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Message |
    
Timebomb
Member
Username: Timebomb
Post Number: 54
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 20, 2005 - 2:33 pm: | 
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I'm going to get my mobile rig set up again, and plan on running a little "juice". I have a 1997 Ford Ranger, 6 cylinder, and believe the alternator does 90 amps. Anybody know if that sounds right for a six cylinder?
What's the most watts you guys suggest running, without modifying the alternator? I'd like to get a Texas Star 350. Do you think that is pushing it?
One more question...What class are the Texas Star amps? |
1861
Intermediate Member
Username: 1861
Post Number: 197
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 20, 2005 - 9:19 pm: |
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TEXAS STARS ARE AB-1 . IF YOU HAVE A 90 AMP ALTERNATOR , YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM |
Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob
Post Number: 1919
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, May 21, 2005 - 10:49 am: |
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A friend had an s-10 with a 90 amp alt. he had to keep his foot on the gas at idle with the head lights on when running his txstar 350 or the engine would stall,at idle he would keep his rpm at 1500,all alternators will produce max amps at about this speed,at normal idle they only produce about 1/3rd head lights consume anywhere from 25 to 50 amps,something to think about when attaching custom headlights.You can upgrade to a bigger alt. by going to a junk yard,pretty cheaply.My boomer 400 will kill my engine at idle,it draws 40 amps and the alt. is 140,so keep your Rs up at idle and you won't have a problem.That guy used a stalker f-9dx and a txstar 350v and a 108 whip and at 15 miles he sounded like he was in my driveway,you'll love that amp,you'll TALK everywhere.Bigbob |
Crackerjack
Advanced Member
Username: Crackerjack
Post Number: 519
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, May 21, 2005 - 11:56 am: |
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If you have the amp hooked directly to the battery as was suggested recently (and the best way to do it) you are on the other side of the voltage regulator.
Excessive amps should be drawn from the battery and the only load on the alternator should be in recharging the battery -ala'normale.
The only amp that I have ever hooked on the other side of the system ia s kl-40. |
Timebomb
Member
Username: Timebomb
Post Number: 55
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, May 21, 2005 - 12:39 pm: |
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Thanks for the info. I've got a Palomar TX-150B, class AB1 amplifier that I'm going to try first, and then go from there.
I ended up typing "alternator" in the search function here, and alot of useful info came up. |
1861
Intermediate Member
Username: 1861
Post Number: 198
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, May 21, 2005 - 1:23 pm: |
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I have used TS 350 with 65 amp alternator with absolutly no problem . I f everything is good shape , and you are installed right there should be no problem |
Crackerjack
Advanced Member
Username: Crackerjack
Post Number: 520
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, May 21, 2005 - 1:45 pm: |
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I ran a kl=400 off a stock Jeep system, I later wired ot to the battery -but it ran ok in the former setup as well.
It ran better off the battery, I think partly because I very heavy, stranded hook-up wire. |
Patzerozero
Advanced Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 779
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, May 21, 2005 - 7:25 pm: |
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i ran a dx250 in a boat with an outboard motor-its charge rate was somewhere around 8 or 9 amps & DXed like i type! no problems with dead batteries.
put a dx 667 in a late 80's cavalier with a 65 amp alternator or thereabouts. 2 small batteries & he used it every day for about 10 years with no problems. til the guy behind him didn't stop for the red light. amp still works fine to this day. even though it wasn't bolted down... |
Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob
Post Number: 1922
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 9:36 pm: |
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From '92 on most vehicles use 3/4s of there alt. capacity with all acsessories on.Late'80's cavalier?You could have started the engine with that many amps,roflmao.Bigbob |
Couchpotatoe
New member
Username: Couchpotatoe
Post Number: 3
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Monday, June 13, 2005 - 8:37 pm: |
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ever wonder why batteries go dead so often for people with high power transmitters?
your charging system is designed so that when you draw off your battery from one side it goes to the other and the alternator shoves this back the opposite way and things stay charged. well ever thought about that radiated energy that left your antenna? some of that energy that you drew off the negative and was supposed to be returned to the positive was radiated out to the world and now your battery has less than it had before. now the alternator cannot replace this. my friends what you all need is an old school generator and gen. regulator |
Chad
Intermediate Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 316
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, June 13, 2005 - 9:51 pm: |
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Your alternator will replace it, just like it does after you start your car. the only time it will not is when the current draw from the vehicle exceeds the output of the alternator. Energy is energy, Newton's laws, be it emitting light from the headlights, RF out an antenna or motional energy slinging rain off the windsheild via the wipers. It is to be replenished by the alternator which gets it's energy from the engine which gets it's energy from fossil fuels combining with air and exploding. It's all about eneryy and the conservation and conversion there of.
