Big 3 Question - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

aznlunatic206 · 06-20-2009, 12:28 AM

Hey guys, i did the big 3 upgrade awhile ago using 4awg power wire, no need to go any bigger since i wont be running more than 500watts. The thing is that when i did the big 3, i got one run of 4awg straight from the alt. to the battery pos. but for the ground i had 1 run of 4awg from the engine block to the left side of the car chassis and 1 run of 4awg from neg. battery to right side of car chassis, is this ok? or do i need the ground from the engine block to car chassis and neg. battery to chassis touching the same area? thanks. also i still get alot of dimming, i have a jl audio 500/1 and a 100amp alternator, and stock battery. if i get a yellow top will it eliminate the dimming?

touringcamry · 06-20-2009, 05:19 AM

Yellow top is a type of deep cycle battery and instantaneous power delivery will be lower than the red top. If that amp is 500W RMS, then you could be drawing some .67 to .75, or more, of the available current from your alternator especially if you are bumping that system. That doesn't leave much for your other electrical systems.

Best solution is probably to get an alternator that will output more current.

SexieWASD · 06-20-2009, 10:37 AM

I am currently running around 1000W from the stock 80amp alternator (sundown SAZ1500D + Audio Pulse REVO 10d2, but not at 100% capability) and I only get dimming with the headlights on after about 20 minutes.

I would say that the problem is your battery, a 100amp alternator with a decent output curve should be fine for 500w.

Is your alternator a high output delco alternator (rewound stock alt)? If so it probably isn't putting out much power at idle or close to idle which could be causing your problem, the stock alts already put out close to the max power you can get from such a small case, and rewinding them for higher output means less output at lower rpms, a problem that is made worse by the excessive heat of being mounted next to the catalytic converter, I gained .5V just by putting a tube for air from the faux vent/fog light hole to the alt. It makes my engine compartment dirty though.

Jigg007 · 06-21-2009, 02:32 AM

When you ran your ground wires, make sure you sanded down any paint where your ring terminals touch. Otherwise the electrical connection will be poor, and you will get mad dimming.

Both Red top and Yellow top batteries will deliver power at the same time (rather quick). The Redtop is a normal starter battery, and will provide high surge current, and besides that, falls short of a Yellowtop (deepcylce) in everyway. If you run your sound system when at a stop, then a deepcycle is for you, no question.

I think if you were to upgrade from your stock battery to a yellow top you would see a huge difference.

Try a new battery before a new alternator, as its cheaper and is most likely your culprit. I run 600/1200W worths of amplifiers, not to mention 200 watts of lighting on my stock 100amp alternator, and I rarely have problems when driving.

aznlunatic206 · 06-21-2009, 01:58 PM

thanks, yea, ill probably go ahead and grab a yellow top today and see how that works out, also i forgot the stock battery has been drained 2 full times, and the other 3 times was when it was almost dead but it was just enough to slowly get the engine started.

Jigg007 · 06-21-2009, 05:15 PM

This may already be common knowledge, but I thought I would throw it in.

Discharging a starter battery will drastically reduce its life time. However deepcycles can be discharged nearly completely, and still take a charge with no problem across their whole life.

Starter batteries will yeild greater cranking amps, but this really isnt too much of a concern unless you have a chevy 454 in alaskan winters

Or just have really really really cold winters! I've had issues in -15/-40F where my car starts, but not by much with my Yellowtop, but its 4 years old.

aznlunatic206 · 06-22-2009, 01:11 AM

Yea, i know stock batteries arent suppose to be drained at all or the battery is pretty much done. I cant find anyone that sells a Optima Yellow top D35 for my car in my local area. You guys think there will be any issues buying from ebay? the yellow top is only $179 plus $20 shipping, so basicly $200.

Jigg007 · 06-22-2009, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aznlunatic206

Yea, i know stock batteries arent suppose to be drained at all or the battery is pretty much done. I cant find anyone that sells a Optima Yellow top D35 for my car in my local area. You guys think there will be any issues buying from ebay? the yellow top is only $179 plus $20 shipping, so basicly $200.

The price of $200 is what they go for in most local stores. So you can avoid shipping, but will pay tax instead.

LoudCamry · 06-22-2009, 05:57 PM

look local is better since you will get better warrenty.

aznlunatic206 · 06-22-2009, 06:18 PM

I bought one off ebay for $190 including shipping for a optima yellow top. I called 6 different stores in my area and some do sell optima yellow and red tops but not the one i need which is a D35 type. Before i purchased the yellow top from ebay, i read the sellers reviews and no one complained or had any problems with the product after shipping, so not worried about damage during shipping. I also looked at amazon and all the reviews which was a good amount said that when they recieved thier yellow top from amazon it was all broken and poorly packaged. I had some time to take pics of my big 3, please let me know if you see any immediate problems, sorry for bad quality from my camera phone.

chay03 · 07-23-2009, 10:09 AM

Im kinda in the same boat about the dimming.

I haven't done the big 3 yet, but will as soon as i get the battery. My stock is going on 4 yrs so I figure its about time to change the battery anyways.

Im running a ZX750 and an MTX4202 for highs with a 2 Farad capacitor.

But how does the Yellow top work for you? Judging from your pics, its a 9th gen corolla as I have. But for me, I was leaning more towards a Kinetik HC1400.

Any opinions?

LoudCamry · 07-23-2009, 10:57 AM

i believe his car is a 5 th gen camry. i also have a yellow top and the big 3. The reason i went with the yellow top is because I listen to music while the car is off. It last longer then most battery and will charge back to full without any damage to the battery.

gameguru1360 · 07-23-2009, 11:27 AM

still think you should've at least put in 2ga wiring for the big 3 instead of 4ga. Bigger wire is always better, but I can see how expensive it would be with 1 or 0ga wiring

LoudCamry · 07-23-2009, 01:25 PM

18 feet of 2 awag will be enough to run battery to your trunk and to do the big 3.

aznlunatic206 · 07-23-2009, 02:36 PM

I would of went with bigger gauge wire, but this 4awg that im using for my big 3 was bought from my friend for $2. since i have bought my yellow top, my lights barely dim anymore, unless if i really crank it up past my listening level, and my voltage never dips below 13v.