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What output alternator do i need?

What alternator amp output do i need?

  • i have a stock 99 ford ranger, and have a 5000 watt amp and 2 subs in the back, the load is enough to dim my lights greatly, and im looking at getting a new alt, but i basically know nothing about them, can anyone help me?

  • Answer:

    OK, a few basics: Volts is the electrical pressure, Amps is the electrical energy flow and Watts is the amount of instantaneous energy. Watts = Volts x Amps. You say you have a 5000W amplifier. Unfortunately, car amplifiers are very poorly rated. They often are rated in the instantaneous power that it can output... not the REAL average (called RMS) power output (which is usually much less). Depending on your amplifier's efficiency, only 50-90% of the power it takes from your car gets to the output. So, the best bet to determine the amp's maximum current input (at max volume and bass) is to check it's specification or see what size fuse or fusible line they recommend. For the sake of discussion: We'll assume that you amp takes 5000 watts of energy at maximum output. 5000W / 14V = 357 amps. (This is about as much current as the starter motor uses... but for only a few seconds. No wonder the lights dim.) The stock 99 Ranger uses an 80Amp output alternator. So, even with the engine running, you will soon drain the battery and maybe burn out the alternator. AdvanceAutoParts's largest 200Amp alternator should get you some good volume, but won't keep up with continual operation. Do your homework and determine how much power or current the amplifier actually requires... or just don't crank it all the way up, or don't operate it at full volume for a long time (a couple minutes). And please, stay away from my house... I doubt others appreciate your music as you do.

codyisco... at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess your amp isn't actually 5000w. Amps that are truly capable of 5000w are rare and expensive. However, cheap brands that agressively advertise meaningless peak power in addition to inflated rms power ratings are common and cheap. Providing the brand and model of the amp, power and ground wiring information (mainly awg, but also good to know where the ground is connected), sub brand and model, voice coil configuration, how they're connected to the amp - specifically what impedance is the amp seeing, is it bridged. There are a lot of installation issues that can contribute to headlight dimming when the alt is actually capable of powering the sound system adequately. If you have the 130A alt there's no reason 1500w rms (or so) should be a problem.

N2Audio

They're all going to be expensive. Get the largest you can for that truck, which is probably in the neighborhood of 200 amps. That's what I have in my car. Talk to Nate at http://www.exesiveamperage.com

airforceyooper

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