Will an optima battery help?

[pfunky_21]

Hi guys, I need your help. I have a 2005 Elantra GT and I just installed a new stereo. This is what I got:

Pioneer DEH-P6800MP
Kicker KS6.2 front
Kicker KS60 rear
Kicker TC104 sub
Kicker ZX400.1 mono sub amp

I am worried I might be drawing too many amps. I specifically got the Kicker ZX400.1 because it is a Class D so it very efficiant and it uses a 40 amp fuse so I am guessing it never draws more than 40 amps.

My pioneer shows my system voltage and with the engine off it hovers around 12 but doesnt drop below 12. With the engine on it goes to 14 but does drop to 13 especially with the AC on.

I ruined my alternator and my battery on my Santa Fe it took about 6 months though.

Would getting a a yellow or red top optima battery save me? I heard that caps just add to the drain on systems.

[2loud2k2xd]

your pushing about 400 watts from the amp. id say get a cap, but i doubt you need it. optima red (series 24) under the hood should be good to have the radio playing loud w/lights on with minimal dimming. if you still get dimming w/the optima then you may need a cap.

and how did you ruin the sante fe alt and bat?

[pfunky_21]

I forgot to mention that I am not getting any dimming. In the Santa Fe I had a Rockford 4 channel 400 and a Rockford 2 channel 250. It worked fine for 6 months than the alternator just gave up I had to get a 180 amp alternator and a new battery it was very expensive over $400.

[2loud2k2xd]

dude, where did you get that alt? it should fit my/our cars (been searching alot guys). and i push about 3400 watts rms (yes rms, see member profile for audio list), but i also have a dedicated 1125ca yellow top optima for just the amps. i have 78,000 miles and the same alt (80 amp to be exact, 2002 used mando 80 amp alts)

if your not getting any dimming, then dont upgrade the batt. wait till you fry this one, then buy an optima red top. save your money.

[pfunky_21]

I got the alternator from the dealer I am sure they riped me off but my santa fe had to be towed over there so I let them install it. With the new alt and battery I had zero problems. I miss my Santa Fe.

I guess I am worried cuz I had a bad experiance before. Its just that the AC sounds like it struggling. Should I still get the cap?

[Mil]

Start by upgrading your power and ground wires (big 3).
The most important is the ground as your amplifier has a 40 amp fuse, then i sould not draw more than 40 amps.
Changing your battery won't help unless, you want to listen to your system when your car is parked.
Bigger battery gives longer listening time.
Adding a cap may help for the music's dynamics and may also help your alternator.
It's true to say that adding a cap puts one more load to your electrical system, but the cap also helps your alternator by giving a lot of current in a short period of time.
When you listen to loud music, the hard hitting bass is what draws a lot of current, so your amp may draw around 40 amps but for a really short period (each time the bass hits hard).
If you add a cap, the cap will provide that extra current to your amp.
In fact a cap is like a battery exept for the fact that it doesn't produce any current, but it acts as "damping" the current draw, so your alternator doesn't see that big current draw.
That's why if you add many caps, it's true to say that it will add loads to your electrical system, but only one can help.
If you wish to do spl competitions, you may lose some power by adding a cap, because of the voltage drop (the more connections and terminals, the more drops), but that's another story for the pros only.
For an every day system, start by upgrading your power and ground wires (big 3), and i wouldn't be worried unless you are planning to listen to hip-hop or dance music very loud, all day long, with all the accessories turned on...

[Kens GLS]

Thats why I never bought a cap.Upgrade alt, upgrade wiring, (dont use a/c!)

[2loud2k2xd]

Thats why I never bought a cap.Upgrade alt, upgrade wiring, (dont use a/c!)

i would like to know where you got your "upgraded alt" from....
what amperage is it, and all the info you can give me.
thanks
dave

[BlueRush]

Start by upgrading your power and ground wires (big 3).
The most important is the ground as your amplifier has a 40 amp fuse, then i sould not draw more than 40 amps.
Changing your battery won't help unless, you want to listen to your system when your car is parked.
Bigger battery gives longer listening time.
Adding a cap may help for the music's dynamics and may also help your alternator.
It's true to say that adding a cap puts one more load to your electrical system, but the cap also helps your alternator by giving a lot of current in a short period of time.
When you listen to loud music, the hard hitting bass is what draws a lot of current, so your amp may draw around 40 amps but for a really short period (each time the bass hits hard).
If you add a cap, the cap will provide that extra current to your amp.
In fact a cap is like a battery exept for the fact that it doesn't produce any current, but it acts as "damping" the current draw, so your alternator doesn't see that big current draw.
That's why if you add many caps, it's true to say that it will add loads to your electrical system, but only one can help.
If you wish to do spl competitions, you may lose some power by adding a cap, because of the voltage drop (the more connections and terminals, the more drops), but that's another story for the pros only.
For an every day system, start by upgrading your power and ground wires (big 3), and i wouldn't be worried unless you are planning to listen to hip-hop or dance music very loud, all day long, with all the accessories turned on...


Actually a capacitor is the same as a battery in regards to it being a device that "stores" energy, where an alt. is a device that will "produce" energy.

The "Big 3" is the first place to start though, just as you stated Mil. A Optima Red Top under the hood would be my next thought. After that though I highly recommend a high output alt. because this will "produce" more energy which will then allow you to "store" more energy. From there a capacitor and a yellow top in the trunk would be the next step.

BTW, here's tthe deal on the whole battery/capacitor argument. The alt. "produces" the energy, the battery "stores" the energy, and the alt. "stores" the enery. The reason a battery and a capacitor are different, is the rate at which the discharge the their "stored" energy. A battery "stores" alot of energy and is able to discharge/charge it slowly. A capacitor "stores" (in comparison) a small amount a energy, but discharges/charges insanely fast. Notice I said discharge/charge. Because even though a capacitor will be able to provide immediate power to amplifiers when their current draw spikes momentarily, it will try to draw a charge just as fast. Now if you have multiple batteries and high output alt., this will happen without incident. If you try to throw a capacitor on a stock charging system, things are prone to fail in a short amount of time.

[johnblaze94]

i would like to know where you got your "upgraded alt" from....
what amperage is it, and all the info you can give me.
thanks
dave


Im with you. I'll soon be at 2200W rms so i also need a more powerfull alternator. I do have a yellow top as well, and it helps a lot. So, what we need to do now is find a santa fe alternator and see if it will fit up right.....

[pfunky_21]

Thanks for the replys I will be getting a red top optima soon.
I will install the cap after putting in the optima.