Do i need a new alternator?

[Jake Pichola]

Ok, so i drive an FJ Cruiser 08, with a either 100 or 130 amp alternator. my system that i just installed is two sundown SA 15's on a Hifonics BE2100.d amp. the thing is my system right now is just as loud as my last system which was two rockford p3 12's on a rockford r1200 amp. im planning on buying a new alternator because i think the reason its not any louder is that my alternator can supply the amp with the power it needs. when im playing the loudest it gets my voltage drops from around 14.3 to 12.5, and if i try to turn up the volume any past this point my subs start clipping. so i just want to make sure that if i do get a new alternator(thinking of getting a mechman 250 amp) that it will be louder, and the problem isnt just my amp not doing rated. any input would help so much.

[RooTxBeeR]

Well, you went from quality gear to garbage gear so don't expect anything more. Also, how can you tell your subs are clipping.

Edit: spoke to soon, the sa's should outperform those rockford subs, but that hifonics is garbage. What type of box was your old one and now your new one

[Miguels]

i will say is more than just the alternator..

[Jhunt94]

Heck, I bet if you threw the R1200.1D on those SA's it might surprise you.

[moredbs]

if your willing to spend money on a good alternator, you might want to spend on a good amp. I don't know the specs of the hifonics, but i would definitely go another route if your going to spend on a mechman alt.

[Moreno93]

Whats your voltage drop at full tilt? Using a hifonics 1100.1 at full tilt i dropped to low 13's with a 145a alternator i cant only imagine what your dropping to

[magillaru]

^THIS (all of the above)

Many variables going on here......different subs, amp, box.....possibly direction of subs/port???

How did you set your gains, clipping point of HU.....etc.?

That Hifonics amp might be putting a huge strain on your electrical because.....well......it's just not that great of an amp.

[Jake Pichola]

^THIS (all of the above)

Many variables going on here......different subs, amp, box.....possibly direction of subs/port???

How did you set your gains, clipping point of HU.....etc.?

That Hifonics amp might be putting a huge strain on your electrical because.....well......it's just not that great of an amp.

most of the reason i bought the hifonics amp is because it the be1700 did more than rated on steve meades test so i figures the be2100 would do rated, and even if the amp is straining my electrical wouldnt getting a 250 amp alt give it all the power it needs and then be able to do rated? and i also did try the rockford amp with my subs and it was just as loud and the voltage drop was pretty much the same

[Jake Pichola]

Heck, I bet if you threw the R1200.1D on those SA's it might surprise you.

i did, it was pretty much exactly the same as the hifonics

[RooTxBeeR]

^THIS (all of the above)

Many variables going on here......different subs, amp, box.....possibly direction of subs/port???

How did you set your gains, clipping point of HU.....etc.?

That Hifonics amp might be putting a huge strain on your electrical because.....well......it's just not that great of an amp.

most of the reason i bought the hifonics amp is because it the be1700 did more than rated on steve meades test so i figures the be2100 would do rated, and even if the amp is straining my electrical wouldnt getting a 250 amp alt give it all the power it needs and then be able to do rated? and i also did try the rockford amp with my subs and it was just as loud and the voltage drop was pretty much the same

That was'nt on "music". So you are willing to dish out money, to upgrade you electrical so you hungry amp can survive, rather than buying a a efficient amp. That can put out the same power, if not more, on what you have for electrical, no problem. The reason why lot's don't like hifonics, the same wattage amp from a quality brand will not pull the same amount of current to produce the same power, also does not get as hot.