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Is My Alternator Enough?

Posted: May 25th, 2002, 8:59 pm
by Nd4SpdSe
Hi all..I'm new here<P>(damn, i wish this place had an electrical forum)<P>Well, i just got an 1992 Mx-3 GS w/ a V6 a month ago (its my first time driving a standard and i'm loving it!) and and i really wanna start working on cars, especially my own...i've always wanted to, but im a computer nerd :) But before i start trying to turn it into a nice street racing machine, im gonna start on something i can work on, electronics/electrics....What i need to know is this:<P>Wll my cars battery/alternator will be able to handle:<BR>-150watt A/C Inverter for Computer<BR>-180watt Amp for 2x10" Cervin-Vega Subs (may be changed to 300w)<BR>-Underbody Neon Kit<BR>-7" Widescreen LCD<P>My mx-3 doesnt have A/C, which my dad says it may have a smaller alternator because of it, is it true?<p>[ May 25, 2002: Message edited by: Nd4SpdSe ]

Re: Is My Alternator Enough?

Posted: May 25th, 2002, 9:06 pm
by canadian_ice
Man, did god clone me or something?! :( Still meaning to get it checked!<P>Take it one step at a time - don't put all that stuff on at once! Try one thing...if the battery's ok, try something else. You'll likely need a new battery for all that stuff in the future.

Re: Is My Alternator Enough?

Posted: May 25th, 2002, 9:14 pm
by Nd4SpdSe
lol, hey, we're canadian :D<P>First thing is the inverter/computer and LCD next week, neon kit sometime in june, deck late summer...<p>[ May 25, 2002: Message edited by: Nd4SpdSe ]

Re: Is My Alternator Enough?

Posted: May 25th, 2002, 9:28 pm
by canadian_ice
Look at the irony:<P>- both former computer nerds (you'll like cars more, trust me)<BR>- both got an mx-3 for their first car<BR>- both just learned how to drive standard<BR>- both are worried about their battery<P>For my amp, I'm honestly not sure! Maybe...300W? 200W? hehe I'm not sure. I know before I got my subs whenever I pressed the brake my headlights dimmed and went back to normal a second later...so I think I have too much on the circuit.<P>Are you jamming the underbody kit on a stock mx-3? (have u done anything to your car yet?)

Re: Is My Alternator Enough?

Posted: May 25th, 2002, 9:33 pm
by Nd4SpdSe
i've had it for a month and havent done anything...yet..<BR>are teh neons hard to install?

Re: Is My Alternator Enough?

Posted: May 25th, 2002, 9:36 pm
by canadian_ice
I haven't installed any, so I couldn't tell you. Definitely post some pics when you're done - I might get a blue kit next summer after I do some major mods this summr.<P>Good luck!

Re: Is My Alternator Enough?

Posted: May 25th, 2002, 9:38 pm
by Nd4SpdSe
my mx-3 is an Aqua Marine, so my neons are gonna be aqua...gonna get the professionally done, ill definitely post pics, 1 questions tho, where can i get a host that'll let me link pics?

Re: Is My Alternator Enough?

Posted: May 25th, 2002, 9:42 pm
by canadian_ice
Sounddomain.com - they kick a--! If you have problems you can just send me the pics and I'll host them at my sounddomain page (http://members.sounddomain.com/canadian_ice)<P>I'm off! See ya.

Re: Is My Alternator Enough?

Posted: May 26th, 2002, 4:24 am
by Nd4SpdSe
wait, your from ottawa, dont tell me your french too...

Re: Is My Alternator Enough?

Posted: May 26th, 2002, 12:20 pm
by Da_Wiggy
you should be fine. Your gs has a 90 amp alt (as opposed to a 60 amp on an rs)and as long as your battery is in good shape you shouldn't get any dimming. If your battery isn't good any more, switch to a deep cycle battery, I'd recomend an optima yellow top.

Re: Is My Alternator Enough?

Posted: May 26th, 2002, 12:57 pm
by canadian_ice
Hey Da_Wiggy where'd you get your battery anyways?

Re: Is My Alternator Enough?

Posted: May 26th, 2002, 4:38 pm
by Mx3Mazda
get a 1 FARAD CAP that will help alot!

Re: Is My Alternator Enough?

Posted: May 26th, 2002, 8:12 pm
by Da_Wiggy
I think caps are dumb(just add more stress to the electrical system) but if must get one you wouldn't need bigger than .5 farads.

Re: Is My Alternator Enough?

Posted: May 26th, 2002, 10:10 pm
by canadian_ice
Da_Wiggy - where'd you get the battery? (gotta ask again)

Re: Is My Alternator Enough?

Posted: May 27th, 2002, 3:27 am
by Nd4SpdSe
So i have a 90amp, doesnt matter if i have A/C or not? If so, than means i have a few more amps to work with than one with A/C :D<P>good question canadian_ice <P><BR>BTW, the cap,thats gonna be for the amp, not the A/c inverter, right?<P>I read this post (http://www.mx-3.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb. ... 8&t=000302) that you can get a 220amp alternator, is that a good idea? if so, how much do they cost?<P>(wow, i cant believe how many guys here are canadian!)<p>[ May 27, 2002: Message edited by: Nd4SpdSe ]