I have a 1989 Accord LX with all stock under the hood (for now). I hook up a sub with an amp and it gets really hot... has with several different amps and subs I've tried. (I have several lying around). What I think the problem is (fairly certain) is that I don't have enough power going to the amp... I'm still running the factory alternator afterall. My plan is to upgrade the battery to an Optima yellow top, and upgrade the alternator.

My question is, what alternator should I get? I've been looking all over and I can only find "Factory replacements" or something in the really high power end that costs like $800. I'm emailed americanarmature.com and they say they have one that would just drop right in for $649 and would do 170 amps... should I get this? Or would say... getting an alternator out of an acura just drop in and do the trick without being out that much?

My second question would be, am I ok dropping the new alternator in, whichever it is that I get (as per suggestions to question 1), and upgrading the battery, or are there other electrical system upgrades I should be aware of as a result? ie... will I need to get a new voltage regulator or something along those lines?

Thanks in advance for any help that is offered.

 

the alt from a certain legend is a direct swap, and is 110 amps at idle...

and i'm assuming that you're talking about your wiring getting hot... the problem is that the wiring is too small... upgrade to a larger guage and you should be good

also, IMO, a yellow top isn't the best choice for actually running a car... they are deep cycle batteries, like a marine battery... not what you want as the sole battery for your car...

http://www.3geez.com has info on that alternator

 

No, Amp gets hot, distorts the sub from clipping, and it's a matched amp/sub setup that was working beautifully in my friend's car but gets hot in mine - that's why I'm thinking electrical.

I have 2ga ran to the trunk it's not the wiring :D

Ok thanks for the tip on the acura.

 

hmmm

maybe your amp doesn't have enough room to breathe? those things need airflow to cool, even if it's almost nill... just don't have the amp near anything insulating...

and check your gains... that could be a difference, too...

 

oh that's the thing... plenty of room to breathe, just sitting in the trunk not mounted anywhere yet because of the heat issue in teh first place.....

As far as gains go, in the other vehicle it was running cool as a cucumber but hot in mine at the same gain settings. IF I turn the gain down, then it barely makes the sub move let alone bump when it should be bumping.

Like I said... I'm leaning towards insufficient power, though I may be wrong.

Sub is Infinity Kappa Perfect 12.1 by the way with hifonics Saturn A400 amp.

 

what kind of load are you putting on the amp? how many ohms? that could be what it is...

 

4ohm load - 12.1 is 350w rms @ 4ohm SVC
Hifonics Saturn A400 gives 1x400@4ohm

amp shouldn't be workin at all

(edit) amp shouldn't be working hard at all, heh.