mylifeisstupid Posted July 29, 2004 Report Share Posted July 29, 2004 Well I bought a 400 watt power inverter about 3 weeks ago, and haven't had the time or knowledge yet to hook it up directly to the battery, so I have it sitting in my car and drawing 150 watts through the cigarette adapter. The inverter is used right now to power a home theater sub that rates at 160 watts max Not more than two weeks after I got it, my alternator started whining, signals went slow, and after two days of this, the car finally broke down at my girlfriends house and had to be towed. My lesson learned is to not let things get to that point ever again. It is now in the shop, supposed to be fixed today, and I mean to ask the mechanic the same question I am going to ask you guys. Do you think I killed my alt solely by using this inverter? The battery is the original and the shop said it wasn't holding a charge so they had to replace that too. I know that the alternators are a common problem with our cars, but do you think I hastened the death by using my inverter? And if there is any, at all, cons to using an inverter I would like to hear them all in detail. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SigEpCutlass Posted July 29, 2004 Report Share Posted July 29, 2004 alternators go out all the time in GM's. It coulda been enough to do it especially if it were old. you should replace it with one that's higher voltage than the OEM alternator. One of my fraternty brothers has a 91 GP with almost a 1,000 watt system in his car. He has a heavy duty alternator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted July 29, 2004 Report Share Posted July 29, 2004 The inverter is used right now to power a home theater sub that rates at 160 watts max :bonk: :bonk: :bonk: :bonk: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mylifeisstupid Posted July 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2004 hey give me a break, the sub was free, and I need to buy a decent amp to power my two rockford 12s but until then, I couldnt deal with the cuttys stock speakers, and the sub hits hard believe it or not, definitely gets some attention, especially when I switch from rap to steve miller band, ahahaha adjust the crossover and you never heard "joker" like that before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SigEpCutlass Posted July 29, 2004 Report Share Posted July 29, 2004 The inverter is used right now to power a home theater sub that rates at 160 watts max :bonk: :bonk: :bonk: :bonk: hahaha jeremy always has the best pictures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manitcor Posted July 30, 2004 Report Share Posted July 30, 2004 A home theater sub hooked to an inverter? Please, put the tools down, step away from the car. Your alt was prob old and the extra wattage draw on the alt killed it off. Dont do stuff like that plain and simple. What did we learn here? If you can't afford to do it the correct way, dont half-ass it or you will regret it. IMHO if you need to draw alot of power for some reason have the stock Delco AMP rewound for maybe 10-20amps above stock. Besure to test the output on a multimeter to make sure its turning enough volts to charge the battery and power your goodies. A review of OHMs Law may be in order here as well. Good luck with it, and please leave the home theater sub out untill you get the real thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted July 30, 2004 Report Share Posted July 30, 2004 please post some pics....I gotta see this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mylifeisstupid Posted July 30, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2004 no pics, sub is out, not due to mocking, but due to an actual system I installed. As for jeremy, he does always have the best pics, like the photoshopped one of his car for his sig. Lets see how it really looks, not how it could look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted July 30, 2004 Report Share Posted July 30, 2004 no pics, sub is out, not due to mocking, but due to an actual system I installed. As for jeremy, he does always have the best pics, like the photoshopped one of his car for his sig. Lets see how it really looks, not how it could look. Hey cheesedick, here is how it really looks, 97 Cutty SL Series IV black with black leather, PS was only the tint and the drop....I showed you mine, now show me yours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mylifeisstupid Posted July 30, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2004 well, glad we resorted to name calling, all I am saying is don't try to make us think your ride is something its not. I honestly couldn't care less if you advertised your car with a 426 hemi and AWD, just looking for a personal shot to take as you did with me, who was asking a simple question. As for my car, 95. I don't know what you are looking for me to prove but here you go. I own a w-body, surprise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted July 30, 2004 Report Share Posted July 30, 2004 all I am saying is don't try to make us think your ride is something its not. almost everyone here knows what my ride looks like, if you were around for more than 30 posts you would know too.....FWIW: even the logo for the site is a PS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manitcor Posted July 31, 2004 Report Share Posted July 31, 2004 well, glad we resorted to name calling, all I am saying is don't try to make us think your ride is something its not. I honestly couldn't care less if you advertised your car with a 426 hemi and AWD, just looking for a personal shot to take as you did with me, who was asking a simple question. Welcome to the internet man, when you do something boneheaded like that expect to catch some crap. Thats the net, thats life grow a thicker skin. What makes it even dumber is the fact that you have access to all hese resourece and all these people who know this stuff inside and out yet you never once thought to yourself "Hey maybe I should ask someone if this is a good idea!" If you had posted about this BEFORE you did it,everyone here would have told you NOT to do it. So by you make yourslef look double retarded since you obviously know nothing and your too stupid to realize the resources to help you have been here all along. Therefore you are the dumbass of the day. Dont get you pussy in a knot about it, Ive been there before myself. Next time think about what your doing and try not to let the excitment of adding a new mod at all costs get to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cryptnix Posted July 31, 2004 Report Share Posted July 31, 2004 the thing i don't understand is that ... i have a red top ... 900+ CCA ... a farad, a 105 amp altenator ... in my CS ... my lights hardly dim ... i'm pushing almost 2000 watts enough to send me back to the future at 88 miles per hour!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loominaz34 Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 Well its a good thing you have a 3100 then, isn't it? 88 MPH my ass!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goph Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 the thing i don't understand is that ... i have a red top ... 900+ CCA ... a farad, a 105 amp altenator ... in my CS ... my lights hardly dim ... i'm pushing almost 2000 watts enough to send me back to the future at 88 miles per hour!!! the red top helps out a lot, those are good batteries that are good for cars with systems in them. It also depend on what type of amp it is too, some are more efficient then others so that is why a 1200 watt amp can make lights dim more then a 2000 watt amp in the same car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 1.21 jigawatts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SigEpCutlass Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 1.21 jigawatts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the flux capacitor...haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KING JOKER Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 i have a optima redtop in my car and a new alternator and a huge system (around 3200 watts) and my lights dim just a bit ...the red top is a beast..... but soon the system is goning to be tuned down a little bit due to the fact i cracked my windshield from the bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitaloutsider Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 i have a optima redtop in my car and a new alternator and a huge system (around 3200 watts) and my lights dim just a bit ...the red top is a beast..... but soon the system is goning to be tuned down a little bit due to the fact i cracked my windshield from the bass I'd be more worried about my hearing than the windshield.. :? :shock: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KING JOKER Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 i was in a friendly competition with a few rivals and they had a sound meter but i was a little to heavy fingered with the volume button... wanted to test the limits of the system and ccracked the windshield... live and learn i guess.i don't usually turn it up that loud to listen to it but it was new and i was stupid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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