Using A/C and stereo.......

[RobP]

I have a round back alternator in my original A/C car, although I doubt it's the original alternator. I think the the A/C cars alternators were rating around 40 amps.
I'm concerned about running my Classic air A/C and my aftermarket stereo at the same time. My stereo has 2 amplifiers although I don't play it very loud. I know I'm probably being paranoid, but I've never run them at the same time. When either is running, the ammeter stays just to the right of center. I've done the parallel wiring mod, but I'm still hesitant to run them at the same time. Any thoughts?

 

[Mike67]

Why not get a 60-80 amp alternator if you're worried about it?

 

[mopar 3 B]

Leave the stereo off and listen to mopar music.

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Find an alt able to feed maybe around 55 amps iddling and upgrade the wires between alt-amm-batt

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Usually I recomend AT LEAST between 45-50 amps iddling, but being you will have something extra on the stereo system, better those extra amps to help a bit and headroom.

If you can get more juice iddling... better. Same applies to every car, just that more amps are also more $. At the end the alt just will source what the car demands, no matter if alt is able to give more, but other way around is the killer on our cars.

 

[mopar 3 B]

Just remember there is a limit to what the old wiring will carry. Wire gauges were never sized for large amps.

 

[RobP]

Thanks for all of the replies. I've recently replaced the bulkhead connector, engine wire harness, middle bulkhead wire harness, and the interior harness was replaced at some point. I've also replaced the voltage regulator and balast resitor and as mentioned earlier I've also done the parallel wiring mod.
Am I correct in assuming since the ammeter stays just to the right of center while running either that the alternator has enough amps to power either one? If I tried both and the ammeter stays just to the right of center can I assume it's good for both at the same time? I guess to be safe I should upgrade the alternator....

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Am I correct in assuming since the ammeter stays just to the right of center while running either that the alternator has enough amps to power either one? If I tried both and the ammeter stays just to the right of center can I assume it's good for both at the same time? I guess to be safe I should upgrade the alternator....

If everything is hooked up and sourced correctly from alt side of ammeter, that's right, you are fine.

Upgrade for a higher capacity alt will keep you safer. You still haven't tried at night, raining, wipers on and stopped at a traffic light geared LOL.