Best way to run system?

[JDM Paulk]

QUICK SCENARIO : Im at a party and want to play some music for about 30 minutes give or take...

I know i should turn the car on, but with the car just idling is that good for my battery?

Whats the best way to run a system if your cars just idling?

[the727kid]

Let it idle, rev every now and then if need be.

[JDM Paulk]

how would i know when i should rev? every 4 minutes? how long should i rev and to what rpm?

[jriggs]

in my gs I've ran the system cranked for a good half hour+ with the car off with no problems with cranking after.

what are you running for the stereo in the car?

[JDM Paulk]

in my gs I've ran the system cranked for a good half hour+ with the car off with no problems with cranking after.

what are you running for the stereo in the car?

im sure i can do that as well, but im not risking it for noone.

aftermarket head unit,
aftermarket 6.5s in the front
stock 5x7s in the rear
gto601.1 II amp
pushing two jbl gt4-12s
with a 1.2 farad cap

it isnt much at all

[MCOR]

If you plan on doing this allot, just spend the $175 or so on a Optima deep cycle battery (a little less if you want the red top). You are not going to have problems and you'll recoup the money you spent on the battery after a few times when you don't waste the $4 per gallon gas idleing!

Idling won't hurt anything-just shut off all unnecessary loads like AC, lights, etc. Most alternators can keep the battery charged to at least 12.5 volts idleing with a stereo load. You don't even really have to periodically hold it at 2000 RPM if you hook up the volt meter and battery voltage doesn't drop below 12 when your system is on and car is at idle. All cars are different though.

[GradeA_TireFryer]

i would leave ac on - most cars idle a little faster with ac on and the alt will charge a little better,

[JDM Paulk]

my capacitor reads about 15 when idling is that ok?

[JDM Paulk]

mcor would you recommend a yellow top or a kinetik?

[JDM Paulk]

need opinions by saturday

[P057]

i would leave ac on - most cars idle a little faster with ac on and the alt will charge a little better,

Barely negligible, and only just enough to accommodate the A/C in the first place!:lol:

[wmartinlsmith]

get a kinetik cell. if you need a # i got your man,, better hurry tho..

play it loud,. and get a charger... keep the battery charged is all you can do.

[the727kid]

Your barley running any power you should be perfectly fine.

[jriggs]

i ran more power than that with no problems but i do have a red top

[94civiclx]

i run my 2000watts plus my highs on my honda bat for 45mins straight no cranking problems.

[JDM Paulk]

alright thanks guys!

keep opinions coming

[the727kid]

i run my 2000watts plus my highs on my honda bat for 45mins straight no cranking problems.

There is no way you ran 2000+rms for 45 minutes unless you have a huge battery bank, and still that is a long shot. You either aren't running that much power or it was turned down quite a bit.

[Mafiakiller]

well what a waste of a convo when you didnt even do it lol.....but at least you know in the future

[P057]

i run my 2000watts plus my highs on my honda bat for 45mins straight no cranking problems.

"2000watts plus" in pyramid wattage does not equate to real wattage.


post up your specs. I have a feeling you were maybe running 200w, if that.

[MCOR]

i would leave ac on - most cars idle a little faster with ac on and the alt will charge a little better,


The whole myth of the "AC being on charges the battery better at idle due to increased RPM's" is in most cases, completely untrue.

As a 12 year Master ASE and Ford Senior Master Technician, I can tell you this from experience and training, AND give you factual tests to prove it.

The compressor drags the engine down when it comes on for the AC. The computer increases the idle air bypass around the throttle plate to keep engine speed from going below a certain threshold so that the vehicle continues to run smoothly and not stall due to the increased MECHANICAL load. However, the increased ELECTRICAL load from the blower motor and the electrical magnetic clutch on the compressor and the electric cooling fans all draw anywhere from 30 to 60 amps all of the sudden. An alternator can barely keep up with the loads to keep the battery above the 12.7 volt range at idle with this occuring on most any vehicle.

Want proof? Warm your car up then let it idle for a couple of minutes with no load. Watch your voltmeter and see that the battery voltage is about 13.X volts. Then, turn on the ac and let the engine settle for about a minute to knock off the battery surface charge. You will see the voltage drop below 12.7 volts (although usually it will should still remain above 12 if your electrical system is healthy). Once you take the engine RPMs up to about 1500 or so, the alternator will then be spinning fast enough to generate the voltage necessary to keep up with the load and keep the electrical system voltage in the 13's (or more).

Try this-if you don't have a voltage readout on your capacitor, hook up your voltmeter to your battery while you have your system turned up but with the engine off. Time how long it takes for the battery voltage to get down to 11.5 or so and that is a quick dirty time estimate for how long you can safely go without running the vehicle before starting it back up. There are some other factors that may affect the time it will take to drop (tempurature, recent charging load, battery age, etc). But this will get you a general time line...

[Notladstyle]

Barely negligible, and only just enough to accommodate the A/C in the first place!:lol:

the ac would draw power for the clutch and for the blower which would probably total around 5 amps so I guess it depends on the rated output of the alt as to whether it would make a diff


I would buy a walmart $30 charger and run an extension out to your car. Thats what I do.

[95Ride]

if you want to let it idle u can always install a small servo on a switch so when you turn it on it raises you rpm to like 1000rpm but at regular idle you should be ok...if your wanting it for shows buy a convert so you can plug the car in and leave it off

[Notladstyle]

The whole myth of the "AC being on charges the battery better at idle due to increased RPM's" is in most cases, completely untrue.

As a 12 year Master ASE and Ford Senior Master Technician, I can tell you this from experience and training, AND give you factual tests to prove it.

The compressor drags the engine down when it comes on for the AC. The computer increases the idle air bypass around the throttle plate to keep engine speed from going below a certain threshold so that the vehicle continues to run smoothly and not stall due to the increased MECHANICAL load. However, the increased ELECTRICAL load from the blower motor and the electrical magnetic clutch on the compressor and the electric cooling fans all draw anywhere from 30 to 60 amps all of the sudden. An alternator can barely keep up with the loads to keep the battery above the 12.7 volt range at idle with this occuring on most any vehicle.


This reminds me of when my old Buick Regal - the alternator was so weak it would just straight stall out when the ac was turned on. I replaced the alternator and while it would run, it was severely bogged down to the point of stuttering! turns out the electric clutch that engaged the compressor had partially seized and the heat welded the coil to itself lowering the resistance to the point it was drawing three or four times its rated draw.


Good times. Sometimes I hate having a reliable car :(

[Kyleisme]

i run my 2000watts plus my highs on my honda bat for 45mins straight no cranking problems.

is this the watts max of your lanzar setup lmao.. use numbers off respectable subs and not max either.. you dont run max.. you run rms..