I am planning to install my stereo with two amps, one for my speakers and the other for my subs. I am going to get a 1000 watta amp or so. My question is will I need a bigger alternator to keep everyting running properly? If so, what rating alt should I look for and what would a good one cost?

First try a cap.... 1 Frad should do.
If you still experience high drain, then try a larger alternator.

But I bet the cap will be all you need.

Get an alt instead. Costs about the same.

With a capacitor, you're still putting the same load on the alternator, you're just slightly evening it out.

let me just add on to bonneme

here'* how it works.. lets say you are listening to your music as a low level.. that takes less power.. because it doesn't need to amplify the music as much.. but lets say you crank it up.. then that uses up more power.. but while you where listening to it softly the capacitor was filling up with power. So when you crank it up, and there is a heavy hit of bass.. then the capacitor will take up that load, and then when the bass calms down, it recharges up again, for the next big hit. This all happens much faster, and it doesn't mean you have to listen to the music softly to being with.. it just means that softer=less power draw. with a 1,000 amp system, I don't think you'll run into trouble.

Try it, you have nothing to loose, the worst that could happen is you have to turn off the music because your alternator can't handle it.. then splurge for a new 140 or 160, I think merlin is the one with the delco 140.. If you get a 140 or 160, you WILL not run into problems with power drain.. If you upgrade to something like.. lets say a 4,000amp system, and you have 3 huge 15" subs in the back making over 3,000 watts, I don't think a 140 will do, but a 140 with a large capacitor should. I'd go with a new alternator before a capacitor, just because our alternators are crap, and there are much better ones out there, with a nice high amp rating.


-justin

I have a +1000w system in my 91.... even with the amp I was still getting dimming during heavy bass hits... now with the cap I don't get them at all.

hmm.. one of my friends has an '86 poncho 6000 [total POS], and he has a 2500watt stereo sitting on a 110watt alternator.. He doesn't have a single piece of electronic part in this car.. his speedo doesn't work, and other gauges are non existant. He doesn't drive the car at night, so he doesn't use the lights.. but what I can tell you, is the lights don't dim on the.. wait, there'* nothing for it to dim on! ok, maybe you may need a capicitor.. I think i'm going to need a capicitor for the 2000-3000 watt stereo i'm dropping in my bonne.. watch the car stall when the bass hits hard.. lol.


-justin

I'm running a PPI amp and sub system in my car. I have a 200amp DP alt. My car recovers from heavy bass hits very good, but the fact is there is a large draw on the power and even a 200 amp alt can't make that draw up at realtime levels. If you plan on having anything with heavy bass (like subs) I would highly recommend getting a cap. My system does flash the lights (and I can even get me dash needles to act like level gauges) under HEAVY bass. I don't have a cap yet, but I really do need one.

I've got a 1300 watt system. 1 farad cap fixed all my dimming problems.