Audio/Electronics Stereo System Installation Info, Amplifiers, Subwoofers, Radar Detectors, Police Scanners, and CB Radios for the Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Innova

Do I need a new Alternator?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 20, 2002 | 11:14 PM
  #1  
p0rtmonkey's Avatar
p0rtmonkey
Thread Starter
Pro
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
From: Aiken SC
Default Do I need a new Alternator?

I'm wondering if I should buy a new alternator for my new stereo install. I'm going to have a Sony CDX-MP70 Head unit, Infinity Kappa Perfect 6.1 - 6.5" Components in the doors, Infinity Reference 652is in the rear, and an Infinity Kappa Perfect 12" sub. I'm planning on putting 1 800 watt and 1 1000 watt amp for the sub and speakers. Not sure which type yet... but I was wondering if I should have to upgrade the alternator before I put this stuff in? I don't want to go some place and have the car NOT turn on!!

Patrick
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2002 | 11:58 PM
  #2  
92TripleBlack's Avatar
92TripleBlack
Safety Car
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
Likes: 2
From: Windermere FL
Default Re: Do I need a new Alternator? (p0rtmonkey)

Check the draw amp wise of the amps at constant, the rating of the alternator, and what your car currently draws with everything on and compare. I don't know the C5s specs. You should be fine but I would have at least a 1 farad cap for the sub. That would help alot.
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2002 | 09:25 AM
  #3  
JoeyG's Avatar
JoeyG
Safety Car
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 84
From: St. Joseph MO
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Default Re: Do I need a new Alternator? (p0rtmonkey)

I did the alternator upgrade, it was fairly expensive and a little overkill, but I'm happy. Most good alternator/motor shops can rewire the factory alternator for more output.

Side note, sorry sent the wrong address, check on sig line for picture link.
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2002 | 04:06 AM
  #4  
gcrouse's Avatar
gcrouse
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,148
Likes: 1
From: Chandler AZ
Default Re: Do I need a new Alternator? (p0rtmonkey)

I'm planning on putting 1 800 watt and 1 1000 watt amp for the sub and speakers
I can't imagine what you could possibly do with that kind of power! That's well into SPL competition levels and you haven't mentioned nearly enough speakers to utilize it. Just as a reference point, my home theater sub with two 15" drivers will crack walls with 118dB @ 35Hz, drawing just over 200W per driver.

Some realistic numbers would be 35-75W for components, 20-50W for coax 2ways, 75-300W per sub. My old TransAm had 4x35W driving F/R components and 2x75W driving two 10" subs; grand total 290W. My vette and van both have 2x55W driving front components and 1x150W driving a single 10" sub; grand total 260W. Every one of these systems was clean, would hardly drop the battery voltage (with engine off), and still capable of inflicting permanent hearing damage.
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2002 | 12:38 AM
  #5  
AP's Avatar
AP
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 100,672
Likes: 2
From: Cleveland OH
Default Re: Do I need a new Alternator? (gcrouse)

That is true ... 1800Watts is a whole lot ... I used to have a JLAudio Amp rated at a total of 500W RMS total ... with all 5 channels connected it was loud and clean ...

The only logical reason for multiple amps is probably SQ ... my friend has 4 amps in his Vette ... all of them are 100x1WRMS ... he likes it because he gets individual gain and x-over control for each speaker... but that is still only 400W ... I do know 1 Vette owner with a JL 13W7 w/ a 1000WRMS driving it ... and it is INSANE power ... the gain is set near 0 for most daily use ... because it is just not comfortable ...

The speakers you are using are good ... and I have heard that most speakers are rated with extremes in mind ... so driving a 70W speaker with near 70W is not smart because a amp can peak above RMS power to peak power ... which will destroy your speaker ...

A system like the one that M396-00-11(I think thats his name) installed in a Vette recently ... is more for show ... and even those amps arent probably running a total of 1000W ... I think the D7's max out at 400W each so 2 of them are at 800?
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2002 | 04:30 PM
  #6  
p0rtmonkey's Avatar
p0rtmonkey
Thread Starter
Pro
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
From: Aiken SC
Default Re: Do I need a new Alternator? (NewVetteLover)

The infinity kappa perfect 6.5 components say they handle 100 watts RMS and they can handle up to 400 watts max and the kappa perfect sub will handle 350Wats RMS and peak out at 1400 watts. I'm going to be running everything at 4 ohm. I think i'm going to use the Crunch Blackmaxx amps.

I am going to use the Blackmaxx MX2250 with the 1x1000W @ 4 Ohms for my kappa perfect 12 and the Blackmaxx MXB480 or the MXB4125 for my fronts / rears. I'm not sure which one though. The MXB480 does 4x40W @ 4 Ohms and the MXB4125 does 4x125W @ 4 Ohms. I think the MXB4125 might be a little overkill.

I am also keeping the US Acoustics amps in mind. I've got my eyes on the USX800D Amplifier - 600x1 @ 2ohm or the USX600D Amplifier - 375x1 @ 2ohm for the sub. I don't want too much power that could damage the sub? Has anyone on here had one of these? How much power do you usually run to it? For the speakers, I like the US Acoustics USX4085 Amplifier - 85x4 @ 4ohm.

Give me your suggestions... Too much wattage going to my speakers? Or will all of this be overkill?


[Modified by p0rtmonkey, 8:41 PM 6/26/2002]
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Do I need a new Alternator?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:19 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-1
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE