Insufficient Power
 

So this is a little more than a stereo question.

I drive a 1990 Integra GS, the Stock alternator packed it in a few days ago and I replaced it with a bosch 65a. For starters the alternator puts out 14.6 volts but when I rev the engine upwards of 4500rpm, the headlights/dash etc get twice as bright as if the alternator isnt putting out sufficient power... yet my ohm meter says otherwise. My previous alternator did the same thing, but as far as I know they have built-in regulators. Is the alternator hooped, bad diodes etc even tho its putting out proper power?? It just seems like it has more to give. From engine not running and than I start it, the lights do get brighter.

Anyways, alternator without any accessories. 14.6v
With headlights, 14.2
with stereo and headlights, 12.35

I am running 80/100 headlights, 3 amplifiers and a jvc avx11 deck. Will this alternator get me by??

12.35V is way too low if you want to start your car the next time.

You should measure how much current you are drawing with all those on... and what the heck is 80/100 headlights? Crappy bulbs with increased wattage?

What kind of amps? How much power do they claim to produce? What kind of power wire do you have for them? Did you do the "big 3"?
12.35 will not charge your battery.

How do I measure current? I am running 2x pioneer 800 class A, and a JL300/4 4-channel. Running Dual 4gu wires from the battery to the rear of the car. They go into a distribution block and split off to the amps from there. Each amp has a 4gu ground, along with a 4gu ground from the battery to the body.

On the top side of the alternator there is a plug and a seperate wire that is bolted on. Could I run a 4guage wire from the alt directly to the battery? or would that cause problems.

put an ammeter between your alternator and the rest of your electronics?

That will definitely help the cause! May as well upgrade your factory grounds to 4 ga as well.

i was told that i needed a new alternator; however, i solved my problem with an optima yellow top battery.. no more electrical problems

I just put in a optima red top, upgraded battery terminals, battery to body, battery to engine, engine to body and im still having problems. I need to locate ring termimals before I can do alt to bat.

We have ring terminals coming out of our asses! Don't worry, we wash them before we sell them. :P

I somehow doubt the 5 hour drive is worth it for a few ring terminals ;)

So sais you! I would drive 10 hours for our ring terminals!

from the sounds of it you just put a bandaid on the problem rather than fixing it.

Alright, so new problem. Earlier in the thread I mentioned that when I rev to 4500rpm, my lights get brighter. I also noticed that out of the 3 amplifiers, when I rev the engine one of them goes into protection mode and shuts down until the RPM drops. I am guessing that the alternator is putting out more voltage than the amp can handle. Ideas on this?? I checked the alt at higher rpms and there dosnt seem to be much of an increase in voltage

Do all these amps share a common ground or are they seperate?

They are grounded seperatly. Good solid grounding points.

....edit...

a voltage regulator is in there to keep voltage no higher than 14.4V or so

its something else