If you have more than one battery in your boot and you wire them in series this doubles the voltage is that correct?

I'm sure this is the case and it would mean you had a 24v supply, what kind of max input voltage do amps take?

is it around 17v

i've seen RF1500bd take up to 18V input iirc.. for SPL use

dunno about everyday use, probably about 15-16V?

and yeah, if you wire batteries in series, the voltage doubles :)

It would indeed give you 24v. But then there would be issues with charging (alt would have to put out about 26v) plus you would have to have two of them running separate charging systems (24v = ECU and bulbs etc going pop! :err: )

The most Ive heard of is around 17v, but by no means do all amps like it ;)

M:B

fortgot about the issue with the alt and the electrics in the search to get more power,

really what I need is a bigger alt but its expensive and a pain in the arse

fortgot about the issue with the alt and the electrics in the search to get more power,

really what I need is a bigger alt but its expensive and a pain in the arse

dont say you forgot that you headlights, amongst others dont take 24v......? :)

talk to zimsound,,, he`s all over getting people to import some 200A alt`s :rolleyes:
you dont need 17~24volt if you can get a steady 14,5/15v charge :) get more amps :)

you could run two circuits,

one circuit running off your oem alternator running your cars electics

and a second circuit running off (for example)one of Zims alternators upto about 20V which will just be for your amplifiers :)

obviously this means you will have two alternators, so you will have to make sure you have space for two :)

im sure you can get hold of 6V batteries too, and you can wire three in series to get 18V to your amps? that and a 20V alt would be cool :cool:

I was just after a simple way to get as much voltage as possible to the amps, I don't really want the hassle of alternators etc...

3 x 6 volt batts is useless, when charged they will float at 21/22 volts LOL

Batts in series doubles the volts, batts in parrellel doubles the capacity.

I doubt theres any amps on the market that will take 18v+ happily. They are designed for 12 volt so the input caps will have an upper limit, lets just say 50% for arguements sake which means over 18 volts and the amps power supply is being pushed beyond its components limits.

Unfortunately theres no simple way of creating more power, not unless you can catch lightening in a jar ;) Power means batteries, batteries means space and alternators, and batteries and alternators means money.

Ben

I think you hit the nail on the head mate it always comes down money and I can't afford a new alternator :(

Doesnt have to be new new, theres always a cheap alternative.

I had an old granada alt on my old car, 120 amps. There is other "big" "luxury" type cars with equally large alts, head to a scarppy and have a word with them, they will know. The alt is bound to be cheaper than a new one.

Big batteries are another thing that doesnt have to be expensive. Look at dumdums truck batts for example. Not sure on price but they wont break the bank and 2 of those, if you have space, is enough to supply a system with about 6k.

You right though, most things arnt the cheapest and car audio branded batteries and alternators are hideously expensive but there is always an alternative.

Ben

thanks mate, is it much trouble mounting an alternator off different car?

shouldnt have thought so, as long as you can find a higher output unit off a similar model car as yours (a diesel for example)

if you decide to fit a different alt then you may have to fabricate brackets etc for it to fit, this is something im gonna be doing.... maybe....

Getting an alt off another car to fit yours isnt too hard aslong as you have:

A - enough room
B - the right mounting points
C - the option of using diferent length belts.

I used an alt of a car from the same manufacturer, Ford. Ken (Troublestarter) used an alternator that came from a Ford on a VW. He had brackets manufactured etc.

If you have time you can mount any alt anywhere aslong as you have or can make space.

Ben

3 x 6 volt batts is useless, when charged they will float at 21/22 volts LOL


whys that? :)

how comes 12V batteries dont go up to 14V when charged? :)

When fully charged they do :p

12 volt battery fully charged will float at 13.8. Thats a 15% float.

Add 15% float to 18 volts and you get 20.7v

Thats why people use 16 volt set-ups in dB Drag, the voltage limit is 18 volts but 18 volts charged is too high, 16 volts charged is 18.4, give it a few burps an the volts stabilise at 17.9/18 ;)

Ben

your battery is never fully charged though, never seen mine above 12v with the engine off

I'm going to get one of those Silver Varta batteries

Below 12 with the engine of means you have a duff battery.

One of the cells is weak and not giving out the 2.2 volts per cell it should do. (6 cells in a 12 volt battery, should be atleast 13.2 with charge in it)

Ben

interesting as mine shows a constant 12v so it looks like the battery is fcuked

at least I know what the problem is now :)