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General => The garage => Topic started by: jonnypolish on 01 September 2010, 21:37
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Haven't covered this before in all my time, Have seen them here and there in other cars but am at a bit of a loss when it comes to sorting one out for myself!
I am looking into this avenue of installing an additional battery in the boot to power my sound system so there is less clutter going through the car and the engine then has its own dedicated power supply!
I'm running 6k+ Watts on the subs and a variation through the components that the lights dim GREATLY at night, so i have resorted to leaving the stereo off at night!
My Questions is:
1) Do i need another alternator? or can i use the existing one to run both batteries?
I look forward to your replies,
Many thanks, Jon
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You'll need a split charging system.
Better off buying a bigger alternator and KISS.
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Here's some info on split charging though ...
http://www.talkaudio.co.uk/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=50222
http://www.m-99.co.uk/Electrical/12v_Car_Split_Charging_Kit_-_C/12v_car_split_charging_kit_-_c.html
(http://www.m-99.co.uk/Electrical/12v_Car_Split_Charging_Kit_-_C/split_charger_relay.jpg)
(http://www.m-99.co.uk/Electrical/12v_Car_Split_Charging_Kit_-_C/split4.gif)
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That EASY! Cheers mate!
May Look into the Larger alternator route,
I take it that both batteries will be receiving the same charge? or a slightly lower one going to each?
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Looks like its just running the battery in parallel so would receive the same voltage
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Looks like its just running the battery in parallel so would receive the same voltage
It is, but it regulates charge level independently.
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Cheers lads! The info is much appreciated!
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Buy a marine split charge system - much better quality.
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Cheers DH, Will get onto it today!
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Haven't covered this before in all my time, Have seen them here and there in other cars but am at a bit of a loss when it comes to sorting one out for myself!
I am looking into this avenue of installing an additional battery in the boot to power my sound system so there is less clutter going through the car and the engine then has its own dedicated power supply!
I'm running 6k+ Watts on the subs and a variation through the components that the lights dim GREATLY at night, so i have resorted to leaving the stereo off at night!
My Questions is:
1) Do i need another alternator? or can i use the existing one to run both batteries?
I look forward to your replies,
Many thanks, Jon
Firstly, is this 6k rms power? or MAX power? If it is a geniuine 6k then you should be looking at an upgraded alt and battery in the boot.
You don't really need a split charge system, this is more for if you play the car with the engine off, it splits the batterys so you only drain the rear battery and can start the car again without worry about flattening the front one.
What amp, or amps are you running??
I presume you have run 0 guage from the front to the back and used a fused distro block with 4 guage coming out?
Dimming lights usually mean you haven't done:
1. Battery to ground (In your case use 0 guage for this)
2. Alt to battery (you should be ok with 4guage for this)
3. Check that alt ground is all cleaned up.
Make sure your earth point in the boot for the amps is all cleaned up nicely.
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6KW will be PMPO that'll roughly equate to 3KW rms or 1500 W ACTUAL POWER CONSUMPTION.
so your ICE will be wanting 105 AMPS @ 14.4 volts the car will need 30-50 AMPS
my sugestion would be to go and buy a battery from a diesel version of your car as it'll proably fit in the std battery location but it extra capcity and power delivering ablity will help keep voltages more stable, and then get a bigger alternator idealy somethign in the 150A+ range
multipul batterys won't help if your alternator isn't big enough because all the power has to come from the alternator at the end of the day. also that split charging system thats linked to is NASTY it looks like it just isolates 1 battery from the other when the car isn't runniing so you can flatten the battery your useing to run stuff and still start the car but when the car is started and that battery is completly flat its gping to try and pull onw hell of a current trying to charge itself back up, at best thats really bad for the batterys service life and it's not exactly safe, uncontrolled charging can result in batterys getting very hot and going bang
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Listen to this man.
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danny_p
Noted. Am Following your instructions! Was going to get a bigger alternator to start with, but funds got in the way :( Although did get a bigger battery :huh:
Will upgrade my alternator before running anymore equipment :) (and will check the battery is capable!
Thanks again guys!