Thread: High Amp Alt vs. Bigger Cap

Originally Posted by reinke

well i am telling you from over 10 years of car audo experience that statement is false. my voltage sat at 13.6 idle before i added any batteries. after i finished adding all my batt's my truck now idles's at 14.7. when i rev to 2000rpm when i compete for 30 seconds full tilt non stop the whole time my voltage does not drop below 13.8 now. adding batteries will help you voltage PERIOD. go to stevemeadedesigns.com and ask around.

I agree, more batteries = more current. The big problem is you will overwork your alternator and it wont last very long trying to charge up all those batteries. It may seem like its helping but remember batteries store power, they do not make it. If you dont run a H/O alternator you wont be able to keep your alternator running for more than 5-6 months at a time...I was an installer myself for over 5 years and even did a 4 month mobile electronics course. Anybody who went ahead and added a second or third battery always ended up with dead alternators, especially GM alternators which are flaky to begin with. Not to mention a regular battery weighs a good 40-50 pounds...not good for the gas millage


In your situation with audio competitions I think more batteries is best for you, because you will get a **** load of current out of them for that 30 second blast. For the average person another battery is just not at all necessary for a simple light dimming issue. Run up to a 2F cap (which will discharge high current very quickly for a short period of time, much faster than a battery can), if you still have issues, step up your alternator output a bit.