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Max watts for new car?
- Thread starter tommyguns
- Start date
Hi...
To Start..Welcome to the forum.
In answer to your question..
Depends on several things..
Although some of cars electronics maybe can be interfered
I do Not think that is a Big issue.
Myself from the car with 100 watts have spoken DX round the world.
However if you are looking to use High Power
(be it CB or Ham radio)
the issues that likely matter the most..
What size Engine are you using.
How Powerful is your Alternator.
How Powerful is your Battery.
4 cyl especially you may need to get a better or get your existing alternator modified to put out considerably more power.
(this can still easily be the case on 6 and 8 cyl engines )
Small batteries are typically useless if running an amp/linear
Best to get a Bigger battery and or dual battery set up
(which may also then require an upgraded alternator )
One thing you do NOT want..is to see your head lights and or dash lights dim
as you are using high power radio/amp/linear !!
Another way to aid your amp/linear is through installing high power capacitors (such as is done for car audio amps if one is using 1000 or more watts...however is still good to add bigger/dual batteries as well)
What then do you have ( and are looking to use )
To Start..Welcome to the forum.
In answer to your question..
Depends on several things..
Although some of cars electronics maybe can be interfered
I do Not think that is a Big issue.
Myself from the car with 100 watts have spoken DX round the world.
However if you are looking to use High Power
(be it CB or Ham radio)
the issues that likely matter the most..
What size Engine are you using.
How Powerful is your Alternator.
How Powerful is your Battery.
4 cyl especially you may need to get a better or get your existing alternator modified to put out considerably more power.
(this can still easily be the case on 6 and 8 cyl engines )
Small batteries are typically useless if running an amp/linear
Best to get a Bigger battery and or dual battery set up
(which may also then require an upgraded alternator )
One thing you do NOT want..is to see your head lights and or dash lights dim
as you are using high power radio/amp/linear !!
Another way to aid your amp/linear is through installing high power capacitors (such as is done for car audio amps if one is using 1000 or more watts...however is still good to add bigger/dual batteries as well)
What then do you have ( and are looking to use )
2011 Camaro v6. I have a 1600 watt stereo system with a 1 farad cap already installed. As for my cb, running a rci 2970. Mostly sandbag, but getting getting the itch of more power. Antenna is a Wilson 5000. Not going to say I will get a amp, but its starting to peak my interest as with possibly getting my ham license.
Thanks for your quick reply
Thanks for your quick reply
air bag light (air bag code, dtc) will probly be the first module that would act up with high power,,, the new airbag systems with pps passenger presence system are very sensitive to rf and electrical signals,, im a gm tech and we see airbag lights set from just having a laptop or cell phone sitting on the passenger seat (it has the pps module in it)
I never heard of anyone frying their ECM running high output amps. Turning on trouble icons or making the power door locks do strange things...yes.
I had a Dakota that used to turn on the defroster and windshield wipers when I transmitted. :laugh: And that was with 200 watts. :blink:
Unless you go really high output (1kw or more), I would figure you would be ok with the vehicle computer. Other weird stuff, probably not. You didn't say if your 2970 is the N2 model. Those rigs have plenty of power to get out anywhere you want to without an outboard amp. You're probably just going to have to try it and see for yourself, though!
73,
RT307
Unless you go really high output (1kw or more), I would figure you would be ok with the vehicle computer. Other weird stuff, probably not. You didn't say if your 2970 is the N2 model. Those rigs have plenty of power to get out anywhere you want to without an outboard amp. You're probably just going to have to try it and see for yourself, though!
73,
RT307
Every vehicle is different. Some are quite prone to RFI while others seem to be fairly immune. It's pretty much a gamble unless you research it in depth.
There is a difference between stereo amps and cb amplifiers. Bat caps work great with car stereo and quick steady drum beats, the cap has time to recharge in between. With cb use you key the mic and drop say a 400 watt carrier, before you even speak your bat cap is done. It won't re-charge until you un-key. This is why they are a waste of time for cb amplifier use.
As far as the main question here, new car computer systems can be affected. All you can do is make sure your install is as good as it can be. Proper grounds, good coax, proper routing of coax, run a clean radio, don't overdrive the crap out of the amp, and don't mount the amp or radio next to anything like an air bag module or computer.