Google "laws of thermodynamics"
Chad |
Wolverine
Intermediate Member
Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 363
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 3:17 am: |
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In other words, or layman's terms if your car is running with a 90 amp alternator, now you fire up the car, turn on all accessories including the headlights, your current alternator can replenish the energy back into the battery with no problem. Now add a cb amp that draws an additional 40 amps, then your alternator is now taxed to the max. You now need a 140 amp alternator just to keep up with the demands of putting the energy back into the battery before your completely kill or discharge the battery.
Wolverine. |
Chad
Intermediate Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 318
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 9:34 am: |
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But the charging system of most cars are overdesigned for all the accessories on and even then the low duty cycle of the amplifier will negate the need for huge upgrades in all but the absolute most older econo cars.
Even then a better battery designed for deep cycling can negate the probelm (if there is one) for a minimal cost.
Untill you get into serious competition rigs do I see the need for a major charging system upgrade.
Chad |
Chad
Intermediate Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 320
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 9:23 am: |
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HP the spirals are wat I was referring to, like the Optimas. I love those batteries. Bought one 7 years ago and it tests like new. I am brutal to that battery as it's now in a work truck and goes thru deep discharges, long storage and then back to normal driving,. never a glitch, worth the money IMHO if you are rough on batteries!
Chad |
Patzerozero
Advanced Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 938
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 5:17 pm: |
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but what do the laws of thermodynamics have to do with powering my amp!!! i thought the battery powered it |
Chad
Intermediate Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 322
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 9:18 am: |
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Pat,
Yep  |
Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob
Post Number: 1984
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, June 18, 2005 - 7:38 pm: |
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A battery can drop it's voltage to 10.5 under load,hows that going to affect your amplifier's output.Cold cranking amps:amps of current the battery will sustain at 0 degrees for a specified time and still maintain 10.5 volts,the only way your radio and amp combo will top perform in a mobile is if the charging system can supply more amperage than the total system draws,my system is border lined with a lowly palomar 250 and I have a 750 cold cranking amp battery and a 140 amp alternator,the battery cables are 4 gauge and the alt. cable is 6 gauge.If I went to a 300 amp alt,then the alternator cable would be changed to 4 gauge or 00 gauge depends now on the no. of pills in the amplifier and now I'll have 160 amps to play with without taxing the system and the voltage will never drop below 13.8 AND THAT'S THE VOLTAGE MINIMUM YOU WANT NOT 10.5.Bigbob |
Patzerozero
Advanced Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 954
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 18, 2005 - 11:33 pm: |
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dual batteries, less then 10 transistors & 110 amp, roughly, alternator, reasonable key down times & your voltage won't get down to 10 volts-as long as everything's working. of course all that strain on your alternator, pullies, belts, crankshaft.... |
Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob
Post Number: 1990
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 7:07 am: |
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My palomar draws only 20 amps,I was in a panic stop with the mike in my hand still keyed,anti-lock brakes draw 60 amps,motor stalled due to brown out at computer,but brakes worked due to good battery.The motorists behind me were plenty p-o'd waiting for me to restart,the computer has 3 banks and each one has a 40 amp fuse,the head lights dim when using anti-lock brakes,that extra 20 amps going out dropped voltage enough to kill the engine,am I being thorough enough?Bigbob |
Patzerozero
Advanced Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 957
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 8:43 pm: |
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never ran into braking problem running heavy watts as i usually park to dx. of course i do dx while moving, with ALL accessories on-wipers, headlights, AC, kids games plugged into outlets, & have NEVER experienced any major voltage drops. but then again have never had to make a panic stop, fortunately. can make my durango go to the verge of stalling when FULL POWER on SSB, so obviously SSB i use at a lowered power!
as long as the panic stop was not a result of your using the radio, i think the motorists behind you should have been a bit more understanding of your situation-but then again, here on LI they start honking at you if you're not moving BEFORE the light turns green! |
Chad
Intermediate Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 330
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 9:16 am: |
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Another reason the vehicle could die is the fact that the torque converter is still locked for a split second, this will studder the engine, combine this with the power drop and it's a recipie for disaster. ABS DOES pull some juice!
