REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

tool001 · 09-15-2010, 10:29 PM

this is the 2nd time it has happened, 2 different cars, the only thing that remained constant in both cars was amp/sub. I got new compustar installed in my current ride. (old car was let go w/ compustar)

last year i was away for 2 weeks, batt died, boosted but no go, bought new cheapy CT batt (sept 2009), this year died again when i was away for 2 weeks, bootsted, held up for few days, died again when i left the car in the garage for 2 days. boosted ,no go, took back to CT replaced under warranty (today).

my setup,
tsx, compustar pro, amp/capacitor/sub

i have a feeling my amp is pulling too much power from my batt??

amp Lanzer vibe 258
# Amplifier Type: Dual Channel
# Bridgable: Bridgable
# RMS Power at 4 Ohms: 400 W x 2
# RMS Power at 2 Ohms: 650 W x 2 ,

1.5 Volfenhag capacitor

2 X MTX subs. (dont remember the specs)

edit: haven't had any other electrical prob.... i.e. lights flickering etc. just this.

mpr · 09-15-2010, 10:49 PM

why don't you get a multi meter and test how much voltage when you have all your accessories on. I say anything lower than 12.5 volts, you probably need a higher capacity alternator.

I run 400 rms with constant 13.5 volts therefore it is charging.

tool001 · 09-15-2010, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpr

why don't you get a multi meter and test how much voltage when you have all your accessories on. I say anything lower than 12.5 volts, you probably need a higher capacity alternator.

I run 400 rms with constant 13.5 volts therefore it is charging.

both capacitor and compustar remote does show constant 12.5 output.

wonder what the draw on power be like with a smaller amp.

dohboi · 09-16-2010, 12:44 AM

get a trickle charger and put it on when you're away for more than a week

!SG · 09-16-2010, 05:07 AM

that and cheap batteries dont dispers heat as well, so they tend to die faster. if you run audio, and possibly run audio with just the battery on and not the car on, expect the battery to die sooner. the alternator is designed to take the place of the battery when the car is on, it may charge the battery a little, but isnt meant to charge it fully like a battery charger. if u have a cheap battery, draining and recharging all the time will have its toll on the life of the battery as well.

this is coming from someone that has been thru 5 batteries in his prelude, and 2 on his other GS. now officially on my 2nd battery for my current GS

installerz · 09-16-2010, 05:09 AM

Crappy Tire batteries are THE WORST!!! Sell it and buy a used one from a battery shop.

catalin · 09-16-2010, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by !SG

the alternator is designed to take the place of the battery when the car is on, it may charge the battery a little, but isnt meant to charge it fully like a battery charger.

Vehicle electrical runs off the alternator and it is designed to charge the battery when the engine is running That's it's sole purpose... The battery is present in a vehicle only to start it.

catalin · 09-16-2010, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tool001

both capacitor and compustar remote does show constant 12.5 output.

wonder what the draw on power be like with a smaller amp.

Is that with the engine running? If so then you have a faulty alternator... There should be a much higher voltage when the engine is running, more like 14volts +.

Also if you do leave the vehicle sitting for that amount of time, you should put it on a trickle charger like dohboi mentioned. Especially if you're leaving the alarm armed.

installerz · 09-16-2010, 08:35 AM

The alternator is the primary source of dc power, but it's dirty. So the battery acts as a stabilizer to clean up the current from the alternator and feeds computers, memory circuits and accessories while the engine is off.

catalin · 09-16-2010, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by installerz

Was it a late night Catalin?

The alternator is the primary source of dc power, but it's dirty. So the battery acts as a stabilizer to clean up the current from the alternator and feeds computers, memory circuits and accessories while the engine is off.

