biggest amp w/ no alternator upgrade?

[BG]

Guys:

I have a 2006 GMC Sierra w/ the 4.8L V-8. What would you say is the largest linear i could run in that truck without having to upgrade the alternator or battery or etc. My truck is all stock and i want to keep it that way. Let me know how many watts i can push thru my truck without sucking the life out of it!

thanks,
brandon

[TwentyTwo-Zero]

That vehicle has a few different options for the factory installed alternator. Which one (amp output) is your vehicle equipped with?

[BG]

That vehicle has a few different options for the factory installed alternator. Which one (amp output) is your vehicle equipped with?

partner...i have no idea...lol. but, it is a very basic truck, some would call "stripped". it didnt even have towing package. so, i would guess it has the smallest alternator they put on the full size GMC's

[lonesome 500]

well......a nice 1x4 will be fine...you will still notice the volt meter drop....but

I know you said no upgrade but.....

for 35$ they make an opposite side batt box....add this for reserve...you can go to a straight 6 pill with a external 1 pill driver...like the "trucker" fatboy....for the amp adjustment

if nothing is added....a 1x4 is about all....that truck has enough alt....not enough reserve

hollar at col. he'll hook u up


woooooo hey BG

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[ww228kidd]

prolly a 100amp ....i would say 100amp alternator with one battery...a Palomar 400 or 450, a Class C
3 pill, texas star 400 or 500, or anything doing about 600 to 700 watts peak or less will work with no problems... I have ran a 2x4 Class C amp in a Cable TV work van with stock setup when i worked for the cable company and did ok...it just slowed the motor down a little at idle, and got about 1000 watts peak out of it...it was a MO WATTS (2) 1446s driving (4) 2879s....i was using a wilson 5000 mag mount antenna and it never even messed with the 2 way business radio...i did see the volts drop from 14 to about 12.5 when i key....

[BG]

thanks for the info guys....about 600-700 watts is what i am looking to do...so sounds like i may be able to do that with little to no modification. i cant modify the truck because it is a company vehicle and i need to be able to remove all my equipment without butchering the truck (if i would like to keep my job...lol). anyway, thanks again.

[lonesome 500]

actually it is more likely 125 to 145 oem.....

we just set up one with a 1 2879 X 4 2879........it's cookin

[TwentyTwo-Zero]

Just remember to take into account the vehicle's (worst scenario) amperage draw for winter weather such as Headlights/Driving Lights, Heater, Wipers, etc.

[ww228kidd]

actually it is more likely 125 to 145 oem.....

we just set up one with a 1 2879 X 4 2879........it's cookin

we have stripped down work trucks here for the field crew, and i just checked a 2005 Chevy full size single cab V6..it had (93 A) stamped on it...

[lonesome 500]

actually it is more likely 125 to 145 oem.....

we just set up one with a 1 2879 X 4 2879........it's cookin

we have stripped down work trucks here for the field crew, and i just checked a 2005 Chevy full size single cab V6..it had (93 A) stamped on it...

93 amp is standard on a V6.......not V8 though

93 with the truck load is still enough for a 1x4....long as you have a high CCA

[King Mudduck]

5 pill would do just fine but i would....just to be safe slip in a bigger battery and keep the one that's in it now at home. When you leave or get fired for running that big amp ( lol ) then just stick the factory one back in. If you want to get all you can out of the amp with out any hassles then a $50 or $60 dollar battery is cheap insurance!

Don't forget to run the ground wire from the amp to the frame. You want to sand off a place on the frame that is bare metal and then once you attach your wire you want to seal it with something to keep out any kind of moisture that in time will cause you fits. With the amount of power you will be using you do not want to do a half assed install or you will #1. not be happy with it or #2. you WILL blow the amp without a good ground! You also want the hot wire to the battery using at least 8 gauge wire from the bat to the amp. That way it will get all the power it needs.

Also. Don't forget that with this kind of power not just any antenna will do. I would say a Wilson 1000 magnet mount would be a good choice. This way you could just slip the antenna on and off ( the center of the roof will work best ) when needed and it will handle the power as well as transmit and receive with the best of them.

