Voltage Drop

[dboii313]

My amplifier is cutting out at high volumes when it produces certain bass notes. Should I get big 3 and a H.O Alt?

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[southernboom88 10+ year member]

big 3 would be a good place to start. see where that takes you then look into a h/o alt and/or extra batts if needed..

 

[dboii313]

How big of an alternator? I'm only running 1 alpine mrx-m240 wired for a 2ohm load so its supposed to put out 2400 watts rms. Its powering a pair of the 4th gen alpine type r. Car tunes tested my stuff and said I needed the bigger alt and also said they would do the big 3 for about 150 bucks. Everyone's input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Sub Woofin 10+ year member]

what kind of car you got? adding more batts may worsen your problem

 

[winkychevelle 10+ year member]

I wouldn't pay 150 for the big 3 it's like 12foot of 1/0 wire a few terminals and some really easy wiring. You should easily be able to do it for half of that. And I would add a batt next to the amp and then see where you are at. And optimas **** now I would get a sears platinum agm batt or a deka or a Duracell agm or diehard platinum

 

[winkychevelle 10+ year member]

what kind of car you got? adding more batts may worsen your problem

You very rarely worsen the problem by adding batts. The amp uses 240amps of current which on 1 batt draws 240amps so the alt has to make that power or the batt has to provide it so if you add 2 batts the draw is still 240amps the batt doesn't draw power it provides it sure you have to charge them but music is transient which means the amp doesn't draw a constant 240amps during a low draw passage so unless u are trying to charge alot of batts it usually doesn't hurt to add 1 or 2 extra batts.

A ho alt is the best option though

 

[winkychevelle 10+ year member]

what kind of car you got? adding more batts may worsen your problem

You very rarely worsen the problem by adding batts. The amp uses 240amps of current which on 1 batt draws 240amps so the alt has to make that power or the batt has to provide it so if you add 2 batts the draw is still 240amps the batt doesn't draw power it provides it sure you have to charge them but music is transient which means the amp doesn't draw a constant 240amps during a low draw passage so unless u are trying to charge alot of batts it usually doesn't hurt to add 1 or 2 extra batts.

A ho alt is the best option though

 

[dboii313]

I have a 2001 ford explorer sport 4wd. So is there a big 3 kit I can purchase somewhere? I really do not wanna pay that much for them to do it since I'd rather get the experience by doing it myself but I want to make sure I do it right. Still waiting on a reply about how big of an alt. I should get.

 

[winkychevelle 10+ year member]

I would just measure out the runs you need add 2feet order some 1/0 kolossus from knu get some terminals also avalible at knukonceptz.com and cut to your needs add a 300amp fuse to the alt to batt wire if you like but it's not necessary

It 3wires

Batt + to alt +

Batt - to frame

Batt - to engine block or engine block to frame both work

 

[dboii313]

Thank you winkychevelle I appreciate your help. Would a 220 amp alternator be good enough?

 

[SounDrive Pro Seller]

I wouldn't pay 150 for the big 3 it's like 12foot of 1/0 wire a few terminals and some really easy wiring. You should easily be able to do it for half of that. And I would add a batt next to the amp and then see where you are at. And optimas **** now I would get a sears platinum agm batt or a deka or a Duracell agm or diehard platinum

IIRC all of those batteries except for maybe the sears are Deka (including the optima) so they're the same thing in a different case

I'm thinking diehard are odyssey? Might be wrong though

 

[SounDrive Pro Seller]

Cheap big 3 kits, you'll probably save some money buying AT rather than Knu and both are good quality wire

http://www.caraudio.com/forums/audio-technix/576119-audio-technix-blowout-sale.html

Might as well go for the OFC big 3 kit. Also check all of your grounds! (battery ground, amp ground, etc) - they should be in good, solid locations and have ALL paint sanded off where your wire contacts it.

Don't buy a HO alt just yet, see how much the big 3 helps.

 

[dboii313]

As u can see in my picture in the first post my battery ground wire is skimpy and looks to be 10 gauge lol. I grounded my amp with 1/0 gauge of course and sanded all the paint and its bolted down very tight. I had AutoZone test my stock alt and they said its still good so I'm going to buy that big 3 kit first and see if that helps first. I really do appreciate everyone's help

 

[BoomBoxStereo 10+ year member]

I wouldn't pay 150 for the big 3 it's like 12foot of 1/0 wire a few terminals and some really easy wiring. You should easily be able to do it for half of that. And I would add a batt next to the amp and then see where you are at. And optimas **** now I would get a sears platinum agm batt or a deka or a Duracell agm or diehard platinum

i'm digging your sig, sir //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif thanks for the woofergram support!!

btw to the OP, do the Big 3 it'll boost your electrical ~30%

 

[BoomBoxStereo 10+ year member]

sorry double post