Actually it was a late night... However without getting into the really technical stuff that I have no patience for, without that alternator a vehicle isn't going to move too far. So yes it is required and does power the vehicle... and if there is too much of a draw on it, then it won't charge the battery. Which in turn will cause it to fail, or not start the vehicle if it's left sitting too far.

tool001 · 09-16-2010, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by installerz

Crappy Tire batteries are THE WORST!!! Sell it and buy a used one from a battery shop.

guess when i have extra $ , i will , for now guess gotta make do with crappy tire batt + warranty

Quote:

Originally Posted by catalin

Is that with the engine running? If so then you have a faulty alternator... There should be a much higher voltage when the engine is running, more like 14volts +.

Also if you do leave the vehicle sitting for that amount of time, you should put it on a trickle charger like dohboi mentioned. Especially if you're leaving the alarm armed.

catalin, yes its 14 when running. 12.5 when off. i need to buy a tender for my motor bike, i know charger and tender are a little different. do u think tender will do the trick for my car also for when im away.

SumAznGuy · 09-16-2010, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tool001

guess when i have extra $ , i will , for now guess gotta make do with crappy tire batt + warranty

catalin, yes its 14 when running. 12.5 when off. i need to buy a tender for my motor bike, i know charger and tender are a little different. do u think tender will do the trick for my car also for when im away.

I don't think so. IIRC, the amperage on the bike trickle charge is way to low for a car battery.

Get a yellow top Optima battery from Costco when you get a chance. Those batteries are going to be way better than the crappy tire ones and I believe Costco has a pretty good warrenty on them too.

catalin · 09-16-2010, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tool001

catalin, yes its 14 when running. 12.5 when off. i need to buy a tender for my motor bike, i know charger and tender are a little different. do u think tender will do the trick for my car also for when im away.

That would confirm that the alternator is charging the battery. I would use a tender since it won't charge the battery all the time... or some sort of "smart" charger, basically a combination of a tender and charger.

orgasm_donor · 09-16-2010, 02:10 PM

I have a TSX as well with full alarm system, 1500 watt RMS amplifier, 800 watt RMS amplifier and I am running a STOCK Honda battery. I try to keep my battery charged up while I am away for more than a week as I find the battery will lose a bit of charge over this time with the alarm system set. My other car is pretty much the same way.

A smart charger or even a solar panel charger can reduce these issues nicely especially over the long haul.

If you would like, we can do a load test on your system, check to see if there is a draw and double check your wiring as well.

MG1 · 09-16-2010, 11:39 PM

Try to get a charger with built in desulphating feature. I got one from Edmunds Batteries in New West and holy carp, it works like a charm. I had an old Optima that couldn't keep up with the stereo anymore. I was saving up for a new Optima. The guy at Edmunds batteries convinced me to try this desulphating charger. Cost close to 80 bucks. It works, plain and simple. It took a few charge cycles, but the battery behaves like new now. I'm trying to remember the brand. The one I bought is like a large power adapter with two LED's on it. It's plug and play. I highly recommend it. Especially with those people with older batteries.

Edit:

http://www.batteryminders.com/batter...sulphation.php

http://www.batteryminders.com/batter...o-p-16134.html

Worth the extra money.

Cman333 · 09-20-2010, 11:45 AM

We use this one.

http://www.federalbattery.com/produc...echarger12volt

Can leave it plugged in without having to worry whether it will over charge the battery.

johny · 09-20-2010, 03:42 PM

you have a current draw on the battery. every car has a little bit IE the clock, stereo memory etc. the alarm will definatlly draw some. the amp shouldn't, but might if it has a problem. you need to measure the current draw comming from the battery with the keys off and doors closed. measure with alarm on and off. and with amp connected and disconnected. and then you'll know how much each is drawing. you need to dissconnect the wires in order to measure current. I can't recall what normal is but probably ~100mA or less

if the alarm is drawing a bunch probably nothing you can do, other then using a charger or solar panel for extended sit times. if the draw is enough it'll kill any battery good, bad, new, or used, just a matter of how long. if the amp is drawing much then get it fixed / replaced or dissconnect it when you go away.

anyone who mentioned volts in this thead doesn't have a clue what they are talking about, and are not answering the OP topic. a sitting battery dying has nothing to do with volts, but current draw.