt cannot help when the car is off. A second battery will offer you longer engine off playing time, but is an added load on your stock alt. For short burps a second battery will definately help as long as both batteries are fully charged befor the burp, for long deathmatch type burps you better have an alt to provide the current because eventually the batteries will discharge and be a load.
posted
well right now i'm running 2 12" XLC's off a punch power 250.2 2 ohm mono and have already drained my battery twice i'm going to get my alternator done either way but i was wondering if it would be worth it to get a new battery, if not 2 batteries after i get the HO alt...if the alt is supplying enough amps i shouldn't even have to worry about a new battery right?
------------------ The more i learn, the more i realize how little i know!
Posts: 215 | From: San Jose, CA | Registered: May 2000
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posted
ya know, i was wondering something close to that....i've seen joh around here quite a bit, but garreans seems lost in the mist...there's a even a post in another section about someone waiting for amps since january from him? anyone seen anything of him?
posted
I am on here daily and check in this forum for any questionable posts. Due to my busy schedule, my time to reply to questions is very limited. I have not spoke or heard from Mike Garrens for a very long time. If there is someone who would like to assist in this forum that is experienced in electrical systems, please drop me an email and I will pass it along to Wayne. As far as your question goes, I am in most agreement with jc2. However, I believe this question is dependent upon application. If the vehicle is a daily driver, and the system is for listening purposes. I do not think you could beat the performance of the HO alternator. However, if the system is only for competition, I believe you would probably benefit more from the extra battery. As jc2 stated, the additional battery will add further load to the factory alternator. I hope all of this helps you out somewhat. For future, if you want to get my attention for a question put something like "Hey John - what's your input on this?" in your subject line - hee hee hee
Sorry about my lack of presence guys....
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Team Thunder Member John Hellemn ------------------------
posted
Hmm... Well, if the battery adds a load and the peak draw of your system is less than ONE battery's maximum output amperage, I wouldn't see how running a second battery would help other than putting their ESR's in parralel (or some such thing)
A high output alternator, although it of course helps, doesn't do much while burping unless it can produce at full voltage the complete current of peak draw, if it falls short then it doesn't do much but add to the voltage drop, and if the current so exceeds that it causes the alt's voltage to drop to battery voltage, doesn't the alternator itself become another load?
Hey, just tossing out a few conundrum type thingy-ma-bobs...
"Greetings citizen, what's your boggle?"
ShadowStar
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HEY! I'm looking for a CHEAP used Clarion Thunderdome.. Hook me up!
[This message has been edited by ShadowStar (edited 06-21-2000).]
Posts: 2578 | From: Somewhere In the Northeast | Registered: May 1999
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posted
Shadowstar, you bring up good points and here is my thinking. I work everyday with cell phone batteries and don't have much experience with big lead acid so maybe what I know doesn't apply that well but oh well. Say you have a system that draws 200 Amps at full draw. Now any car battery can provide 200A for a short time but say the battery voltage drops 2 volts during the high current. If you add another battery in parallel each battery will only put out 100 Amps so the voltage drop will only be 1V. It would be unnecessary to get an alt that provides all the amperage that your amps draw unless you want your system to be played full volume for as long as a tank of gas lasts. But a HO alt will take some stress off of your battery. But as the non-AWOL moderator said it depends on the application.
posted
as the mod said, if it will be used only for competion, batteries are prob your best bet. but if you want to play it for any amount of time, you need to check your average current draw with it at a moderate listening level. if that exceeds the alt., you need a new one if youll be listening to it often for long periods of time...
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Nothing is impossible, some things are just a little difficult.
posted
1st aternator - Factory alt to run factory electrical system. 2nd alternator - H.O. alt connected to 2 batteries to run system. Problem solved(except for that whole space issue... damn)
------------------ On the ground Nissan, walk-thru, 9 12's.... daily driver?!
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