SHRED

My '91 Integra is trying to run a 550 watt Alpine 5 channel amplifier and is burning up alternators.

It is my understanding that the car is rated at 60 amperes. That is just not enough for this powerful Alpine and the A/C, Lights, etc..

I am going to beef up the grounding cable and replace the alternator with a High Output alternator...say 150 amps or so.

Am I on the right track here?

Thanks

axhammer

your amp is eating up 50 amps.

Spec R

I wonder about my alternator too...I have 88k on the stock battery, and I can tell its on its last legs, as start-ups sound pretty weak. I dont know if its the battery, or if its the sound system plus the HID's. Once I get my Optima, I'll see whats up.

Spec R

Oh yeah, I'm running about 660 watts total RMS. 460x1 for the sub, and 50x4 for the interior.

MrFatbooty

Are you guys running any sort of power capacitors? Anyway, a high output alternator should help supply enough juice for the stereo.

ragerized

i run 500x1 to my subs and 50x4 to my speakers and i dont have any problems running my stock alternator. the lights dim everytime it bumps but, thats if its cranked.

Surfacing171

Damn, I run a 600x1 Kicker amp in my accord, and I can't even make the lights dim :fawk: I'm still running stock battery, and ground wires too.

Diabolik

Depends how hard you run your system. If you're cranking it to clip all the time and have no capacitor then your draw is going to be higher and your alternator will die.

If you play it like a sane person, your stock alternator will be fine (to a limit of course, a few Kicker KX1200.1's will make short work of your alternator regardless of how loud you turn it up). I have an RF 800a2 (60A fuse) and a 200a4 (40A fuse) with a capacitor and my alternator is fine. So is my battery.

If you just want some extra amperage, just have your alternator rewound. It's cheaper than getting a whole new one, and high current alternators are harder to turn, taking away power from your engine.

-Diabolik

axhammer

The alternator most likely overheats due to the high amp draw causing it to fail.

JPineda

i have a 600x1 amp and a 75x amp with a 1f capacitor. When my volume's cranked up, might lights still dim a lot. Also, i notice that my idle jumps around like crazy. Would a new battery help?