Battery Question

SnTBakosFinest · 02-18-2007, 10:21 PM

So I setup my system...all is good with that.

Except at night time when my headlights are on and my system is up..my headlights blink =)

So I'm switching over to a Optima battery..but one says "Starting" the other says "Deep Cycle"

So...which one do I need?

MattJ · 02-18-2007, 10:25 PM

red top is starting and its designed to push out big power in short bursts

yellow top is deep cycle and its used for high current over a long period of time.

ive used a yellow top in my sq truck for iasca world finals and it was perfectly fine for starting. either way, you are pulling more power than you can supply, hence the dimming. what amp(s) do you have? ill be able to tell you how much power your pulling and tell you how to fix the problem.

SnTBakosFinest · 02-19-2007, 12:06 AM

Right now all I'm running is a Performance Teknique 2000 watt amp.

The 40 amp fuse under the hood was replaced after i killed it with uhh..two bigass tubular fuses

The fuse for the amplifier itself is a 80.

MattJ · 02-19-2007, 12:37 AM

I can tell you that the 2000w rating is complete BS and so is that over-rated fuse so ill use 60. im suprised it poped a 40a. haha

watts = volts x amps
w = 13.8 x 60
watts = 828 (in a perfect world.. give or take a few)

I believe the stock alternator is rated at 115a for the v6. Generally, youd want 35a for your vehicles accessories, and at night its more along the lines of 50. so at the minimum of 60 which i based it on, you are right at full capacity. Battery could have dead cells which could be a cause of your problem. if your amp pulls more than 60.. well say 80, thats 1100w, you are maxing out by 25a.

even though i rated it at 13.8v, its realistically lower than that when it reaches your amp, but is pulling 14v+ from the battery.

SnTBakosFinest · 02-19-2007, 01:09 AM

Yea..I figured that 2000w is complete BS for this amp. I don't really beleive wattage for an amp unless it compes with a birth certificate..

But..I'm maxing out anyways..

So would I be ok if I went with a redtop? Or should I go yellow? How long will my battery live if I continue this? (I need new brake pads..thats what this weeks check will go to.)

MattJ · 02-19-2007, 01:23 AM

its your alternator that would shit out, not your battery. if you goto a battery shop, they have battery testing tools that will tell you how bad your battery is. id just go with a redtop. they are cheaper and pretty close.

03DSG · 02-19-2007, 01:01 PM

get a capacitor also, this will keep you from directly drawing from the battery and make its life a lot longer. also red tops come with a 3 yr free replacement a yellow top is only a one year.

MattJ · 02-19-2007, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcassette

get a capacitor also, this will keep you from directly drawing from the battery and make its life a lot longer. also red tops come with a 3 yr free replacement a yellow top is only a one year.

capacitors are worthless on a vehicle that already cant supply enough power. what is drawing more to store going to do?

03DSG · 02-19-2007, 04:24 PM

why would you say an optima doesn't supply enough power. They are rated at 800+ CCA's..i sell them everyday. from a component stand point, whatever you can do to reduce stress put on an alt. or a battery is a good thing over time, but i would believe the best solution would be a higher output alternator.

SnTBakosFinest · 02-19-2007, 07:47 PM

k now i'm confused...better alternator or better battery?

Which one will stop my lights from blinking is about all I care about atm. ;x

02GTinSC · 02-21-2007, 04:04 PM

Better alternator is what you need. The battery can only perform correctly if it is charged correctly

SnTBakosFinest · 02-21-2007, 04:45 PM

and how much do better alternators cost? =x

02-18-2007, 10:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
SnTBakosFinest Nitrous Injected 3.8 Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,506	Battery Question So I setup my system...all is good with that. Except at night time when my headlights are on and my system is up..my headlights blink =) So I'm switching over to a Optima battery..but one says "Starting" the other says "Deep Cycle" So...which one do I need?

02-18-2007, 10:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
MattJ Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 10,243	red top is starting and its designed to push out big power in short bursts yellow top is deep cycle and its used for high current over a long period of time. ive used a yellow top in my sq truck for iasca world finals and it was perfectly fine for starting. either way, you are pulling more power than you can supply, hence the dimming. what amp(s) do you have? ill be able to tell you how much power your pulling and tell you how to fix the problem. __________________ 2001 Mustang GT Premium - Mineral Grey

02-19-2007, 12:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
MattJ Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 10,243	I can tell you that the 2000w rating is complete BS and so is that over-rated fuse so ill use 60. im suprised it poped a 40a. haha watts = volts x amps w = 13.8 x 60 watts = 828 (in a perfect world.. give or take a few) I believe the stock alternator is rated at 115a for the v6. Generally, youd want 35a for your vehicles accessories, and at night its more along the lines of 50. so at the minimum of 60 which i based it on, you are right at full capacity. Battery could have dead cells which could be a cause of your problem. if your amp pulls more than 60.. well say 80, thats 1100w, you are maxing out by 25a. even though i rated it at 13.8v, its realistically lower than that when it reaches your amp, but is pulling 14v+ from the battery. __________________ 2001 Mustang GT Premium - Mineral Grey

02-19-2007, 01:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
MattJ Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 10,243	its your alternator that would shit out, not your battery. if you goto a battery shop, they have battery testing tools that will tell you how bad your battery is. id just go with a redtop. they are cheaper and pretty close. __________________ 2001 Mustang GT Premium - Mineral Grey

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02-19-2007, 12:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
SnTBakosFinest Nitrous Injected 3.8 Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,506	Right now all I'm running is a Performance Teknique 2000 watt amp. The 40 amp fuse under the hood was replaced after i killed it with uhh..two bigass tubular fuses The fuse for the amplifier itself is a 80.

02-19-2007, 01:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
SnTBakosFinest Nitrous Injected 3.8 Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,506	Yea..I figured that 2000w is complete BS for this amp. I don't really beleive wattage for an amp unless it compes with a birth certificate.. But..I'm maxing out anyways.. So would I be ok if I went with a redtop? Or should I go yellow? How long will my battery live if I continue this? (I need new brake pads..thats what this weeks check will go to.)

02-19-2007, 01:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
03DSG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 552	get a capacitor also, this will keep you from directly drawing from the battery and make its life a lot longer. also red tops come with a 3 yr free replacement a yellow top is only a one year.

02-19-2007, 04:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
03DSG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 552	why would you say an optima doesn't supply enough power. They are rated at 800+ CCA's..i sell them everyday. from a component stand point, whatever you can do to reduce stress put on an alt. or a battery is a good thing over time, but i would believe the best solution would be a higher output alternator.

02-19-2007, 07:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
SnTBakosFinest Nitrous Injected 3.8 Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,506	k now i'm confused...better alternator or better battery? Which one will stop my lights from blinking is about all I care about atm. ;x

02-21-2007, 04:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
02GTinSC Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 21	Better alternator is what you need. The battery can only perform correctly if it is charged correctly

02-21-2007, 04:45 PM	#12 (permalink)
SnTBakosFinest Nitrous Injected 3.8 Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,506	and how much do better alternators cost? =x