So I am thinking about adding a custom sound system in my car, this would more than likely require a new alternator right?

 

How much power are you talking about? I have a 750wt amp and 2 10's in the back on the stock alternator. Maybe a capacitor if your talking about a lot of thump but the stock alternator is fine.

 

ahh finally subject in my speacialty lol...... no you really dont need a new alternator unless you are talking about some serious thumpage! but with that much you should also add another battery and capacitor But.... on everyday- midgrade systems you should be fine but it you max it out or"turn it up" alot i would recommend an optima battery yellow top deep cycle that allows you to complete drain recharge again and again with minimum damage unlike a stadard wet celled car battery that with a louder type system the battery charge will flex up and down so much it can cause pre mature failure of a battery ..... but if you are interested in something top notch let me know and we can figure out what you need

 

I'm running two amps, one is 656W amp for the 6x9s and components speakers and 750W amp for my subwoofer. I also have an ASP under pulley. Granted I don't crank the volume driving to and from the store but on the highway is a different story, and I have yet to have a problem with my alternation keeping up. I think yoiu should be fine.

 

What? Dont lead the poor guy down the wrong road.
If you are going to be cranking it up 90% of the time, then
you need a new alternator or you will be going thru them like water.
And the stock OEM alternators are quite pricey.
Electrical power is not produced by your battery. Its just a storage device.
And caps just compensate for long 12Vpower runs from the battery up front
to the amps in back. You need a bigger alternator to handle the extra juice
being used by the amps.

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Depending on how much power you are trying to run. Stock or aftermarket I would upgrade the following:
big 3 upgrade, if lights dim then upgradethebattery, Capacitors are useless. They just put a bigger demand on the altenator. Go to the a/v forum here and read the sticky. It will reinforce what I have said.

 

See 157 that's what I was thinking. My old focus would dim whenever I rolled the windows up or down and I have been told that if I add anything that is going to suck power, such as a sound system, I would need a more powerful alt...thus I should just upgrade so to save annoyance down the road.

 

Thank you.
What use is a sound system that kills OEM
alternators at the worst possable moment?
I have been thru quite a few $300 alternators
in my day. I finally got smart.

 

do what you do but I have worked with many a car all stock with systems and the first to go ...Battery sadly do to the pointI was refering to.. I am not disagreeing with you about the stronger load it puts on the sytem and the more power you may need......
Does anyone have specs as to what amps the alt. puts out stock? I have just found that generally the alternator is able to keep up just the battery cant handle the constant change stock its all according to how much power you want and how much you are willing to spend....

Also The capacitor can only create a worse load on the Alt. if it is not able to keep up the po weras the first problem.. a cap. wont fix that... But it is true that that with a proper alternator and battery that is sufficent, the capacitor well help when the speakers hit a peak note it will HELP keep the light from dimming as bad

 

85/132 idle/maxRPM
according to the 05 mustang specs sheet pdf

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