Battery System Warning/Overheating/New Amp

[Valkyrie14]

This is a multi-topic post so I brought it to the general discussion page. Really is engine, electrical and audio related.

I installed a bigger amp for my sub, and a bigger sub over the weekend. Twice as much power as before. I already had a lot pulling on the electrical before. While I was tuning the amp I had the stereo running without the engine on. I got the battery saver mode warning and I ran the car, this was Saturday. Yesterday I drove around for awhile, no issues.

This morning I get the service battery charging system warning. Battery is a year old. After about 10 minutes the car is overheating. I also notice the heater is blowing cold air. Car throws overheating warning and battery saver mode. Luckily I got to the office, only driving it like this for a mile maybe two.

Alternator right? Because of my added electrical uses I am thinking of going to the bigger alternator. What else do I need I am getting the bigger alternator? Is it the same size? I am going to go to an 8 rib belt, anyone know of an alternator that is bigger that already has 8 ribs and fits on an LS3?

[Valkyrie14]

Update: checked under hood…took me a minute to decide to do this. It is freezing rain today. Belt slipped off. Maybe because alternator seized, maybe not. Going to test after work.

[bottletalk]

what amp did u put in?

[Valkyrie14]

Originally Posted by bottletalk

what amp did u put in?

JL Audio XD 1000w, running a 10w7. It’s beautiful.

I actually think the stock alternator is fine, now that I know it was a belt slip.

[bottletalk]

Originally Posted by Valkyrie14

JL Audio XD 1000w, running a 10w7. It’s beautiful.

I actually think the stock alternator is fine, now that I know it was a belt slip.

I don't care about the alternator, just curious on ur system lol
Im guessing ur running it mono.....is it a mono or muli channel?
are u running the amp@2ohm..the 10w7 are 3ohms, hows it wired in??

[Valkyrie14]

Originally Posted by bottletalk

I don't care about the alternator, just curious on ur system lol
Im guessing ur running it mono.....is it a mono or muli channel?
are u running the amp@2ohm..the 10w7 are 3ohms, hows it wired in??

I have a helix 8 channel amp and DSP running the rest of my system. The mono is only feeding the sub. The 10w7 is 3 ohm and there is only one way to wire it, one set of plug ins. There are two ways to go for an amp, a constant 750w amp which was $1000, or a 1000w at 2ohm amp for $700. At 3ohms, the 1000w runs at 850w which is too high for the 10w7, so I used the gain to adjust it at 700w output.

[Valkyrie14]

Update. My battery saver mode is not going off. The battery gauge says I am charging at 15.2v. I am guessing my alternator cannot keep up with the voltage demand. The OEM is a 150v and there is an upgrade to 220v. Or does my battery just need a good solid recharge?

[bottletalk]

Originally Posted by Valkyrie14

JL Audio XD 1000w, running a 10w7. It’s beautiful.

I actually think the stock alternator is fine, now that I know it was a belt slip.

Originally Posted by Valkyrie14

Update. My battery saver mode is not going off. The battery gauge says I am charging at 15.2v. I am guessing my alternator cannot keep up with the voltage demand. The OEM is a 150v and there is an upgrade to 220v. Or does my battery just need a good solid recharge?

get urself or borrow a DC clamp on meter(amp meter), with the battery charged turn on the car and check the current coming off the alternator with the stereo off. Now rotate your meter 180 deg and clamp it again, did u get the same reading? most DC meters measure DC current in the direction of current flow, if it showed the same current both ways don't worry about, if it displayed amps in one way only(or one direction much larger then the other) use this direction for measuring.
now turn on your system to the volume u listen to or slightly higher. take a reading with the meter from ur alternator then from the battery.
if ur battery is higher then ur alternator is too small.
when u clamp on your battery cable spin it 180 deg and compare.

ps: do u have a capacitor wired into ur power circuit feeding the amps??

[bottletalk]

how are the JL amps? I have a 500w 4 channel that's bridgeable to 2 or mono that I'm putting in my car to separate the mids and 2x3 ways from the 750w fosgate.(I'm biased, loved Rockford since I was a kid....they used to be the best)

[Valkyrie14]

Originally Posted by bottletalk

get urself or borrow a DC clamp on meter(amp meter), with the battery charged turn on the car and check the current coming off the alternator with the stereo off. Now rotate your meter 180 deg and clamp it again, did u get the same reading? most DC meters measure DC current in the direction of current flow, if it showed the same current both ways don't worry about, if it displayed amps in one way only(or one direction much larger then the other) use this direction for measuring.
now turn on your system to the volume u listen to or slightly higher. take a reading with the meter from ur alternator then from the battery.
if ur battery is higher then ur alternator is too small.
when u clamp on your battery cable spin it 180 deg and compare.

ps: do u have a capacitor wired into ur power circuit feeding the amps??

I already ordered a new 220 amp alternator. I called crutchfield and he determined that because I have more than 2000W in amps I should get a bigger alternator. I don’t have a capacitor wired into the power before the amp. I was told my amps JL and Helix have built in capacitors.

[Valkyrie14]

Originally Posted by bottletalk

how are the JL amps? I have a 500w 4 channel that's bridgeable to 2 or mono that I'm putting in my car to separate the mids and 2x3 ways from the 750w fosgate.(I'm biased, loved Rockford since I was a kid....they used to be the best)

I like the JL amps, I’m on my third. I LOVE the Helix. Nothing wrong with RF, still an industry leader!

[bottletalk]

Originally Posted by Valkyrie14

I like the JL amps, I’m on my third. I LOVE the Helix. Nothing wrong with RF, still an industry leader!

this is my first JL amp, RF isn't the same, not like the old mosfet days haha their old punch 75's would blow away other 300w amps running subs effortlessly.

[Badbubba]

Originally Posted by Valkyrie14

I already ordered a new 220 amp alternator. I called crutchfield and he determined that because I have more than 2000W in amps I should get a bigger alternator. I don’t have a capacitor wired into the power before the amp. I was told my amps JL and Helix have built in capacitors.

They do. But a large power stiffening cap helps with the transients/surges. Just think of it as a quick acting battery. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for charging the cap. Usually it's just a resistor in series with the cap. The resistor will get really hot. If you don't use a resistor, you will draw high current initially as it charges. And could damage the cap or something else. A cap acts like a short to ground at 1st, then it "gains" resistance as it charges, putting it simply.
When removed from the system, you'll need to discharge it as well. People will debate if a cap is needed. I always ran a 1 Farad cap or more.