I'm an audio noob

[RollinWOT]

Ok so my friend is hooking me up with a free amp and 12" sub and he's installing it for free too. Woo! Free system! Anyway my question is, will my stock alternator supply enough power my new sub and amp as well as my stereo? I just want to know if I have to upgrade to a H.O. alternator.

 

[James86]

depends on the power of the amp, and mor importantly, the efficiency. I'm running a 440 watt 4 channel, and I can blast music, run my aftermarket lights, headlights, and heater full blast and my voltage meter never twitches nor do any lights dim on bass hits. All that with a stock 85(?) amp alternator. When the time comes ot replace it ( I'm at 117,000miles already) I'll just get an explorer alternator for a 4.0 since its bolts in, same pulley, and its 140 amps.

 

[tylork92]

depends on the power of the amp, and mor importantly, the efficiency. I'm running a 440 watt 4 channel, and I can blast music, run my aftermarket lights, headlights, and heater full blast and my voltage meter never twitches nor do any lights dim on bass hits. All that with a stock 85(?) amp alternator. When the time comes ot replace it ( I'm at 117,000miles already) I'll just get an explorer alternator for a 4.0 since its bolts in, same pulley, and its 140 amps.

thats what i done when mine went out.

to OP: i highly doubt the free stuff will require a new alt.

 

[RollinWOT]

600 Watt amp and some off-brand sub. I think I'll be ok with my stock alt. Any opinions?

 

[Psychopete]

600 Watt amp and some off-brand sub. I think I'll be ok with my stock alt. Any opinions?

I've run higher powered systems on stock components when I was younger (but not in a Ranger), but try it; if you have an issue then try the big-3 upgrade. Still not enough, then look into an alternator that can output more amps.

 

[RollinWOT]

Please excuse my novice-ness, but what is the big-3 upgrade?

 

[Psychopete]

http://forum.sounddomain.com/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/312025/page/1

 

[RollinWOT]

Great info! Thanks pete. My friend is doing the install, so hopefully if I need to do the big-3 he can help me.

 

[Psychopete]

Great info! Thanks pete. My friend is doing the install, so hopefully if I need to do the big-3 he can help me.

All I am saying is just try it out... You could be alright, 600 watt amp is up for debate on the actual power; most low end car audio is rated it peak power, which is more than it can handle before it nukes it (it's a selling point). A lot of home and PA audio (edit: and some higher end car audio) is rated in RMS, 1000 watt RMS@4ohm PA amp will do something, but again depends on context and how it's hooked up.

What kind of amp is it? Do you have it in stereo - how ohms are your speakers - and what ohms is your amplifier stable for? And what kind of sound are you looking for, but that's includes what sub you have, too..

 

[7.5L_STX]

my 89 with a 2.9 stock alternator had 2 12s and a 1000 watt kenwood amp. lights never dimmed even with my strobes and neons on with the system pounding. just go for it, im sure you wont have a problem as long as its wired up right.

 

[Psychopete]

my 89 with a 2.9 stock alternator had 2 12s and a 1000 watt kenwood amp. lights never dimmed even with my strobes and neons on with the system pounding. just go for it, im sure you wont have a problem as long as its wired up right.

That's pretty impressive for what it was... I have a 150a with essentially the big-3, (swap == new overkill wiring), but nothing to justify it just yet. Problem I ran into with the single cab is room for a good sized speaker. Still working on that..