Calling all ICE people!

[Dank_Army]

Hi,

Ive been reading on an american website called crutchfieldadvisor - which is really good. They say that a car can only power up to a given wattage range, which is correct. But they give an equasion to see how much RMS power your current car can handle:

RMS of AMP(s) * 2 / 13.8 = current draw in ampres.

But (earlier post today which tom replied), he reckons that the bravo's standard alternator is around 50-60 ampre mark. So if you work it out backwards:

55 * 13.8 / 2 = 380wrms

SURELY, lots of people on this forum have higher RMS power in total in their ICE. I know you can get around this by installing lots of power cells, but I dont know anyone that has - and anyway the extra cells is in the short term. Surely, the alternator wont be able to handle anymore??

Anyone???

john

 

[Tom]

You gotta remember that the vast majority of the time the music is not that loud, maybe only 10-20% of maximum capacity.

 

[tommy S]

wattages

not entirely sure of myself on this but i don't think you'll ever get the full 380wrms out anyway a lot is drained and unless you've got very fat cable it simply won't be able to get down the wire. But also remember that the wattages range greatly and 380wrms can give you a lot more than the normal *root2 power equation for instance if you were to run 380wrms you could probably run almost 900watts peak and if that isn't enough for you then your gonna need the cash to put a load of soundproofing in let alone a new alternator.

 

[Dank_army]

Re: wattages

Hi Tom,

So your saying that although an amp(s) has a total draw of 70ampres, and alternator can support this even tho its gives out 65ampres - and your saying that its possible because there isn't 70 ampres being requires constantly??

Am I correct in saying this?

Thanks

john

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: wattages

Yup, most of the time they might only be drawing 10A, only on a big bass line will they draw alot and your battery will supply that, not the alternator. When the music returns to normal the battery gets charged by the alt.

 

[Daz155HGT]

Re: Re: wattages

This would be true if your were to remove your battery and then run your ICE system...

An average car battery has about 300A cold cranking...

so if you now work it out.

300a * 12.5v / 2 = 1875wrms

Daz

 

[Dank_army]

Re: Re: Re: wattages

Hi,

In reply to Toms post about what ice I was thinking of getting was:

A couple of 15" Punch Subs 400wrms each
Haven't decided about componants yet, might stick with JL audio, but rockford fosgate components are about £315 for 100wrms, perhaps a set might do the trick.

Input anyone??

John

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Re: Re: wattages

What end result do you want? Loud bass, good quality, bit of both? Whats your budget and what have you got so far?

 

[Dank_army]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: wattages

Hi Tom,

Well I would prefer quality over loud, but loud is always good. I dont want to spend too much though, im thinking £1500 top - as I want to try and get some of the stuff nearly new.

Trouble is with JL I can't justify in spending £1000 or more on amps were I only paid £2200 for the car. Perhaps when I've got my alfa 147 when Im 20 ill go back to jl.

And also my local motorspares is a rockford fosgate dealer so that would be handy. I have to travel 25 miles to a JL audio dealer.

What happened was I was all set to get some JL stuff, but then I got made redunant so that all went out of the window! Looking at some of the rockford fosgate stuff, looks well built, good value for money.

There is a fair amount of rockford fosgate stuff knocking about on ebay, i thought i might give that a go after christmas.

John

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: wattages

For £1500 you can do a nice install! Much better than Rockford or JL

 

[Dank_army]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: wattages

Hi tom,

really? what manufacturer am I looking at then?

Cheers

John

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: wattages

JL has its followers and its haters, just like all manufacturers. (yes, some people even hate Fiat )

Up front, a good 2 way component set:
Crystal CSC60S (£190)
Or
Rainbow Pro (£200ish)

Rainbows are hard to get in the UK now, I got mine from Germany.

If you go to £300 then you have the choice of boston, Diamond, Rainbow Vanadium (like mine), A/D/S. You can go silly money, £500+ for Seas Lotus, although they are the dogs danglies I'm told!

Sub: a 12" in a good box will give LOTS of bass. Something like a crystal comp12, RE XXX12, even an RE HC12 or SE12 will wipe the floor with a punch 15".

Amps... well... umm.. most amps will do the job, just depends on how much you have to spend.

Right:
Crystal components £200
Crystal comp12 + box £400

That leaves £900 for amps and other bits.

Lets be daring and go for SPL dynamics amps, I hear they are good.

500W monoblock for the sub £400
65W/ch 4ch amp for the fronts (running active) £300

So that leaves £200 for cable and other odds and sods.

Links:
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=2725
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=2729
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=2077
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=2070

Thats just one of MANY options.

www.talkaudio.co.uk I'm black-cat.

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: wattages

Before you say 'just 1 sub?!', the crystal will kick. If you want to spend some more, go for the RE XXX12, about another £100. That amp would give the RE 1kW! Serious streetbass car.

 

[Daz155HGT]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: wattages

What about Cerwin Vega...they were highly rated last year...

didnt they have a bolt through the middle any you push them as far as you wanted???

DB level will be high but i don't think the SQ will be all that good though.

Daz

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: wattages

Very much an SPL driver, not SQ at all!

The crystal comps and RE XXX's are SQ and SPL.

 

[Pete]

Re: Re: Calling all ICE people!

Tom

I used to have a home sound system that showed the output wattage on a meter. Anything above 20 watts would make your ears bleed in a good-sized lounge, so you are quite right to say the %age is usually quite small. Even if you CAN hear it coming a mile off!

Pete

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Re: Calling all ICE people!

Yup, my home system runs about 10-20W most of the time, its good to have the headroom though as a good kickdrum will belt the needle towards the 200W mark.