Gains with a DMM

[chad]

Solution...power is cheap. Buy enough to make your speakers run you out of the car before the amp clips.

Biggest lie in car audio... Buying cheap powerful amplifiers is cheap, but once you have to feed them it sucks... You gotta mach the guzinta to to the comezouta, and add AT LEAST 30% for science.

[chad]

Because everyone seems to think clipping is what blows speakers.

Well, there's our problem.

[ca90ss]

Biggest lie in car audio... Buying cheap powerful amplifiers is cheap, but once you have to feed them it sucks... You gotta mach the guzinta to to the comezouta, and add AT LEAST 30% for science.

No shit, my alternator cost more than the 4 amps that are in my car.

[chad]

can't believe you are having issues considering how efficient of a rig you built.

[ca90ss]

I was having problems at idle with amps shutting down and the car almost dying.

[Hillbilly SQ]

Having a factory alternator that's already really stout helps. Guess I'm one of the lucky ones. 160 amps spinning under the hood and have never had a noticeable shortage of juice.

[chad]

I was having problems at idle with amps shutting down and the car almost dying.

I had a similar vehicle (monte carlo) with the same issues. Went for a GM alternator out of either a school bus or ambulance, junkyard special.

Can't see how a larger alternator will still keep the 305 spinning unless it is that much more efficient.

[chad]

Having a factory alternator that's already really stout helps. Guess I'm one of the lucky ones. 160 amps spinning under the hood and have never had a noticeable shortage of juice.

They put 160A alternators in those things because they need them to keep all the bullshit running. Hell, chargers and 300's burn up 160A alternators at 50K miles

[ca90ss]

I had a similar vehicle (monte carlo) with the same issues. Went for a GM alternator out of either a school bus or ambulance, junkyard special.

Can't see how a larger alternator will still keep the 305 spinning unless it is that much more efficient.

It wasn't almost dying because of the load from the alt, it was dropping below 10v and either the computer or ignition didn't like it.

[Hillbilly SQ]

They put 160A alternators in those things because they need them to keep all the bullshit running. Hell, chargers and 300's burn up 160A alternators at 50K miles

46k on mine and still seems to be kicking. It is audible in the cab though. Not from a ground loop, from the alt itself from under the hood. Does a loud alt mean it's about to die, or is it just haunted by an Italian ghost? It's only audible part of the time.