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120+ amp alternator(s)?

14K views 31 replies 12 participants last post by  ottoman 
#1 ·
well i'm looking for some help on either finding an higher amp alternator for my clio or possibly 2 alts. it's to finish my sound system off.

if anyone could point me in the right direction for an 120 + amp alternator for the clio 2 ph1 that would be great.
 
#2 ·
I doubt there would be room in the engine bay for two alternators and if there was the drive belt arrangement would need to be radically modified. Whilst it may be possible to fit a higher output alternator would the existing cables carry the extra load. You also have to consider that the battery would probably also need upgraded and would larger battery actually fit.
I think you would need to contact a specialist auto-spark - someone who works on specialist cars such as rally cars, etc. Maybe a specialist ICE could assist but be prepared to have plenty of money as such mods generally don't come cheap.:)
 
#3 · (Edited)
A 2nd alternator in a clio prob won't fit due to the lack of space and the set up could cause a head ache!:crazy:

A bigger alternator would be the way forward, have you considered one from a bigger engined Renault? Not sure if the diesel Clios have higher ampage alts on them, could be worth a look though and it would make a change over a bit easier that an aftermarket one.

What sound system are you powering in the Clio? I've seen and done alot of installs in my time and find that for most everyday car installs, alternator upgrades aren't necessary. Unless of course you're building a show car with lots of amps, subs and TV's then you're talking BIG watts! :devil:

Might be worth starting off with a power cap like this;

http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/2463.html

and possibly a battery upgrade to a red or yellow top dry cell

like this red top
http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/1854.html

or this yellow top
http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/1855.html

Let us know how you get on :d
 
#4 ·
Ive used the optima batterys in my Discovery to power the winch, very powerful batterys and well worth the cash. I used my normal battery to run the car and the optima to power the winch, just have to install a split charge relay, you can get the relay from most motor factors
 
#5 ·
I like Optima batterys too, well worth the cash. One thing is for certain, if you use it as the main battery of the car you can never worry about a flat battery ever again! :d

Good idea that Prag! could always locate a second battery to the boot to power the ICE. See split charge relays below on the same site as the battery!

http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/5272.html
 
#6 ·
thanks for the reply guys. as for the optima batts i will be having one in the boot of a split charge relay kit. and i dont need a power cap as i did the (big three) upgrade :D

just need to do more research on the upgraded alt. one will do fine as i know for sure i wont get 2 in as i change the alternator belt today.

thank you again for your help.
 
#7 ·
I would be very surprised if the standard alternator won't cope with the sound system.

As you probably know watts isn't everything. I have been involved with a lot of bands and PA systems in my time and the efficiency of the speakers (sound pressure level or SPL) is far more important than the claimed output power of the in car amps.

Many manufactures of ICE systems make incredible claims about the output of their amps but there are many ways to measure wattage. It is unlikely that the amps will need more than your alternator can supply and if you need the power when the engine isn't running then thats down to batteries for storage.

Just out of interest what size amps are you using?
 
#8 ·
It's actually sensitivity that defines how efficiently a speaker converts input power to sound - SPL is the pressure level that results from the speaker's output (derived from a massive number of different variables including the frequency of the sound produced, the area of the cone, the speed of sound, the density of air, particle velocity, etc, etc...)

You can have high SPL with an inefficient speaker or visa versa, however, obviously you'd need a more powerful amp to drive a speaker with high SPL which was not very sensitive.
 
#9 ·
Quite correct Az

Is is extremely difficult to obtain a good sound in a car because quite frankly the acoustics of a car are lousy.

Many people have inefficient speaker systems and compensate for this by using bigger amps.

Designing and building amps with very low THD and high RMS power is very easy using modern components (Mosfets etc) but turning that power into actual spl (which is what makes cars shake) is down to the speaker manufacturers.

The manufacturers are up against variables such as large temperature and humidity changes which is not such a problem with band PA systems as they have time to aclimatise before being driven hard. They have to use cone materials that will withstand this these variables and this leads to less efficient outputs.

Still interested in the power rating of the amp in question though.
 
#10 ·
system spec so far:


boot:

1x Kicker L7 15" @ 1ohm (1kwrms)
1x hifonics 1206 super D
2x kicker KX200.2 ( for front & rear components)

front:
Focal 130A1 components.
mb quart tweets with xover

rear fill: Focal 130A1

0 gauge wiring kit split to 4 guage. four 100 amp anl fuse on the distro block. and the front fuse from the bat is an 250 amp anl fuse


but in 2 weeks i get my 2nd L7 and my 2nd hifonics amp and i was told that i would need to upgrade my standard 80amp alt.
 
#13 ·
Sorry, I can't hear you and I'm in the SW, so I must be some distance from II UK BLAD3 II ;) :rofl:

Not that there's anything wrong with having such a powerful system so long as it's not used anti-socially, I'm just inquisitive as to what the practical purpose of such a thing is...
 
#22 ·
Oh Yeh - the Wax Tweatment - would an ere sywinge not be cheeper wo:)
Sure as long as he doesn't cause anyone else any harm he is entitled to mod his motta all he wants - not everyones idea of fun but sure we are all entitled to live.

In my earlier life I did a degree in Noise Induced Hearing Loss back in the 1980's which involved discos, etc and even then we discovered bar and club staff who had suffered permanent hearing loss. The main problem with this type of hearing loss is that apart from going deaf the poor victim is usually left with tinitus until the day they die.
Caveat Emptor - Buyer Beware
 
#23 ·
In my earlier life I did a degree in Noise Induced Hearing Loss back in the 1980's which involved discos, etc and even then we discovered bar and club staff who had suffered permanent hearing loss. The main problem with this type of hearing loss is that apart from going deaf the poor victim is usually left with tinnitus until the day they die.
Caveat Emptor - Buyer Beware
Well said Noel, everyones got every sympathy with the blind, but unfortunately nothing but contempt for the deaf.

Providing II UK BLAD3 II is aware of the hearing damage caused by sound systems, then the risk is his, and those that ride.
 
#25 ·
:eek:

Talk to any radio ham and they would tell you 100watts of rf power is enough to transmitt halfway round the world.

I can't understand the need for an audio system to be capable of producing an output above the threshold of pain
when confined in a small metal box.
An open air concert maybe but i would stand well away from the speaker.

:eek:
 
#27 ·
:eek:

Talk to any radio ham and they would tell you 100watts of rf power is enough to transmitt halfway round the world.
Yep, but you need electronics that are a lot more sensitive than your ears in order to hear it. Lots of home stereo systems have more than 100 watts per channel of audio output these days. I'm no audiophile, but I think it's more about faithfully reproducing low frequences than about absolute ear-bleeding volume.
I can't understand the need for an audio system to be capable of producing an output above the threshold of pain
when confined in a small metal box.
An open air concert maybe but i would stand well away from the speaker.

:eek:
I doubt it would be possible (or even sane) to crank the thing up to full volume with anyone in the car. But lots of people do this sort of thing for shows etc., where people (hopefully) listen from a reasonably safe distance.
 
#26 ·
It might be worth contacting a knowledgeable motor factor and seeing if there is a choice of alternator output sizes for you car.When we order a replacement alternator for a car we usually get a choice of ampage output.:)
 
#30 ·
pretty angry turns out the tweets i got of ebay are fake ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!

and he wont answer any of my emails. item came from hongkong, looks like he is drop shipping all of his items.

good job i got my components ( focal) from the uk and they have a valid serial number on the chassis.

people like this need to stop selling us c**p . should i contact maxxsonics ( mb quart) about the item i have received via the ebay member.

i just hate people getting ripped of like this selling fake s**t.
 
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