[drdx]

Also, a lot of the draw will depend on your deadkey and swing, as a lower deadkey will offer some recovery when not on voice peaks. Good advice above on the ground and wire size, as it all matters. If the wire run from the battery is any distance beyond just going through the firewall and to a close by amp, go bigger, as in #4. Make sure the wire coming from the alternator is large as well for maximum power transfer. Fuse at the amp and at the battery too. The last thing you need is a short, turning a piece of wire into a 10 ft long fuse starting a fire. -drdx

[BigBlue 442]

actually it is more likely 125 to 145 oem.....

we just set up one with a 1 2879 X 4 2879........it's cookin

I have a 2006 LT3 package Silvarado 5.3 and its got a stock 105 amp alt
the only trucks that have a bigger alt are the diesel trucks and then its a 145 amp

for 2006 GMC and Chevy trucks they come stock with 105 amp alts unless you upgrade
this comes from GM site. Hope it helps

[jessejamesdallas]

BigBlue 442 beat me to the draw!

He's right. It should have a 105 amp. alternator. And it will handle a 4-pill all day. It will also work with a 1x4 box, but you will probably see the light's dim a bit, when keying.

Now. "If it were me", and it was my company's truck, and not mine, I would stick with amp's 4-pill's or smaller....Because "IF" something happens, and the alternator go's out, first thing the Boss Man is probably going to say: "Is your radio is to blame".....and "Take it out!"

And he may be right! Running Amp's will put a strain on weak alternators, and batterie's...

Plus, no one your talking to, is likely going to be able to tell the difference between you running a 4-pill amp, vs. a 1x4...

[BG]

BigBlue 442 beat me to the draw!

He's right. It should have a 105 amp. alternator. And it will handle a 4-pill all day. It will also work with a 1x4 box, but you will probably see the light's dim a bit, when keying.

Now. "If it were me", and it was my company's truck, and not mine, I would stick with amp's 4-pill's or smaller....Because "IF" something happens, and the alternator go's out, first thing the Boss Man is probably going to say: "Is your radio is to blame".....and "Take it out!"

And he may be right! Running Amp's will put a strain on weak alternators, and batterie's...

Plus, no one your talking to, is likely going to be able to tell the difference between you running a 4-pill amp, vs. a 1x4...

good point jesse...if i damage this truck, they are gonna have my **Censored**. they have already said this is my last company truck...the policy has changed and after i wear this one out they will just pay me to drive my own. and you are right...i am only going to be talking to truckers on the hwy and then a few folks around home that have bases. well, they can all hear me fine on my barefoot radio. so, maybe i will just go with a little 2 pill and be safe and still talking plenty loud! of course, i want to be able to blow the doors off the world famous jessie james when i blow down I-20 thru dallas! :D

73's...brandon

[jessejamesdallas]

BigBlue 442 beat me to the draw!

He's right. It should have a 105 amp. alternator. And it will handle a 4-pill all day. It will also work with a 1x4 box, but you will probably see the light's dim a bit, when keying.

Now. "If it were me", and it was my company's truck, and not mine, I would stick with amp's 4-pill's or smaller....Because "IF" something happens, and the alternator go's out, first thing the Boss Man is probably going to say: "Is your radio is to blame".....and "Take it out!"

And he may be right! Running Amp's will put a strain on weak alternators, and batterie's...

Plus, no one your talking to, is likely going to be able to tell the difference between you running a 4-pill amp, vs. a 1x4...

good point jesse...if i damage this truck, they are gonna have my **Censored**. they have already said this is my last company truck...the policy has changed and after i wear this one out they will just pay me to drive my own. and you are right...i am only going to be talking to truckers on the hwy and then a few folks around home that have bases. well, they can all hear me fine on my barefoot radio. so, maybe i will just go with a little 2 pill and be safe and still talking plenty loud! of course, i want to be able to blow the doors off the world famous jessie james when i blow down I-20 thru dallas! :D

73's...brandon

May as well...seems there's been allot of that going on around here lately! About the time I get my rig all geared-up to be a "Killing-Machine", someone go's and build's-up something that makes mine sound like something I bought from "Toy's R us!"

[BG]

nah jessie...when i came thru about three weeks ago, you were blowing wall-to-wall and 10ft tall! you were covering up all the truckers out there jabber-jawing! kudos...you were sounding good.

73's...brandon

[jessejamesdallas]

Well shuck's! Next time your passing-thru...give me a shout-out!