Chad |
Wolverine
Intermediate Member
Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 366
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 3:09 am: |
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Any new modern vehicle that can't rf of 450 watts pep, should be junked ( using the ant, center of the roof). Anyone using over 450 watts pep for CB transmissions, deserves what ever happens to the car's computer, anti-lock braking problems, accessories, etc. It's just not worth it. It gets worse, if you use VHF ham amplifiers for ham frequencies. Just my thoughts on the matter.
Wolverine. |
Pig040
Advanced Member
Username: Pig040
Post Number: 821
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 11:26 am: |
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Man! You guys are making this way complicated! I have a Dodge Dakota truck with a 6 cyl, stock alternator, power everything but the seats, and I have run numerous amps putting out up to 800 watts with nothing extra, after 800 watts I went to an additional battery, and ran 1500 watts, no problems whatsoever with the exception of the wipers turning on every once in a while with the larger wattage.
Rich |
Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob
Post Number: 2001
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 9:56 pm: |
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1996 chevy pickup,the electronics use a lot of current,had a '65 olds loaded with a 37 amp alt.,man I miss points and condenser,had 18" room on each side of engine,but that's another thread.All I'm saying is,you can fudge it with more batteries,but to reduce voltage fluctuations and voice distortion ON SSB,since full line voltage is going to finals,you're better off with more alternator than you need,on AM,yeah batteries do work because you got 8 volts going to the final,much lower than anything the vehicle will see,so even with a half dead battery you can talk. |
Chad
Intermediate Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 338
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 8:36 am: |
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Pig, same here. Dodge dakota, same set up, V8, decent amp, big audio, fog lamps, etc, no problems, no noise, and nothing affects the trucks driveability or actions.
I DID do a careful install though, but heck it was fun.
Chad |
Patzerozero
Advanced Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 963
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 24, 2005 - 8:43 am: |
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like pig & chad say...my '99 durango is fine to 1kw, stock alt & 1 battery. WITH A MAGNET MOUNT!!! |
Chad
Intermediate Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 348
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 24, 2005 - 2:11 pm: |
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Pat, Do you have the 5.2L or the 4.7L?
Chad |
Patzerozero
Advanced Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 965
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 24, 2005 - 6:57 pm: |
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5.2L & every bit of 11mpg around town. engine off. down hill. wind to my back.. |
Chad
Intermediate Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 349
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 12:14 am: |
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I have a 5.2L in a dakota with a Kenne Bell supercharger and other assorted tricks making close to 500Hp and 475 Ft/Lbs of torque, High end premuim only, wanna trade gas bills It was my daily driver till a couple months ago, now I drive a Honda, WOW what a difference!
The Dakota is getting tired after 100,000 Mi of forced induction so I'm getting ready to rebuild it and go whole hog this time! Best 1/4 mile run was a 12.56. I really want to see 11's and still be street legal, it's gonna be tough!
I've driven the durango with the 5.2L a bit and my lady has one with the 4.7L. The 4.7 has coil packs and I don't know how it would do with big RF as it doesn't have the tried and true spark can. Anyway the 4.7 has a weird torque curve but it seems to scoot it along nicely once you get used to it. It's only a 2WD actually 1WD (no posi) It seems to get about 18-20 MPG on the highway and 15-16 in town. |
Wolverine
Intermediate Member
Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 371
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 4:42 am: |
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Patzerozero, maybe you should trade in your Durango for those new fangled Chysler Hemi's- more power and better mileage. |
Chad
Intermediate Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 350
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 1:09 pm: |
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HP
I just got back from the truck pulls last night and those big diesels rock....
Now if I could get one to do quarters in the 11 second window
Chad |
Chad
Intermediate Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 355
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 2:23 pm: |
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They had different classes, some were enhanced all the way down to daily drivers. It was really fun to watch! Watching that turbo glow cherry red is quite cool! |
Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob
Post Number: 2009
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 4:15 pm: |
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Well,I discovered my alt. was not what I expected,the sticker(which I still have)says 140 amp ho alt.,not so only 100 amp standard,man have I been pushing it. |
Patzerozero
Advanced Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 972
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 6:20 pm: |
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the durango is just a 4 wheel drive over-glorified station wagon, as for diesel in it? nah! big truck, though, yes. had a '98 durango 5.9 & all the aftermarket bolt on goodies-no blower, but air intake, exhaust/manifolds/etc, reprogam/chip, fuel intake, etc. etc. if you add up all the HP gains, conservatively, & add to stock 250 HP, it was in the 360+ HP range. it ran consistent 14 flat at 97-99mph, broke into 13's 2x, but literally wind was to our backs! was definitely not geared right!
