I've seen 15.1 on the Caddy with the system low. I've seen at at 14.8 with system going though(with one SAZ1500). I'm waiting to see how well it will handle the new set up once all in.

 

so with 2000+wrms you are only dropping to 14.8? Thats... interesting. I would like to see that at the meet.

 

i don't think he means when he bumps it to the max, i think he means with the system on and going at a low volume.

I can see when my car bogs down to 13 or so due to the system when i have it loud, and see the little needle dance to the thumps.

 

Right now on full tilt my dash will typically display mid 13s, sometimes 12.8 when I got seat heaters, AC on, HIDs on, ect.

I want to see it stay that high on tilt when I get my electrical done! I got 75 feet of 0 gauge laying here, already got like 30 feet in the car. 2HC2000s in the trunk, red top up front. New alt will come eventually, haven't decided on what amperage yet. I'm leaning towards the 200/175idle though. Weird how the 300amp ones ares like 130idle.

 

thats not that weird

 

Well I have no idea how alternators work, but I though it was odd the higher rated ones have a lower idle. You think both would increase. But yet again I know nothing about alts.

 

they increase output with higher rpms

i'm not sure why it'd be lower, but it doesnt strike me as odd either.

I saw a higher output alt for my altima (150 amp) actually only output like 75amps at idle vs 80 of my current one, only went up higher at higher revolutions.


to understand how an alternator works:

Understanding Alternators, How alternators work


Even just quickly skimming through it you get an idea.


basically theres one part that moves (controlled by the speed of the belt that you have attached to the alternator that rotates) and one part that doesnt, when the movable part spins, it creates an electric current by the magnetic fields. that electricity is then sent through your batt and the whole car.

*BELOW IS AN ASSUMPTION/UNDERSTANDING THAT I HAVE, NOT TO BE TAKEN AS A TRUTH, IT WILL MOST LIKELY BE DEBUNKED LATER TONIGHT OR TOMORROW*

As far as why higher output alts dont show their true power until at higher revs, thats most likely due to the fact that higher output alts have more winds/coils in the nonmoving part so that when the higher revs do start getting it going it makes a lot more power. I'm guessing that with the higher the coil winds, the more work the alt has to do to make the same power at idle, but when it starts going up higher in revolutions, it really starts going through. VTEC!


I'm just going to wait until Toby or someone chimes in to tell me i'm off and they'll end up explaining it better.

 

Hmm, always cool to learn something new . That does make sense though. I think I'll end up getting the 200/175, since my RPMs are usually under 2000 when driving city anyways.

 

your current one puts out 30 amps at idle

 

Yeah i just realized i said that, whoops!

I meant regular driving (for me) since i usually drive on the highway @ 65-80mph @ 2.5-3k rpms.


oh well. Would've been nice for idle though!!