What Is The Big 3 Upgrade?

A big 3 upgrade will allow more current flow to all of your stereo components, improving your electrical system by ensuring more consistent voltage. This upgrade entails replacing the three main cables in your electrical system with 4 gauge or 1/0 wires.

Is the big 3 upgrade necessary?

The “Big 3” upgrade can not only improve the performance of your audio system, it can also enhance the performance of the entire electrical system for your vehicle (which can lead to improved fuel economy or additional horsepower). In other words, upgrading the “Big 3” is almost always a good idea.

Can subwoofers damage your alternator?

Subwoofers on their own cannot damage your alternator. However, subwoofers combined with their amplifier and the corresponding amplifier can damage your alternator if it draws too much power from your battery. And this can cause the alternator to overheat and potentially damage.

Do I need a bigger alternator?

There are a few ways to figure out whether you need to upgrade your alternator. A few telltale signs are dim headlights, poor stereo system performance, or an alternator that simply wears out quickly. You can also check your electrical load using an ammeter.

What are the benefits of the big 3 upgrade?

A big 3 upgrade will allow more current flow to all of your stereo components, improving your electrical system by ensuring more consistent voltage. This upgrade entails replacing the three main cables in your electrical system with 4 gauge or 1/0 wires.

How big of an alternator do I need for 2000 watts?

To figure out how much capacity or amperage the alternator must deliver, determine how much extra power the audio system demands on top of the current system. For example, if you installed a 2,000-watt amp, assuming a nominal voltage of 13.5V, you’d add roughly 150 amps of demand to the electrical system.

Is too much bass bad for car?

Well it won’t cause structural damage but it will somewhat accelerate the vibration related “ageing” process of the car’s interiors/panels – especially the area around which the speaker is mounted.

Can bass break tempered glass?

No, not unless the wall is just about ready to fall under it’s own weight anyway.

Why do my lights dim when my subs hit?

The problem is being caused by the large, sudden current draw that your subwoofer amplifier requires when bass notes are played at high volume. If your electrical system (especially your alternator) can’t keep up then your vehicle voltage will drop and cause the headlights to dim.

How big of an alternator do I need for 1000 watts?

As a general rule, you need about 100 amps of current for every 1000 watts of power generated. Add that to the base electrical requirements of your vehicle for the total amount of amp-hours you need for your system. Example: You plan to install a 2,000 watt amplifier.

What is the big 4 upgrade?

The “Big 3” (or sometimes called “Big 4”) upgrade means improving the current capacity of three cables: 1) alternator output to battery positive, 2) battery negative to frame/body, and 3) engine ground to frame/body.

How big of an alternator do I need for 3000 watts?

250A
3000 watt / 12V is equal to 250A. A 250A alternator is needed to keep up with it. Since your engine would have to work just as hard as any portable 3KW generator to keep up with the amplifier, you would need a large fuel tank.

Can I use 4 gauge wire for the Big 3?

Your wire upgrade should be a minimum of 4 gauge but 2 gauge or 1/0 is always better.The next wire that need to be upgraded is the ground wire from the battery to the body of the vehicle. The ground wires are especially important. You will add a large wire from the battery negative post to the body of the vehicle.

Does the Big 3 help with dimming lights?

What is the Big 3 Upgrade? Most factory charging systems can only take 500-1000 watts of additional power without seeing much fluctuation in voltage.Typically adding the Big 3 Upgrade will prevent light dim, voltage drops, and will help boost the charging system to or near 14.4 volts.

How many batteries do I need for 5000 watt amp?

You will need at least one 450-500 12V battery or two 210 12V batteries to supply 5000 watts of power for 30-45 minutes. If you’d like an hour of 5000 water of power, you’ll need a 750ah 12V battery.

How many watts can a 120 amp alternator handle?

thats an average between output surges. Thats just sort of a relative rule of thumb. The other sorta relative rule of thumb is that 10 amps can translate to somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 watts… so a 120 amp alternator could do 1200 watts.

How many batteries do I need for a 2000 watt amp?

When it comes to batteries, a 2000 watt inverter needs 24 volts to generate power. You would be able to use 100Ah x 24Ah if you used 2 batteries of 12 volts 200Ah.

Are subwoofers illegal?

Sound systems are generally perfectly legal as long as they aren’t impacting the quiet enjoyment of other individual’s homes. Otherwise, you could potentially run into some trouble.

Do I need a amp for subwoofers?

Subwoofers are designed to increase the bass frequencies, resulting in a deep, thumping sound. In most cases, they are paired with an amplifier to boost the sound. If you do not have the funds for both components, you can still hook up a subwoofer without an amplifier; it simply involves a little more know-how.

Do subwoofers make your car slower?

Yes, it will obviously slow your car down.

Why is bass louder with windows down?

Registered. Helmholtz resonance can happen with the windows partially down. Could make the bass seem louder at certain frequencies.