I have a 2010 ford focus SE and i do have at this moment two 15" kicker comp running on a 500 watt Alpine amp. This thing bumps and shakes my headlights like crazy. But knowing me i want it louder ( it might be because im going deaf and cant hear it or im not shaking the neighborhood enough) My question is, what can my car handle wattage wise? Im not real smart when it comes to car audio so sorry if i sound stupid. i dont want to mess anything up and i dont want to mess with the wiring ether. As is it, all factory, what can the car handle safely? i was thinking 1000 watts for subs and 500 watt for new door speakers? Would you suggest this or not? i dont want to burn up my alternator or anything else so from what you guys know what would you suggest wattage wise as the safe limit for my ride since i keep the volume up 24/7? Thank you and GOD BLESS!!
What can my baby handle?
Jetta555
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
Joined
·
112 Posts
I have a 2010 ford focus SE and i do have at this moment two 15" kicker comp running on a 500 watt Alpine amp. This thing bumps and shakes my headlights like crazy. But knowing me i want it louder ( it might be because im going deaf and cant hear it or im not shaking the neighborhood enough) My question is, what can my car handle wattage wise? Im not real smart when it comes to car audio so sorry if i sound stupid. i dont want to mess anything up and i dont want to mess with the wiring ether. As is it, all factory, what can the car handle safely? i was thinking 1000 watts for subs and 500 watt for new door speakers? Would you suggest this or not? i dont want to burn up my alternator or anything else so from what you guys know what would you suggest wattage wise as the safe limit for my ride since i keep the volume up 24/7? Thank you and GOD BLESS!!
Joined
·
112 Posts
Well i already know what i want to upgrade my speakers and subs to, i just want to know if 1500 watts power ( 1000 watts subs, 500 door speakers) is to much for the factory set up because i dont want to alter the engine at all, just using factory. I do have right now a 500 watt Alpine amp on two 15" Kicker comps.
Joined
·
112 Posts
Honestly i dont remember the wiring size. Best Buy installed it all for me and i cant remember off the top of my head. I wanna say 0 but that dont sound right What upgrades could i do to make it better that wont require rewiring things? and i have heard of the big 3 but i dont really understand it. Can you explain it to me in a dumb person way lol and what do you think the factory can handle as is? the sales guy at best buy told me 1000 watts would be a max because the altenator would catch fire from his personal experience, but those sale guys seem to me like they have the IQ of a dead raccoon so idk who to listen to lol
Joined
·
1,906 Posts
1000 watts with big 3 should realy be the limit. but since you dont want to do the big 3 i would say no more then 500-750 watts. gotta have power to make power, small out put stock alt with stock wiring means low power.
Joined
·
112 Posts
What is the big 3 and what does it require me to do? i am confused on what it is and how it works? could you explain this to me?
Joined
·
1,906 Posts
the big 3 consists of upgraded power and ground wires on you alt and battery. can even upgrade the engine ground.
Joined
·
11,571 Posts
Joined
·
4,259 Posts
You will be good up to right about 1000rms then you will notice alot of headlight dimming thus voltage drops.
The best solution is a HO alt but swapping your stock battery for a deep cycle battery can be a good temporary fix or longer if your only 1000-1500rms.
I just ordered a kinetik 1400 which they say is rated to up to 1400 rms systems. Im putting it in the trunk and im going to use my stock battery up front until i either order a second kinetik for there or just a yellow top.
The Big 3 is very simple and is a definite must for any rms over 500 in my opinion.
I have been doing alot of research into going with bigger setups and ive actually had about 10 different sub/amp combos in my car since i got it in august 2010 lol.
You have to remember though that
The best solution is a HO alt but swapping your stock battery for a deep cycle battery can be a good temporary fix or longer if your only 1000-1500rms.
I just ordered a kinetik 1400 which they say is rated to up to 1400 rms systems. Im putting it in the trunk and im going to use my stock battery up front until i either order a second kinetik for there or just a yellow top.
The Big 3 is very simple and is a definite must for any rms over 500 in my opinion.
I have been doing alot of research into going with bigger setups and ive actually had about 10 different sub/amp combos in my car since i got it in august 2010 lol.
You have to remember though that
Joined
·
112 Posts
thank you all for the help 
now i got an idea of what to do about the big three.
02fordsvt - thank you for the thread this will help alot
elizabeth- im trying to make myself heard atleast i made it half way across the country
crice8 - what is the kinetik thing your taking about and what does it do?
now i got an idea of what to do about the big three. 02fordsvt - thank you for the thread this will help alot
elizabeth- im trying to make myself heard
atleast i made it half way across the country crice8 - what is the kinetik thing your taking about and what does it do?
Joined
·
1,906 Posts
the kenitic thing is a battery, its designed for high output stereo systems. the proplem with added batteries compared to a high output alternator is that the battery will only hold a charge for a short period of time while the H/O alt will create power while driving.
the battery helps when at an idle, the ho alt helps when at 1800 rpm driving down the road.
you can get a good h/o alt for 350-450 and the good batteries will cost about 200-250 each.
the battery helps when at an idle, the ho alt helps when at 1800 rpm driving down the road.
you can get a good h/o alt for 350-450 and the good batteries will cost about 200-250 each.
Joined
·
4,259 Posts
basically just a high performance powercell
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LUBQ4S/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
But optima yellow tops are only $166 on amazon for us(= its the d35 size
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LUBQ4S/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
But optima yellow tops are only $166 on amazon for us(= its the d35 size
Joined
·
4,259 Posts
Heard back from singer. for our gen they can do a 230amp alt for $409 shipped
Joined
·
10,599 Posts
.. sorry for the noob question.. so without "the big three" it's not safe to power more than 1,000 watts to speakers?
Joined
·
4,259 Posts
its doable but not suggested lol
Joined
·
1,906 Posts
yeah anything is doable but its not always something that is recomended. i have a rockford t1500.1bdcp at 1 ohm rated to do just under 1900watts at 14.4 volts does 1500 at 12.2 volts. havent done the big 3 and i have an interstate deep cycle battery and a rockford 10 farad cap with 1/0 from front to back and i was seeing drops as low as 11.2, of course though i know have h.i.d.'s and my voltage now drops as low as 11.32. not a big difference but a difference.
my fix to the proplem is the 250amp singer alt thats waiting to be installed ( waiting on wires for big 3 ). then after i get some more money ill be doing an upgraded battery under the hood.
my fix to the proplem is the 250amp singer alt thats waiting to be installed ( waiting on wires for big 3 ). then after i get some more money ill be doing an upgraded battery under the hood.
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
