Stock battery & Alternator

[EvilEric]

How many things can you have running before you start getting into a situation where you are consuming more power then your recharge. Does anyone know?

Besides running amp wires around, are there any wires in the cig lighter area or the trunk that can survive higher voltages?

[FLIPDADY]

What are you currently running right now?

[EvilEric]

I've got a 10 gauge amp line running from the front ot the back with a 15 fuse in the front. It powers a mini TFT and a desk cpu.

I know NOTHING about circuits or voltage terms at all but I want to know what I can safely run before i get into deep discharge problems.

I used to run everything from the cigarette lighter through a converter and it would shut down within 30 mins all the time because i had "used to much" but I think it's because of the conversion from DC to AC back to DC. I haven't had any problems since then doing DC to DC.

[MPS]

just to be sure get this battery

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.americanbattery.com.ar/optima/Optima%2520Ye.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.americanbattery.com.ar/optima/optima.html&h=499&w=450&sz=78&hl=en&start=11&tbnid=yGX00a_SopEy9M:&tbnh=130&tbnw=117&prev=/images%3Fq%3Doptima%2Byellow%2Btop%2B%26svnum%3D10 %26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN



I've got a 10 gauge amp line running from the front ot the back with a 15 fuse in the front. It powers a mini TFT and a desk cpu.

I know NOTHING about circuits or voltage terms at all but I want to know what I can safely run before i get into deep discharge problems.

I used to run everything from the cigarette lighter through a converter and it would shut down within 30 mins all the time because i had "used to much" but I think it's because of the conversion from DC to AC back to DC. I haven't had any problems since then doing DC to DC.

[EvilEric]

just to be sure get this battery

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.americanbattery.com.ar/optima/Optima%2520Ye.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.americanbattery.com.ar/optima/optima.html&h=499&w=450&sz=78&hl=en&start=11&tbnid=yGX00a_SopEy9M:&tbnh=130&tbnw=117&prev=/images%3Fq%3Doptima%2Byellow%2Btop%2B%26svnum%3D10 %26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN

Can you tell me what's so good about this battery?

Thanks

[Wild Weasel]

just to be sure get this battery

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.americanbattery.com.ar/optima/Optima%2520Ye.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.americanbattery.com.ar/optima/optima.html&h=499&w=450&sz=78&hl=en&start=11&tbnid=yGX00a_SopEy9M:&tbnh=130&tbnw=117&prev=/images%3Fq%3Doptima%2Byellow%2Btop%2B%26svnum%3D10 %26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN

Hmm... weren't you the one telling me my battery wasn't for cars? And now you're giving battery advice? ;)

He's right in that Optima makes some of the best batteries available, and that one's the one to go with if you run your system with the car off so the battery is regularly run down, but your question is related to alternator output.

As for how to tell when you're using more amps than it's producing... well... I don't know. I don't do audio. :D

[derrick]

You could put a voltmeter in your car somewhere. A pillar would be rice place to put it.

It should hover around 13.5 volts when idling.

It won't indicated how much current you are drawing, but you will at least know if your battery is running down for some reason.

[EvilEric]

You could put a voltmeter in your car somewhere. A pillar would be rice place to put it.

It should hover around 13.5 volts when idling.

It won't indicated how much current you are drawing, but you will at least know if your battery is running down for some reason.

That's a good idea. it's not something newbs can do on their own right? I've seen some pillar gauges pods that people sell. Something like that?

Thanks

[derrick]

Voltmeters are pretty easy to install. Just two wires connect it to a power source.

On the 3 I recommend connecting it to the cigarette lighter so it only comes on when the car is in the on position.

As for the pillar, it depends on the quality of the pod. Some gauges come with a mount already which works. Or you can hide it in your glovebox. Lots of choices.

[EvilEric]

Alright, so our alternator is supposed to generate 90 amps. The battery can sustain a 44 amp per/hour

What's the electrical useage of all the stock car components? lights, air, radio etc.

Anyone have the statistics?

[MicroDude]

actually you'd be surprised what the stock alternator can take.. on mazda3forums their a how too for "the big 3" simple upgrade the wiring on the alternator and battery and such.. and it imprves it greatly.. a guuy on our club is running a 1300 Watts rms amp for 3 12 inch subs and another 600 rms (i think) for his fornt speakers and he's car is running great with the wire upgrade.. no dimming nothing.. it's worth a try!

[EvilEric]

actually you'd be surprised what the stock alternator can take.. on mazda3forums their a how too for "the big 3" simple upgrade the wiring on the alternator and battery and such.. and it imprves it greatly.. a guuy on our club is running a 1300 Watts rms amp for 3 12 inch subs and another 600 rms (i think) for his fornt speakers and he's car is running great with the wire upgrade.. no dimming nothing.. it's worth a try!

That sounds insane, He shouldn't be able to keep that up.

[fini]

Hey guys, I know this thread is from a while ago but was hoping someone had an answer.

The stock alternator is about 90amps no?
What is the average draw on all the stock equipment such as radio, fan, etc etc?

I'd just like to know so that I have an idea of how much room I have to play with when making changes to my car.

Thanks!