Help! Do I need a hi-amp alternator now?
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: San Jose CA
Help! Do I need a hi-amp alternator now?
Just had a Rockford Fosgate RF Punch 801 1200w 2 channel amp, R-F 2ohm DVC 12" Sub, and DEI 1.2 feret cap installed in my 2000 C5.
With that I also had them install an Optima RedTop. On the ride home I noticed my headlights dimmed slightly with hard subwoofer hits, and after about 30 minutes the amp shut off. I let it cool for 15 minutes and it was fine.
Any advice? Is the stock alternator too weak? The amp is mounted to the back wall so seems to have adequate ventelation, but I'm not a audio expert.
With that I also had them install an Optima RedTop. On the ride home I noticed my headlights dimmed slightly with hard subwoofer hits, and after about 30 minutes the amp shut off. I let it cool for 15 minutes and it was fine.
Any advice? Is the stock alternator too weak? The amp is mounted to the back wall so seems to have adequate ventelation, but I'm not a audio expert.
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From: Garden State
Re: Help! Do I need a hi-amp alternator now? (Rob Razor)
Take it back to the installer and let them tell you what's wrong. They should know better than any of us tell them to make it right. We could only guess from a distance could be many things.
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From: Clemson University SC
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Re: Help! Do I need a hi-amp alternator now? (bbvett)
1.2 Feret cap! That little creature got out again! I'm not sure how you got 1.2 of him though. :jester
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From: Iowa
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Re: Help! Do I need a hi-amp alternator now? (Rob Razor)
Okay.... that is Farad cap :bb
Hmmmm 1200 watts :confused: Someone has been lying to you my friend.
The 801 is a 800 watt amp and that is at 14.4 volts, will be less at 12.5 volts. I imagine they are running the amp as bridged into the voice coils in series or running the amp in stereo at 2 ohms into each voice coil. Either way, your amp is running at its max since it is 2 ohm stable in stereo.
The big question is what guage wire did they use? It needs 4 guage. That and it will also need a good ground which can be hard to get on a C5.
It should elimate the dimming lights and help the heat problem. But...it will not solve the heat problem.
Good luck and check out my sig :cheers:
Hmmmm 1200 watts :confused: Someone has been lying to you my friend.
The 801 is a 800 watt amp and that is at 14.4 volts, will be less at 12.5 volts. I imagine they are running the amp as bridged into the voice coils in series or running the amp in stereo at 2 ohms into each voice coil. Either way, your amp is running at its max since it is 2 ohm stable in stereo.
The big question is what guage wire did they use? It needs 4 guage. That and it will also need a good ground which can be hard to get on a C5.
It should elimate the dimming lights and help the heat problem. But...it will not solve the heat problem.
Good luck and check out my sig :cheers:
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: San Jose CA
Re: Help! Do I need a hi-amp alternator now? (knewblewkorvette)
Thanks - I'll double check the receipt; hopefully it is my istake on the wattage b/c if they BS'd me on that i'll forever question the rest of the install and what I paid for it.
It is 4 gauge wire. I'll try to get back over to the shop today.
It is 4 gauge wire. I'll try to get back over to the shop today.
