Time2SHO

I may have jumped in too far without doing much more research. I'm just hoping it'll be enough for when I add two more amps down the road. I'm not too familiar with the different style of alternators available. I thought it was just the factory style ones or some sort of custom unit that'd you call in about? But at that point the install would probably be over my head. But thank you for the advice and help, it is greatly appreatiated. Thank you.

The JL amps, do they pull more than other amps in the same range? I'm just curious as I've seen many other brands like Skar, DC, American Bass?, etc but I don't know anything about them, as they seem to not be not as advertised as JL or other brands. I just have always gone with brands that the shops in the area seem to sell. Sorry for off topic. That's great to see the Mechman makes so many amps at idle, I feel like I may have gone overkill on the alternator size. Ah well. I've been getting a weird smell off and on, which I have a feeling it is the battery, so I think Ill be replacing it sooner than later. I should probably look at an AGM this time around? than a lead-acid battery? I was just afraid of starting a fire under the hood. I feel like I can be over cautious sometimes. When I first looked into the audio cables, I did see the difference in between the CCA and OFC. I would always go after the OFC when doing installs. I couldn't imagine using CCA as why would you waste your money twice. I heard welding cable is hard to work with and not many people I've read recommended it. So I've tried to stay away from it. I appreatiate that, is those lithium batteries worth looking at? I've done a little bit of reading where they aren't very good for under the hood temps nor very good for cold climates? As it can get very cold here, and I maybe going out west soon to work, which will be even colder. Would you mind looking at this list and seeing if I got everything that I may need? They don't have the alternator distribution block, which I was thinking I would just order to the cottage. I put a fuse holder in the cart, as that is what Mechman recommends. Not sure if its a good one or not. This place seems to have the cheapest prices on Skyhigh in Canada that I've found. https://shop.singhelectronics.ca/cart.php That makes sense, I've just never seem them used before, so I wasn't sure how they would work for my situation. I imagine I can just use a slightly longer bolt to mount those to my battery? It's like 2 feet I thinking, probably even less. I tend to over think things, and get too cautious sometimes I think. I also like to try to keep it as clean as possible. That video was great, I don't think I'd ever get that loud with just one sub hah. Would be cool to be able to get to that level at some point. I imagine you have 2 400 amp alternators on that setup?

I appreatiate the time your taking to help me out. He uses cable for power transfer(Generator to panels that distribute to lights, A/C units, media use, etc), not exactly welding, but at that size I imagine it similar? That is the plan, I'm hoping to just buy once, cry once and be done for the time being. I don't mind, Kenwood head unit: DDX9907XR Front door speakers/tweeters: Focal 165 K2 Elite (Full active I believe is how the speakers and tweeters are set up) Speaker amp: Clarion XC7 420 Sub amp: JL HD1200/1 Subwoofer: JL 12w7 Amp kit: 1/0 Knokonceptz to a distribution block then powers the two amps. I had a shop do the install for me. In the future I'd like to run my JL HD600/4 for the rear speakers whenever I get speakers for the back. And eventually would like to do a second 12w7 at some point as well. No second battery at the moment, I'm wondering if I should hold out and wait till I can get two batteries at the same time, or just one? I talked with Mechman, and the guy says I should be fine with one battery as I'm not needing a ton of power out of it at my current stage. But then that means I'll need to buy 2 new batteries down the road? He was also saying I'd be ok with just a single 1/0 gauge cable big three as I'm also not pulling all the amps needed through it. I guess I could always add a second big 3 down the road when I up the power needed? I definitely like to keep the system as clean and neat as possible. I never thought to use those flat battery connectors. I'll be looking into those as they look like they might be the easier ones to do?

It's just a stock napa legend side post GM style battery. I'll try to see if I can up load a picture to here though. https://www.google.com/search?q=gm+side+post+battery+&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjzmN7Vtsv3AhXmn3IEHa_WAAwQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=gm+side+post+battery+&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIHCCMQ7wMQJzIECAAQHjIGCAAQCBAeMgQIABAYMgQIABAYMgQIABAYMgQIABAYUO8JWO8JYJ4PaABwAHgAgAFEiAGHAZIBATKYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ8ABAQ&sclient=img&ei=mV51YrPoFea_ytMPr62DYA&bih=969&biw=1920#imgrc=LVx7XrTHLlLNlM It kind of like this side post XS battery. Would something like this work? https://www.amazon.ca/Battery-Terminal-Ampper-Standard-Extender/dp/B089FD7T7N Dam, that is crazy. I was thinking I might be getting a little more into it than I was expecting. I've never gone this far with an audio setup before. I just wanted the dash to stop diming when I got the stereo turned up lol. Guess its just like modifying my mustang, I can already see where this is going.. That's interesting, as I was talking to my uncle to see if industrial cable was similar to car audio, and it turns out it isn't. Different amp ratings. Sticking to 2 runs of 1/0 is probably easier, than finding adapters for 4/0 gauge and what not.

I really appreatiate the reply. Thank you for the alternator distribution block link. That'd very helpful, I'm just curious what I should use to connect to the battery? I think I've seen a JL kit that converts the side posts to a stud like top post batteries, then you can connect top post connectors to it? (If that makes sense?) Or just find simple side post extenders for multiple 1/0 gauge connections? I'm thinking 8/0 might be too wild for right now haha. I actually have the Knukonceptz 1/0 amp kit powering my two amps in the back. I was actually surprised it just barely fits under the sill plates. I'm thinking I may have to run 2 smaller gauges now for it to fit better. But I guess that's a whole other conversation.

Oh, I didn't realize you could do that. I thought I would be stuck trying to find 3/0 wire. Would the post on the alternator be able to handle more than one 1/0 cable? And what kind of post would you recommend for a side post battery? to connect the multiple cables. Thank you for your reply.

Totally new here, even though I've had small audio installs over the years in separate vehicles. My truck is a 2004 Chevy Suburban 5.3L Looking to do the Big 3 install before my new alternator comes in the mail. I've read everywhere that you want to go as big as you can afford(and I prefer not to do things twice) so I purchased the Mechman 400 amp alternator, but I'm now having an issue trying to find a big 3 kit for it. I thought the 1/0 gauge was going to be fine at first, until I found out the amp rating was going to be too low. I believe you want to use wire that has an amp rating higher than the amps rated on the alternator right? So I believe I need 3/0 wire, but I cant find anything offered for a side post battery big 3 kit. I always thought there was lots of products for these GM trucks? I don't mind making my own cables, but just finding wire that large seems to be difficult as well. Any advice where I could find one would be great. Along with recommended terminals, etc for hooking up cables this size would be greatly appreatiated. Thank you in advance.