engine off playing audio

[Shimian]

With a double din, a 4 chan amp, front splits and rear speakers, how long can i run the audio for with the engine OFF and NOT risk the car from not starting? The battery is a heavy duty one at approx 440 CCA

I also have a voltmeter but unsure how low i can go without risking the car from not starting.

thanks

[trism]

It wont start below about 10 volts.

Prob about 40mins at a medium level.

[Shimian]

It wont start below about 10 volts.

Prob about 40mins at a medium level.

Wow really? So far ive been getting less than 15min. Wasnt sure if i should invest in a yellowtop when i recently changed my battery

[Lukey]

i can play the stereo in my car for a couple of hours without it going flat.

h/u, front splits, rear coax, 4ch amp,2ch amp, sub

[Shimian]

i can play the stereo in my car for a couple of hours without it going flat.

h/u, front splits, rear coax, 4ch amp,2ch amp, sub

holy crap. from majority saying less than 15min to 1 saying 40min and now a few hours. Such a huge variance. Lukey - Are you running a standard battery? Or a really highend one?

[Lukey]

****ed if i know, the battery has been in the car since ive owned which is 3.5ish years now, plus however long before hand.

i dont have it overly loud either.

and my positive terminal thingo shows my battery volts.

[Shimian]

wow. If i can get a minimum of 40min, ill go ahead with getting the amp and speakers.

[flipfire]

440CCA is a pretty big battery, im gonna say 30-40mins at medium level.

If your battery rates it Ah (Ampere hours) you can calculate the draw with a multimeter and get an accurate time, but most car batteries only rate the CCA.

[Shimian]

440CCA is a pretty big battery, im gonna say 30-40mins at medium level.

If your battery rates it Ah (Ampere hours) you can calculate the draw with a multimeter and get an accurate time, but most car batteries only rate the CCA.

I just looked at the specs. Its actually 400CCA, 60RC (min) Extra Heavy Duty from RACV.

[trism]

You've been getting 15 mins? Fuuuuxk

My old setup I had a 2 Chan, 4 Chan and a monoblock with over 2kwrms total power and I got near 2 hours.

But I did have a d34 blue top.

[hmetro24]

You car battery is on its way to die. I had same problem 10 mins of audio engine off and battery dead. Changed battery, it last for long enough

[Shimian]

Sorry all. Just to clarify. I dont have the amp yet. I am looking to buy a 4 chan amp with splits and rears. I was asking around to get an idea of how long i can listen to music for with car off. The battery was only installed a few months ago. So far my poll are majority less than 15min and a couple over few hours.

[TheSaint]

i get 2 hours with an OEM Honda battery and Pivot Razin Volt Stab Kit

similar setup but more quality speakers and no subs

[Shimian]

i get 2 hours with an OEM Honda battery and Pivot Razin Volt Stab Kit

similar setup but more quality speakers and no subs

also with a 4 chan amp? I also have a pivot raizin kit.

I wonder why some people say less than 15min

[TheSaint]

yeah i have a alpine PDX 4.100

[trism]

less than 15 mins.

thats atrocious.

the car would barely start if the battery was that weak.

I used to compete in Car Audio Sound Quality Comps.

ive done installs in plenty of cars.

My best mate has his own install business.

Ive had plenty of experience lol

youll get 40mins to an hour

[flipfire]

I got about 20mins on a 350CCA battery with splits, 6x9's, 4ch amp and 12" sub. The battery was at least a year or two old though.

[craigosrepz]

Does a capacitor help? Mine can be left playing for about a hour or 2 depending on volume level. Not a flash battery either.

splits, 6x9s 2x400w amps 2x12s 1 farad cap.

[trism]

no, capacitor wont do anything to extend battery life.

A capacitor for an amp is essentially like a surge tank for fuel for a motor.

heres how it works.

You wire it up to your sub amplifier
Turn the car on, and power from the battery goes to the cap, some of it gets stored up, and the rest of it goes to the amp.
When you play it at a normal volume, all the juice comes from the battery
When you turn it up, the amp draws more power, so the battery is getting more pulled from it, but the cap stays full
When there is an extra large bass hit, the amp draws A LOT more power, more than the battery can supply, so it draws it from the capacitor.

Basically, its a bandaid solution to stop headlights dimming to the bass.

This can be solved however, by having a good battery, and proper grounds.

Also note, that you do NOT need a capacitor for speaker amps, only sub amps.