as for trading gas bills, my blazer gets about 6 mpg, finally blew motor in other truck playing in sand, 44's & 4.88's got even less then that, & in low you could watch the guage drop! but if i add the 3 together, that's 21!
westhampton raceway, the last dragstrip on LI is closed & being turned into condos. englishtown nj is too far away for leisurely dragging so there's no need for speed any more-BIG TRUCKS are making a comeback. |
Iluvrf
Intermediate Member
Username: Iluvrf
Post Number: 139
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 8:13 pm: |
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Truck pulling is another one of my hobbies. The 6.0 powerstroke USED to be the truck to beat. Now it is the Duramax. They absolutly scream. Dodge is competative at times also |
Chad
Intermediate Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 357
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 10:37 pm: |
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These were ALL dodges. Never seen it before it was way cool! 1/4 mile is still my bag though. I love having a pickup that can pull a front wheel on street tires. Makes the exotic car drivers (read rich professors) around here think twice! Just a quiet single exhaust and a plane-jane truck. Nothing sticks out, that's the way I like 'em!
Chad |
Patzerozero
Advanced Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 976
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 11:25 pm: |
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1 small circle track left for modifieds/small stockers/figure 8's. drag racing's gone. & with hundreds of miles of beaches, there are some open to 4 wheeling, but this winters' storms even keeps some closed partly today. but beaches don't REQUIRE gobs of horsepower, so you either see borderline trailer queens or the epitome of 'beater'!
as for pulling, my assumption is farmers started it, & most of our farms on LI are gone too, replaced by u-pick seasonal veggies/fruits, wineries/vineyards & HOMES & CONDOS & STRIP MALLS!!!(remember the pretenders song 'my city was gone' or whatever it was-'the farms of ohio had been replaced by shopping malls...' & '...paved down the middle by a government that had no pride...'-fits here on LI too!).anyway, no farmers, no tractors, nobody to have interest in pulling. upstate at the fairs they still do it though... |
Chad
Intermediate Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 358
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 8:59 am: |
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It's terrible they tore down the drag strips. Everyone cries and cries about the illegal street racing then they tear down the legit places to do it. Hmmmm, people don't want to race? Ask your local police department if this is true. Kids are gonna be kids, when I was young, the first time they busted you goofing around a cop would hand you a xerox list of all the local drag strips with contact information. You would then be flagged as having that list, get cought again and it was trouble, big time.
When I was 16 I spent 0$ on drugs and alcohol to consume, the only alcohol I bought went into a fuel cell. I worked my tail off to pay for cars, insurance, parts and other things of the nature. I learned respect and how to take constructive criticisim, I also made a lot of life long friends. In my son's eyes everything is a race, (I did not do it) people you race are enimies and the common question is "am I bigger than that?" The other day I explained to him, not every race is a fight, not everything is a race. I raced my best friends on a regular basis. If I lost, my friends that beat me would help me make it faster so that someday I could beat them and it went around and around. After he unsderstood that racing is a friendly, learning thing he became more interested, and learned to say "I'm glad you won, good job" big step in my eyes.
So I once again give society another big "fine job" on doing another thing to endanger our children interested in racing. Be it pushing them into the street to do it or finding another reason for them to give up and find another brain rotting hobby.
Sorry for the rant.
Chad |
Mrclean
Junior Member
Username: Mrclean
Post Number: 14
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 3:14 pm: |
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I run a 350 Magnaforce in my Nissan 4 cylinder with 70 amp alt. Dims the headlights a bit but no other problems. Thats about all it will run I figure. Deadkey 150 swings about 325 on AM |
Wolverine
Intermediate Member
Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 470
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 8:25 am: |
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I have a 115 amp alternator (94 Ford taurus). No problems what so ever, with my Magna-force 350 or my 4- pill palomar (sd 1446 pills), doesn't tax my charging system at all. Now if I had all of my accessories on, especially at night while running my amps, the story might be different.
Wolverine. |
Karls357
Junior Member
Username: Karls357
Post Number: 13
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 3:48 pm: |
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you can also possible modify a high out pu truck alternator with the help from a good electrical rebuilder or find and mdify the pulleys to use a alt meant for an emergency vehicle and set up duels at 160 amp each this will also kill any gas mileage and pulling power better step up to a f 250 or get a chevy with a duramax thank you hope this helps a little |
