power

[cory1014]

I'm looking at a light bar with 2 130 watt kc day liters. My question is, what should i do for a good powering source? should I go with a higher amp alternator or a better battery? I already have 2 55 watt rectangular fog lights in the grill and with engine running I have no problems with battery cutting out of taking power away from anything else. I don't know what the amps are of the alternator in it now but I know it's stock/replacement. Any suggestions would be great! thanks

 

[Justshootme84]

Your stock alternator should be rated at about 65 amps. That's more than enough to power your aux lights, just use a relay with a switch for each pair. (Moved from Tech articles forum) JSM84

 

[Seabronc]

I'm looking at a light bar with 2 130 watt kc day liters. My question is, what should i do for a good powering source? should I go with a higher amp alternator or a better battery? I already have 2 55 watt rectangular fog lights in the grill and with engine running I have no problems with battery cutting out of taking power away from anything else. I don't know what the amps are of the alternator in it now but I know it's stock/replacement. Any suggestions would be great! thanks

Just to add to JSM's response, the 130 watt lights draw 10.8 amps each at 12 volts and the 55 watt lights draw 4.5 amps each at 12 volts. Depending on what else you are running, and the current requirements of the remaining system don't exceed your alternators continuous rating, the 65 amp alternator may be OK. If not, you might want to consider going to a 130 amp 3G alternator.

A battery is not intended to do anything but start the engine and on a vary limited basis make up for momentary short falls in the alternators ability to supply the electrical load. Any long term dependence on the battery will eventually **** it. There are reasons for adding a second battery but this is not one of them.

Also, depending on the engine RPM the alternator may not actually be able to supply enough current. That can only be compensated for by going to an alternator that has a fairly high output ability at idle or near idle engine speeds

Good luck,

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[89eddie89]

Also can you get away with stock alternators, battery. etc. will 4 kc style lights??

I believe I it comes with 2 relays

 

[Seabronc]

Also can you get away with stock alternators, battery. etc. will 4 kc style lights??
I believe I it comes with 2 relays

See my response above your post. sometime you miss a lot if you don't read all the posts in a thread /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

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[Justshootme84]

I ran two Warn floods and two KC beams on my 86 ranger for quite a while just using the stock alt and a good battery. Only problem I ever had was melting one of the switches one night when using the lights for about 2 hours straight. And of course melting the covers on the KC's by accident. Put the switches in a place that's not easily kicked on by accident. Mine were under the center of the dash, and the middle passenger turned them on when his knees were too close. The covers will melt within about 10 seconds, as the lights make alot of heat.

 

[cory1014]

I mount my switches in the blank spaces where electronic 4x4 should be i did melt the original switch but boughta heavy duty one to replace it. great spot and looks custom. i cut a hole and rust dropped the whitch in not the switch housing. flush and clean.

 

[Seabronc]

I didn't say that the 65 Amp alternator won't handle it, I said it all depends on what else you are running. With a lot of today's stuff like high powered lights and BOOM box speaker systems, etc. it is easy to exceed the old 65 Amp alternators ability to keep up with it. Also, if you continuously run the alternator at max output you will shorten it's life. Another thing to make sure you do when adding heavy duty stuff is to make sure the wire you use is heavy enough for the current requirement. If you use too light of a wire, you will at minimum, not get full voltage to the lights, and at worst may have an electrical fire. As indicated above using the low amp rated components can be a problem.

Also, as fr as the battery is concerned, it wouldn't hurt to go to a something like a Red Top, especially if you are planning much off road.

Good luck,

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