Light Bar/Electrical System Load Handling

Kugellager · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 5:06 pm

I am in the process of fabbing a light bar/CB antenna bracket and plan to mount 4 Hella 500's on the light bar with the 55w bulbs they come with...I would like to eventually replace the 55w bulbs with 100w bulbs. My question is...Can the electrical system/alternator take adding an extra 400w/30A of power requirements to the system utilizing the 100w bulbs? I assume that the lightbar with the 55w bulbs will be comparable to the stock light bar and therefore should not be a problem.

John
];')

GPR65 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2006 1:04 am

remember the alternator in the renegade models is more powerful. It puts out 160 amps vs. 130-132 for the other models. also if you have your headlights which are 55watts each and 400 extra watts you are looking at 510 watts/ 12 volts = 42.5 amps. Thats not even with your tail lamps parking lights and brake lights. You are probly close to 50 amps with all that. alternators acually put out around 90% of its max amps around 2000 rpms so a 130 amp alternator is only putting out around 115. You would problay be fine but it would be nice to have more cushion. (read: bigger alternator and better battery)

Chris

Kugellager · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2006 2:05 am

I read shortly before you posted that there was also a 160 amp alternator available. I will definitely have to look into that as it would be an easy upgrade.

...I forgot to mention that in addition to the light bar I also have upgraded my foglights to the 65w Sylvania Silverstar bulbs. I did the mod to the base flange and replaced the bulbs. I can really see the difference. When I shine them on the garage door ther are noticeably brighter and whiter than the low beams in my headlights.

Foglight Upgrade

John
];')

GPR65 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:57 am

yeah if you have fog lights also then i definetly recomend an upgrade. You can also have yours rebuilt. BTW I have done the fog light mod also and my lights are great!

Chris

SavageSS27 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:40 pm

OK, well i'm a little leary about running all the lights that i plan on getting even off of a 160A alternator...i'd like to have about 730W worth of lighting on my KJ, would it be worth it to just get another battery to wire the lights directly to??? also, i'm planning on wiring up a speaker battery once I get a new amp and such....so that's three batteries, how would all that wiring work, and does the speaker battery get charged by the stock alternator or what?

thanks,
-Savage-

rocketjocky · **Posted:** Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:59 pm

Savage, even at 730 watts that’s only 61 amps I would not worry about a battery for the lights. Also remember unless you’re going to install a second alternator the 160 amp charging any and all batteries in the Jeep. I have seen larger alternators but the price is high. Good luck

SavageSS27 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 07, 2006 10:28 pm

do you think the 160A would be enough for at least one amp (one for speakers one for sub (but powered off of seperate battery)) and 730W worth of lights? plus all the OEM electronics???

rocketjocky · **Posted:** Tue Feb 07, 2006 10:48 pm

I guess it depends on the size of the amp, also if the alternator isn't big enough the battery can supply power for short periods. the thing to remember is PIV that is Power (wattage) = Current (amperage) * Voltage. I just dont know how much the jeep uses to compare. Also remember even though an amp may be 120 watts output it will require more current than the 10 amps to run it, you'll have to look at each amp for their specs.

LimitedLurker · **Joined:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 7:18 pm **Posts:** 114

Check our mean green alternators.

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

LimitedLurker wrote:

Check our mean green alternators.

Sure, do you have a link?

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Thu Feb 09, 2006 12:21 pm

snowsport wrote:

LimitedLurker wrote:

Check our mean green alternators.

Sure, do you have a link?

http://www.google.com/search?q=mean+green+alternators

:-P

sorry, I had to

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Feb 09, 2006 1:03 pm

I have 2 hella 500's, 65 watt fogs, and a 500 watt mtx sub. I really need to get a cap b/c when the sub hits really low all the lights dim, i also have the optima red top. I think the 130amp alt would be fine for your needs. The extra 30amps isnt that much. If you have heated seats i wouldnt turn them on, all the extra lights, defrost the rear window, turn the a/c on high, fogs on and headlights, turn the inside lights on, have a boat hooked up and charging its batteries, and hit the brakes all at the same time. Lol i think i covered everything.

Everything in the jeep really pulls amps when you think about it, the a/c pulls the most i would think. Just take it easy if you do keep the 130amp alt, Bennett over at jeepkj had the rene 160 alt for sale, i almost bought it off of him. I believe he now has the mean green alt. Go send him a pm about it.

He has some lights on his rig.

Kugellager · **Posted:** Thu Feb 09, 2006 9:55 pm

My light bar is all installed now in case you have not seen it. The 55w H3 bulbs are in it now and I will eventually try to upgrade to the 100w H3 at a later time.

Custom Light Bar

John
];')

VTNomad · **Posted:** Thu Feb 09, 2006 10:04 pm

I just bought a Renegade alternator off of eBay for $.99, cost me $30 to get it shipped, works great. Part number ends in AA instead of AC. Took 5 minutes to swap out.

Light Bar/Electrical System Load Handling

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