I just installed my Pioneer D3 a few weeks ago, and I am in the process of installing two monitors in the headrest and two 10" Kicker Subs with Amps. I noticed today that running on battery power, just my D3 drains the battery in less than an hour. So I am guessing two subs, an amp and two extra monitors would do it even quicker.

SO it got me thinking, What if I got two extra batteries and put them were the spare tire goes. Would that work? Also, what would be the best way to charge them. Kind of like the way the normal battery charges while the car is running.

Any help besides Search would be appriciated.

 

heres an idea

start the car

OR

get a power inverter if you want to run your stuff while your car is off. either way running tons of extra batteries will not solve your problem. it may last 2 hours instead of 1 but your alt will die so much sooner.

 

Okay, so what would the Power Inverter do?

Sorry, I understand the mechanical parts of cars. But I am clueless when it comes to electrical.

 

power inverter basically acts like an alternator. you plug the inverter into the 110 v wall socket and hook up the positive and negative to the battery. this charges it.

i really am kind of confused to why this is such an issue

 

A power inverter is not at all what he needs. A power inverter converts the 12Vdc supply to 120Vac for use with house-hold plug devices. All of the components he wants to power would use 12Vdc, just like the regular power supplied from his car battery. The reason he wants to hook up an extra battery is because his components are drawing more power than a single battery can provide.

To the OP, I know this is done on occasion when systems draw large amounts of power as yours might. I would think one battery should be able to handle the headunit, two subs, and two monitors ok, though. Are you having power issues when running them with the car off or the car on? If the battery drains when the car is off and you're running equipment, then an extra battery won't help. They need to be charged by the alternator, which is powered by the engine, so your car must be running to recharge the battery.

If your power issues are while the car is running, then your system must be drawing more power than the single battery can provide. Do you also have a bunch of interior lighting mods or something? At any rate, I haven't seen extra batteries hooked up before, so... search ;)

 

sorry then a power converter. he just needs a ac to dc which everyone runs at shows. call it what you want

 

He doesn't need to convert any power....

1) The power put out by the car is DC
2) The components he wants to run take DC

What's there to convert? He just needs extra power...

 

no you moron. he is running his stereo while his car is OFF

a converter will charge the battery while the car is OFF so he can run for an extended period of time.

i know he could upgrade all the other stuff but all he seems to be worried about is when the car is off. doesn't seem like he's having a problem when the car is on and nor am i.

 

Extra battery is a bettr idea because most shows will charge you up tp $100 to run a power CONVERTER.

 

My concern is when the car is off, Everything is fine when the car is on.

I just want to be able to run the equipment for a longer period of time when the vehicle is off.

 

meh... doesn't seem like he's concerned with shows.

i doubt he'll be at hot import nights

 

GET A POWER CONVERTER

 

Okay, what would I run it off of. It would be really tacky to have a power cord running across the floor to my car.

 

then have your car die every hour or just run your car.

those are your options, there is nothing else you can do when your car is off as your alternator isn't generating current

 

So why would having an extra battery not work, I guess I dont understand that part

 

*sigh*

because you're drawing current. an extra battery doesn't provide more current to charge the other battery you'll just have more power available, but it'll last maybe i dunno 15-30 min more. and with all the extra equipment you'll be running that will just equal out.

i guess i have no idea in what scenario you are needing to run your car for hours without turning it on every 45 min?

 

There's no need to be a douchebag. See look, I can use names too.

An extra battery would help for a short period of time, but just like your regular battery, will eventually drain. As was stated above, you need power from a source that won't drain, e.g. the AC power from the wall, in which case, yes, a converter is needed. Or you could be tackier than having a cord run and have a gas-powered generator sitting behind your car, haha.

 

^^^^^^ x2

Yea man youll need a 110VAC to 12VDC converter if you wanna run your elec. systems without the motor running. Theres really nothing else you can do. The amount of current that is being drawn from your HU, amps, etc cant be replaced unelss something is charging it (ie: alternator or other power source ie: 110VAC wall outlet). Having a bright oragne electrical cord running from your hood to your house may look cheezy.... but you dont really have any other options. Adding another battery or capacitor wont do anything.

 

I just don't like leaving my car running for long periods of time when I am not actually driving it anywhere.

Still though, someone just PM'd me about getting a battery with a higher CCA or something that it might help with the draining problem.

Thanks for your help though.

 

just get an 8D battery n be done with it! you could go for the Optima batteries.. they'll last a bit longer... or rather they should.