Alternator amperage

[rollin92]

I have a 1992 Honda Accord EX. I'm wanting to hook up two 600 watt amps. Each will pull 60 amps so a total of 120 amps for both. I was just wondering if the stock alternator will work for this. I'm not going to have turned all the way up all the time and if I'm not driving and I turn it up loud I'll rev it up so that its not at idle. A guy told me on this board a while back that it wold be okay, but I wanted to make sure before I order all this stuff to install my amp. Thank you for any help.

[Doctorx98]

You should buy a cap just to be on the safe side.

[Doctorx98]

check out http://www.electronixwarehouse.com/ ...their prices aint that bad

[rollin92]

If I install a capacitor will that solve my possible alternator problems? Would a two farad be big enough? I won't be running it turned all the way up very often so its not like I'll be pulling 120 amps constantly and from what I read I won't really pull the max unless I was trying to for some reason. I figure I'll be fine for just driving around because it shouldn't pull much more than what it is now. I'm just worried about when I show off my system to people and really crank it up and especially when I go to audio competitions( I know I won't win, still fun to do). Thanks for all your help and sorry for the long post.

[bruno8747]

A cap has been debated so many times of wheather or not its worth the money. If it was up to me though I would get an optima yellow top battery and some good wire atleast 2 gauge then split at the trunk into 2 pieces of 4 gauge.

And what amps are u using?

oh BTW does anyone know whats the amperage on our stock alternators?

[rollin92]

Okay heres my plan as of right now. It seems to be changing by the minute though.

I've got a 600 watt crossfire vr602 amp and 2 12" cadence subwoofers. I'm going to buy another amp just like the one I have and run one speaker per amp. I'm going to run 1/0 awg from the battery to a distro block then from there I'm running either 4 awg or 2 awg to the amps, probably 4. The distro block is fused and gives me the abillity to run ground wires back to it then I'm going to run a piece of 1/0 awg from it to a grounding point. I know this set-up will work as long as the alternator/battery can handle the load.

What is the deal wit hthe Optima batteries, I know their better, but will they make up for any problems with my alternator? I'll probably wait on the cap until later, but I'm sure I'll end up getting one (trying to stay on budget right now).

I hope you can understand how I'm going to set it up. Thank you for your help I really appreciate it and I also would like to know the amperage of the stock alternator.

[ChIoVnIdCa]

just a fact. All caps/ extra batterys do is put an extra strain on your alt. So it would all be a temporary fix till you can do everything correctly

[uslspct]

First things first, the optimas are good. I have the red top. There are better, and some that weigh less, but if you're gonna replace your battery because it's old anyways, an Optima will be good. And, you can get one at Pep Boys.
Second, you don't need a cap. No one rarely does. It's basically a band aid. It has nothing to do with the ability of your electrical system to produce 120 amps. Use that money for a new alt. Alterstart makes some, and they're listed on ebay. The stock alt is 80 amps or close to that, I believe.
And third, the main, part. If you are indeed running them bridged/4ohm to get 600 watts, and you're running two of them, and if you run another for speakers, you will need to upgrade your alt. And upgrade grounds in engine bay. Your wiring to the amps sound fine. System designer

[rollin92]

I may get an Optima a little ways down the road, my battery is in good condition right now. I am going to be running just the two amps for the subwoofers. Is that 80 amps peak power or 80 amps at idle on the alternator? I'm starting to worry that this isn't going to work without upgrading my alt. Thank you for all the help I really appreciate it.

[uslspct]

That's definately not at idle. Especially an old one. But it'll work. You'll probably have massive dimming. Definately upgrade/add grounds.
Massive dimming. That's a great phrase.

[foodmonster36]

for the alternator, the maximum output power is 1195 watts, and maximum output under full load is 91 amps. in performance, at 1600 rpm u get about 41 amps, at 1800 rpms u get 53, at 2000 rpm u get 59, at 2500 rpm u get 68. at 3000rpm u get 71, at 6000 rpm u get 91, after wear and tear the alternator may not give u those amps, but shouldn't be too far off from them, thou,

[PDXACCORD]

JL 300/2 new alternator, 1.2 power cap, amp cuts still

JL 300/2 amp 300/2 rms, 2 12in W3's, new alternator, 1.2 power cap, amp cuts out still. It pulls too much power at full volume even after all that work. the power cap does help, but I would just go with a high output alternator. It cost bout the same in the end