scooter99 Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 So here's the deal. I'm trying to figure out some stuff. I've been doing audio for a while but I'm by no means a pro or even close to it. What I want to know is how do you determine how to build a power system? Let me explain a little. I see some of these builds where you have 4 18's and guys have like 8 batteries and 15 runs of 1/0ga from front to back, and 4 alternators to help and all this shit. HOW do guys come up with that? Look at Meade's build for instance. He's running 4 18's, 8 RF 2500.bbcd's. Lots of power there for just subs. He throws in the 2 1000.4's and a 600.2 for a grand total of 30k watts, as it says. So to power it he has 4 mechman 350 amp alternators, 10 xs power D3100 batteries, and the xs power voltage control module. Then he runs 6 1/0 ga positive cables from front to back, and 6 1/0 ga negative cables front to back. Then another obscene amount to the battery bank. I know it's a crap load of power, a ton of batteries and that's why the amount of wires, but how does one determine how much you need? I'd love to learn more about this to help in designing my truck system. Can anyone shed some light on this please? Thank you. Quote Facebook Page: S99Creations 2006 F250 Lariat Build Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Way Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 (edited) i would also like to learn.... sounds interesting. Edited October 27, 2011 by One Way Quote T-line build- http://www.stevemead...e-t-line-build/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeamHT Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 It's actually not as complex as you make it sound. You would figure out the current draw of what you are trying to run, and then you build accordingly. Good read here Quote Tell me...does this smell like chloroform to you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armykyle1 Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 As many batts and alts as you can fit lol. JK. this could be a good thread though. Quote TEAM XS POWERTEAM HEAVY HERTZMy build- http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/194454-e46-bmw-build-pos/#entry2914134youtube- http://www.youtube.com/user/armykyle1big build starting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodzyspl Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 ok im gonna be complicated. noob with power... dc 9k, running 18v 1ohm for now. how many batts will i need lol or how do i determine how many i need? by looking at what? the batterys AH ect Quote AUSTRALIA do i need say more? HU: some crap pionee AMP: dc 9k @ 18v SUB: 4 elevation audio sqx 12" Battery: 2 neuton power 8200d burp setup for fun 152's soon to come: rebuilt soundstream xxx (2 18" OR 3 15" wall) Bunch speakers, more batts and new HU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Way Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 how would you determine how much power you can get out of an alternator? like is there an equation or something? Quote T-line build- http://www.stevemead...e-t-line-build/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeamHT Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 To calculate approximately how much current an amplifier draws just start thinking like this. Total Power / Supply Voltage = Current; then increase by 20% to allow for inefficencies. So total RMS watts / voltage = current. Once you know how much current you will be drawing, you can figure what steps need to be made so you can stablize the electrical to supply the need. Also notice in the formula, the lower the voltage, the higher the current....O_O Quote Tell me...does this smell like chloroform to you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miniSPLlancer Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 (edited) Current draw, take you 9000/16v=562amps@ 100% efficiency which now amp is, realistically probably 70% at that voltage. So that would be another 168 amps, for a total of 730 amps just for sub amps, another 40-50 for the vehicle. So you're talking about needing around 800 amps of current to provide for the system, without other amps for mids and highs. So, 2 300amp alts and a couple batteries, kinetik, xs, whatever your preference. This is assuming you'll be running and 16v of course. Edited October 28, 2011 by miniSPLlancer Quote 2011 Mitsubishi OutlanderSony 712 Soundqubed HDS208 Alpine MRV-M500 Transmission line enclosure Soundqubed wiring Knu rca XS Power battery CNF terminals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Way Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 To calculate approximately how much current an amplifier draws just start thinking like this. Total Power / Supply Voltage = Current; then increase by 20% to allow for inefficencies. So total RMS watts / voltage = current. Once you know how much current you will be drawing, you can figure what steps need to be made so you can stablize the electrical to supply the need. Also notice in the formula, the lower the voltage, the higher the current....O_O oh ok then that makes sence, now how would you determine the amount of batteries you would need? Quote T-line build- http://www.stevemead...e-t-line-build/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeamHT Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 (edited) how would you determine how much power you can get out of an alternator? like is there an equation or something? Is there an equation to tell you exactly how many calories a specific burger has? Yes, but very timely. You can always test your alternator output yourself at idle speeds and at low RPMs...OR...go with a company under a name you can trust. I know that with my Mechman 270 units I clamp AT LEAST 270 amps. Edited October 28, 2011 by TeamHT Quote Tell me...does this smell like chloroform to you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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