High Output Alternators

[ChibiSF]

I just got a '03 Civic LX Coupe yesterday actually, and have decided to drop in the system from previous car ('92 Infiniti G20) into it. I killed the alternator in that car with the system in, and don't want problems like that to happen again in my new car. Does anybody know of a good place online, or somewhere in the New York metropolitan area where one can get a high output alternator for an '03 Civic.

I'm planning to have around 1000 rms watts in, and two 1 farad caps in. Maybe I don't even need a new alternator. Maybe I do. Any help would be much appreciated.

[Wiseguy]

i would recommend getting a new alt especially if youre around or going higher than one killowatt rms. the most amps out of a high output honda alt is around 100 - 120, be sure ur up there, it may cost a few bills but its worth it cuz its really embarrassing when youre stopped at a red and your lights lights dim everytime your bass peaks and oh yeah a cap or two is a smart move, too

[k67p67]

Caps are a waste. Upgrade your alternator. Check with Alterstart to see if they make a direct replacement rewound alternator for the '03 Civic.

[wagsaccordsir]

Try www.mralternator.com they have what your looking for and they will even chrome it if you like. As far as the Caps good choice, and the guy who said they were a waste; please explain!

[k67p67]

Caps are just a Band-Aid. Why spend $100 on a cap? You can spend $200-$250 on a rewound H.O. alternator that will double the amperage available for your sound system. Unless we're talking about running your system with the car off, the new alt is a much better choice and is flexible for future system upgrades.

[Wiseguy]

even with a 130 amp alternator (btw h.o. alts are not double the stock output and they dont put out 130 amps when ur idling) its still a good idea to get a cap especially if u plan on having more than one amplifier. i have a 130 amp alt and still got some dim when i was not moving with out a cap. wagsaccordsir is correct, please explain k67p67

[k67p67]

Originally Posted by Wiseguy

even with a 130 amp alternator (btw h.o. alts are not double the stock output and they dont put out 130 amps when ur idling) its still a good idea to get a cap especially if u plan on having more than one amplifier. i have a 130 amp alt and still got some dim when i was not moving with out a cap. wagsaccordsir is correct, please explain k67p67

Well, "double" the stock output...not quite. Approx. 80% more output. So sorry I failed to split each hair. And you mean they don't put out 130A @ idle? Duh. They don't put out 130A when the car isn't running either. Fact is that if you have a large system your current draw demand may well exceed the capabilities of your stock alternator, even at 3000+ RPM. What that means is that you'd see dimming whether the car was at idle or at highway speed. A cap will provide some extra capacitance for very brief intervals. If you run a large system and plan to bump, a cap is about as useful as a third testicle. Could you run a cap in addition to a H.O. alternator? You could but it's only going to make a difference at idle. A 20fd batcap would work better but you can buy a H.O. alt and a deep cycle battery for that much.