alternator not producing enough juice - Audio & Electronics Forum

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alternator not producing enough juice
Monday, June 04, 2012 10:30 PM
i hav a stock alrternator right now on my 04 cavy ls sport, i have a power acoustic bamf 2000 amp and a 5 farad cap power acoustic as well

like 2 days ago i started to notice that my cap keeps beeping at me and that i have less than 10v on the display it justmps around from 8-10v so im gueesing i need a new alternator, any help on where to get a custom one that puts out more amps?

plz and ty


http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3957680/2004-chevrolet-cavalier


Re: alternator not producing enough juice
Tuesday, June 05, 2012 8:56 PM
you sure your problem is the alt? you should test it first. I have run 3000 watts at one time on stock alt and an average battery and no cap with no issues. and by at one time I mean constantly for over a month till i had to give the system back... and if you were only running 10v in your car there would be other issues going on with the vehicle. take a good multi meter and test your battery for voltage engine off, then test with engine running and stereo off... you might be getting some resistance elsewhere in your stereo wiring, or the cap might be malfunctioning, i'd test the voltage there too.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Tuesday, June 05, 2012 8:58 PM
Re: alternator not producing enough juice
Tuesday, June 05, 2012 9:38 PM
You should have a battery light on the dash if it's really at 8-10v.

I agree with this guy, check all your connections and get a few voltage probs along the way.


- Your not-so-local, untrained, uncertified, backyard mechanic. But my @!#$ runs
Re: alternator not producing enough juice
Wednesday, June 06, 2012 8:02 AM
Jordan wrote:you sure your problem is the alt? you should test it first. I have run 3000 watts at one time on stock alt and an average battery and no cap with no issues. and by at one time I mean constantly for over a month till i had to give the system back... and if you were only running 10v in your car there would be other issues going on with the vehicle. take a good multi meter and test your battery for voltage engine off, then test with engine running and stereo off... you might be getting some resistance elsewhere in your stereo wiring, or the cap might be malfunctioning, i'd test the voltage there too.

1. You are right, if he was only running at 10v, the car would MAYBE crank over, but it probably wouldn't, but he would have many other electrical issues. I would say bypass that POS cap you have hooked up and see what happens. You are only describing an issue AT the cap in your audio system alone, if you don't have any other electrical problems with the car, you are charging your battery just fine.

2. No, Jordan, you were not running 3000 watts on your stock alternator for over a month.... People misconceive amp power output and ratings so much. You realize that if you ACTUALLY were able to draw 3000 watts of power out of your amp, it would be a 214 amp draw at 14 volts roughly. You realize that's 150% impossible, right?


(tabs) wrote:
z yaaaa wrote:its not much fun trying to argue with a wall.
oh, trust us, we know

Re: alternator not producing enough juice
Wednesday, June 06, 2012 8:26 AM
Dustin I love you.



BTW he is 100% correct.




PRND321 Till I DIE
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Re: alternator not producing enough juice
Wednesday, June 06, 2012 8:07 PM
JLAudioCavalier wrote:
Jordan wrote:you sure your problem is the alt? you should test it first. I have run 3000 watts at one time on stock alt and an average battery and no cap with no issues. and by at one time I mean constantly for over a month till i had to give the system back... and if you were only running 10v in your car there would be other issues going on with the vehicle. take a good multi meter and test your battery for voltage engine off, then test with engine running and stereo off... you might be getting some resistance elsewhere in your stereo wiring, or the cap might be malfunctioning, i'd test the voltage there too.

1. You are right, if he was only running at 10v, the car would MAYBE crank over, but it probably wouldn't, but he would have many other electrical issues. I would say bypass that POS cap you have hooked up and see what happens. You are only describing an issue AT the cap in your audio system alone, if you don't have any other electrical problems with the car, you are charging your battery just fine.

2. No, Jordan, you were not running 3000 watts on your stock alternator for over a month.... People misconceive amp power output and ratings so much. You realize that if you ACTUALLY were able to draw 3000 watts of power out of your amp, it would be a 214 amp draw at 14 volts roughly. You realize that's 150% impossible, right?


Of course I know this is true, but to everyone that talks about stereos (that don't really know how the power input/output works) says "im running 3000 watts" they get that. i know its not technically how much power was running through the system. just like he isn't actually running 2000 watts.

I just like to think its easier to explain it using the numbers that are on the amp, instead of trying to explain/getting into an argument over how much power any particular amp is actually putting out.

Still think he has a wiring issue or bad cap. like you said, with only 10v the car wouldnt even want to crank... and he never said anything about his stereo not performing, just his cap was beeping...
Re: alternator not producing enough juice
Wednesday, June 06, 2012 8:27 PM
I had a cap that would drop to 10 volts and beep on hard, sudden hits.


- Your not-so-local, untrained, uncertified, backyard mechanic. But my @!#$ runs
Re: alternator not producing enough juice
Wednesday, June 06, 2012 10:22 PM
You probably have a bad ground. That is the number one problem that would cause your issue or you have a bad connection at the battery for your positive.


<img src="http://www.v6z24.com/jbodyforum/images/signatures/cavalier3400z.jpg" width="319" height="199"/>

Re: alternator not producing enough juice
Thursday, June 07, 2012 2:24 PM
remove cap, problem solved.



click sig for my car audio videos
Re: alternator not producing enough juice
Friday, June 08, 2012 11:24 PM
tested the battery and 13-14v on it even when the cap is below 10v

i did remove the cap and seems like the problem is solved so it might be a bad cap ill try to contact the company and see if they will replace it if not ill jsut forget about it

thx


http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3957680/2004-chevrolet-cavalier

Re: alternator not producing enough juice
Saturday, June 09, 2012 3:14 PM
Why are you even bothering with a cap? You do realize how they work, what they're supposed to do, and what they don't do, right??


(tabs) wrote:
z yaaaa wrote:its not much fun trying to argue with a wall.
oh, trust us, we know


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