I agree with the previous posts about not burning up the computer, but you will cause things to act up. Also as stated make sure your alternator and battery are up to the task.
As far as the main question here, new car computer systems can be affected. All you can do is make sure your install is as good as it can be. Proper grounds, good coax, proper routing of coax, run a clean radio, don't overdrive the crap out of the amp, and don't mount the amp or radio next to anything like an air bag module or computer.
I agree with the previous posts about not burning up the computer, but you will cause things to act up. Also as stated make sure your alternator and battery are up to the task.
the 1st vehicle i ever worked on that totally crapped out by use of an amplifier on cb was an early 2000's gmc general truck tractor. an unmodded export am/fm with a dx500 (or maybe 667, don't remember), and a well mounted single mirror mount, wilson 2000 i think, would cause the truck to buck & miss while at idle. moving things around in the cab didn't help. pretty much anything more then 100w pep caused trouble. while on the highway, the truck died. the computer was diagnosed as to having been affected by excessive rf. how the gmc dealer came up with this, i can't really say, but the computer required replacement as it could not be reprogrammed. my customer was required to use only company authorized radios. my customer is now an xm satellite user & even 10 years later does not have a cb in his company truck.
i believe back in the 90's, a particular toyota model car had issues with even 100 watt radios.
the newest vehicle that i have worked on with any reasonable power was a non-hemi 2007 dodge truck. 800 watts from a dx1200 driven by an ic706mk2g measured by a coaxial dynamics pep meter into any of several different antennas mounted on the top of the side bedrail worked ALMOST flawlessly. there were some issues with dash lights flashing, wipers wiping, and the stereo not working properly-depending on which antenna was used. an 8' whip caused the most problems, a 5' skipshooter the least, and a predator 10k & wilson 5k (i think) were mostly ok.
a 2003 hummer h2, 5x16 messenger with a magnet mount predator worked flawlessly, a 2001 dodge truck would not run right at all with a davemade 4 pill and a mag mount, yet after drilling some holes the 4 was upgraded to a 2x8 fatboy & ran just fine.
on NONE of these trucks did i do any ferrite beads, wrap the computer in aluminum foil, add 500' of ground straps. an unmodified radio is the best starting point.
i believe back in the 90's, a particular toyota model car had issues with even 100 watt radios.
the newest vehicle that i have worked on with any reasonable power was a non-hemi 2007 dodge truck. 800 watts from a dx1200 driven by an ic706mk2g measured by a coaxial dynamics pep meter into any of several different antennas mounted on the top of the side bedrail worked ALMOST flawlessly. there were some issues with dash lights flashing, wipers wiping, and the stereo not working properly-depending on which antenna was used. an 8' whip caused the most problems, a 5' skipshooter the least, and a predator 10k & wilson 5k (i think) were mostly ok.
a 2003 hummer h2, 5x16 messenger with a magnet mount predator worked flawlessly, a 2001 dodge truck would not run right at all with a davemade 4 pill and a mag mount, yet after drilling some holes the 4 was upgraded to a 2x8 fatboy & ran just fine.
on NONE of these trucks did i do any ferrite beads, wrap the computer in aluminum foil, add 500' of ground straps. an unmodified radio is the best starting point.
Thank you all for your answers. I think I'm going to purchase a 2970n2. It should have plenty of output, and hopefully be a little easier on my car. I will Probibly run one extra ground from body to motor just to be on the safe side. Again, thank you for your input.
In my 2004.5 Dodge Cummins, a healthy Fatboy 1x4 being pushed by a well tuned PC76XL radio would only cause the seatbelt light to flicker. However, I had a friend with a Dakota that would literally stall out if you keyed much more than 25 watts. I have also had cars beside me that would stumble every time I keyed up. My current truck (2012 Silverado 2500) is taking 100 watts and not presenting any oddness.
A lot of it has to do with radio tuning (the more it splatters, the more issues you will likely have) and antenna placement. And some power adders (talking car performance, not radio amplifiers) are susceptible to RFI while the car itself isn't, and that leads to problems.
A lot of it has to do with radio tuning (the more it splatters, the more issues you will likely have) and antenna placement. And some power adders (talking car performance, not radio amplifiers) are susceptible to RFI while the car itself isn't, and that leads to problems.