HO alternator vs. Battey Charger

[Mac58]

Yea if you keep it at a reasonable level, you'll be fine. Install a voltmeter so you can see how your voltage fluctuates. You might notice your voltage drop .2-.5 at half volume or so, and since your battery bank looks like it'll be pretty solid with the car running you might see your voltage drop down into the 12's. But you also have to remember this, while running your alternator is charging your batteries and that's where you get the ~14.4 volts from. Just sitting with the car off your battery is probably under or right at 13 volts, mine sits at 12.5.

Edit: When I said into the 12's I meant full tilt.

Thanx! O and BTW I have a stinger voltmeter installed. At full tilt my system goes to high 11's with car off. It sits at about 12.7-13 volts before car and system is turned on

Edited May 6, 2010 by Mac58

[Mac58]

it could not hurt to get a ho alternator and high end charger

yes it could... it could hurt my pockets

[skittlesRgood]

so you know, even with the charger hooked up you can still have voltage drop. if the system draws more current than the charger can supply then its only a mater of time before the batteries drain. as they lose power your voltage drops. at this point your charger is just trying to charge the batteries but it cant because the system is taking all its capacity. also note that each battery takes 10amps. so it you add 5 batteries and get a 60amp charger you only have 10amps left over for your system. the rest of the draw comes straight from the batts... hope that makes sense lol.

[Mac58]

so you know, even with the charger hooked up you can still have voltage drop. if the system draws more current than the charger can supply then its only a mater of time before the batteries drain. as they lose power your voltage drops. at this point your charger is just trying to charge the batteries but it cant because the system is taking all its capacity. also note that each battery takes 10amps. so it you add 5 batteries and get a 60amp charger you only have 10amps left over for your system. the rest of the draw comes straight from the batts... hope that makes sense lol.

? No Im not saying to have the charger connected to system while playing, then it would serve as a low end shitty alternator. . Im saying to charge batteries overnight or whenever Im not using car, not during system play.

[teamjeffrey]

yey when i ran 2 kinetik 2400 and a stock alternator and got about 14.4 volts when i did not have the system up and i don't remember how many volts i got when i had the system

[typicaljawaiian]

I'm into car audio & I also live off the grid on a solar system, so I deal with draining batts on a daily basis.

I can basically tell you this, if you get quality deep cycle batts and keep them charged (like everynight) you should be fine.

I have four, 6 volt, 400 amp hour deep cycle batts that run my whole house. They are wired two 24 volts. I run a 37 inch flatscreen, luxury gas oven, lights, full size electric refrigerator, etc.

I also have a Honda EU3000 generator hooked up to an Outback pure sinewave inverter/charger.

I run my generator 3 hours a day when I get home from work and that lasts me till the next day after work.

What I'm trying to say is if you drain your batterys and then charge them in a timely manor, you'll be fine. If you discharge then wait too long to top them off, that's when you cause damage.

About the alternator, if your ever at any time using a stock alt to charge a very large DEAD battery bank, you will kill it and find yourself buying an HO very soon.

Edited May 6, 2010 by typicaljawaiian

[Mac58]

Ok guys thanx for all the useful input!

[finkster]

I'm glad you brought this up. They are kinda two different uses.

I see chargers used more frequently with a burp setup. But bassrace its important to keep the voltage up for those 30 seconds so u dont damage your equipment, so a HO alt would be of a better help there. But u have the right idea.