An additional battery for sound system...

[Mortvos]

I was thinking about buying an extra battery for my amp and woofers... a battery just for them (aside from the battery my car uses for lights, starting, wipers etc.). Anyone done this? If so how would you ground it and where coud I put it? I drive a '91 Civic HB so there's quite a bit of room under the hood, I was thinking maybe I could set the two batteries side by side... not sure though.

Any advice and/or pics would be nice! Thanks!

 

[jonathan2006]

well its a good idea so you dont tear up your alternator. you could put it in the back and ground to something metal back there.

 

[Mortvos]

Ok... cool, so I should just ground the negative to metal? I'll probably keep it under the hood with my other battery... and ground it up there... as I don't really have room for a battery in the back and I've already installed the power wire through the car to the front... would having the extra battery up front be a safety issue?

 

[cujo613]

You have to use a dual battery isolator ti add another batter properely. Just throwing another battery in line will damage the alternator.

What size system are you running, a second battery may not be needed.

 

[Mortvos]

Two tens and an 800w amp... I have a really small battery that is stock for my car... I was going to use that for the amp alone. Buy a new battery (a bigger one) for my car...

 

[Matt.]

don't buy bigger then you need! Use only what is recommended for your car. Eventually it can malfunction and blow up in your face... Just ask tom (spoolincivic) f**king assholes supra battery exploded in my face. I was fine, but my clothes weren't.

 

[jonathan2006]

just get a battery with a few extra crankin amps thats what i got

 

[Mortvos]

don't buy bigger then you need! Use only what is recommended for your car. Eventually it can malfunction and blow up in your face... Just ask tom (spoolincivic) f**king assholes supra battery exploded in my face. I was fine, but my clothes weren't.

Damn that sucks... sorry about your clothes. lol... what if I had two batteries that were small?

 

[Genuine Rolla]

how does the battery get charged..? I would think that if the amps are constantly running off of the 2nd battery...what is there to keep that 2nd battery charged..?

 

[cujo613]

how does the battery get charged..? I would think that if the amps are constantly running off of the 2nd battery...what is there to keep that 2nd battery charged..?

The dual isolator is a relay of sorts that send current to the battery that most needs it. So it charges your starting battery then switches to your stereo battery.

I use to be a beleiver of HO alternators until I put one on my car and did some tests on them. They put the current out at like 2000 rpm, but nothing at idle causing you battery to over cycle itself and ruining the battery, then ruining the alternator.

 

[NSZteg]

Extra battery(ies) is mainly done for running the stereo with the car off for long periods of time, not really done for providing juice for the stereo while driving, for that you may be better off upgrading the alternator itself to put out more amperage. There are companies that work on stock alternators and increase their amperage output, no need to buy an aftermarket unit like Stinger, save you money and no need to worry about aftermarket fitment when sticking with OEM parts.

 

[cujo613]

Extra battery(ies) is mainly done for running the stereo with the car off for long periods of time, not really done for providing juice for the stereo while driving, for that you may be better off upgrading the alternator itself to put out more amperage. There are companies that work on stock alternators and increase their amperage output, no need to buy an aftermarket unit like Stinger, save you money and no need to worry about aftermarket fitment when sticking with OEM parts.

If you build up your alternator I would only suggest about 20 amps. From the 60 to about 80. The higher output you go the less output the alternator will put out at idle.

Last thing you want is to be sitting at a light or doing stop and go driving in town overcycling your battery.

I have a 150 amp on our civic right now. Getting ready to put a stock alternator back on the vehicle. Did some tests on it. Alternator doesn't put out till about 1200 rpm's. I even called the manufacturer about them advertising 75 amps at idle. They told me they don't charge till around 800 rpms. At 800 it was like 9 volts. It didn't properely charge till 1200. I have gone through 2 ho alternators and about 5 batteries. Reason, stop and go traffic. Basically killing my battery.

 

[Mortvos]

Would you recomend replaceng the small battery from a '91 Civic HB with a large battery? Completely abandon the whole two battery thing and just get a bigger battery? Or should I just get a new small guy? Looks like a damn lawnmower battery...

 

[Civic11]

I have a 90 Hatch and I plan on pushing more RMS watts than what you are going to be doing. I am not sure if these exist for our civics, but I HIGHLY reccommend the OPTIMA Batteries (Yellow Top or Blue Top). They are pricier, but I think they will come out cheaper than trying the two battery idea. These batteries are designed for cars with high output stereos. These batteries are particularly helpful because they are designed to de-charge kind of like a Ni-cad battery on your cordless phone. Sealed Lead Acid Batteries (typical car batteries) are not designed this way and when they de-charge they lose cells.

Im going to google this, but you will not look back buying a Yellow Top or Blue Top Optima battery. They are awesome! I put one in my Honda Passport when I had it. 3 Kicker L7 with almost 3000 RMS of true power. The loudest car I ever had and all I had was a Blue Top Optima and the big 3 upgrade (also recommend this wire upgrade). HEADLIGHTS BARELY DIMMED. My heart felt like it was going to explode! I sold the subs off because I had too many break in attempts. : (

Blue Top and Yellow top from my past research were pretty damn close on paper. Yellow Top was more expensive and more sought after for some weird reason. The Blue Top was cheaper (mainly used for marine boats) and also had convenient stereo connections. The Blue Top is the way to go.

I will let you know what I find about these batteries and our civics...

 

[Civic11]

I searched on "www.optimabatteries.com" under vehicles and all they have is Batteries for 91 Honda Accords. That might work, but if there batteries are bigger we might be SOL. Maybe a mod somehow. Heck there has to be a way... Relocating the battery to the trunk might be the way to go, that way you can use a bigger battery. Just a thought...

 

[K2_civic]

Two tens and an 800w amp... I have a really small battery that is stock for my car... I was going to use that for the amp alone. Buy a new battery (a bigger one) for my car...

You don't need a bigger battery or a 2nd battery, just get a capacitor, you aren't even near pushing what it would take to need an additional battery

 

[h22_ek]

get dry cell battery and ground it to the frame

 

[guwakjai010]

just buy a better battery like optima like other said so and get a 1 or 2 farad capcitor...

 

[Civic11]

Yes Capacitor something I forgot about. Weird to say this, but I have never used one! I have heard great things about them though.

I think doing the big 3 upgrade (replacing the three grounds with thicker guage wire), replacing the battery with an Optima, and using a capacitor can support even the hardest systems. I didn't have any alternater problems at all with my Passport

 

[Beelzebubba]

I searched on "www.optimabatteries.com" under vehicles and all they have is Batteries for 91 Honda Accords. ...

Really?

51Rs (Civic) were on backorder from Optima some 6 mos ago. You'd think they would have got some by now.

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