My 97 EB expedition has 4 gauge wire comming to and from the battery. Double that on the power. I am going to replace the ground wire on the bat with 1/0, but the power side is all so beefy I'm not really sure I need to.

My deck has a volt meter built in, and I have been playing with it, and wanted to know if you guys think I may need to upgrade the electrical. I have not installed any amps yet and really just want to get a feel for if you think anything else should be upgraded.

When idle I sit at about 13.8 V. I don't know how much drop I should expect, but if I open and close all 4 windows at the same time I drop a few tenths of a volt. When I turn on the lights I probably loose about .05 volts as it will fluctuate from 13.8 to 13.7. One odd thing is if I roll the volume on the deck up to max I loose a few tenths of a volt, but then it will come back and sit around 13.7 or so. I NEVER listen to it close to that loud, but just wanted to test everything. Just want to know if this sounds normal.

If I rev the engine up I notice less drop, and if I am driving there seems to be even less. I had the alt checked when I purchased the truck last year, as general precaution, and they said it was right about where it should be and it looks verry new.

I plan on installing a saz 1500 and then a 4 chan later. I really want to avoid the whole headlight dimming, and don't want to hurt any equipment.

Does any of this spark a concern? Thanks

Do replace the ground wire on the battery. Power and grounds should be the same, because they're a circuit. A weak link anywhere will cause the whole thing to perform worse.

Do you know the size of your alternator? I think it's pretty stout. My '98 Explorer with the V6 has a 130 amp alt, I can't imagine yours being smaller. I get dimming when I'm sitting still, but not much if I'm moving. My battery is stock and I haven't upgraded any wires under the hood (bad me, I know).

I think you'll be ok.

Do replace the ground wire on the battery. Power and grounds should be the same, because they're a circuit. A weak link anywhere will cause the whole thing to perform worse.

Do you know the size of your alternator? I think it's pretty stout. My '98 Explorer with the V6 has a 130 amp alt, I can't imagine yours being smaller. I get dimming when I'm sitting still, but not much if I'm moving. My battery is stock and I haven't upgraded any wires under the hood (bad me, I know).

I think you'll be ok.

lol

Good to know I think my alt is a 120 amp... weird. I have thought about getting a new Bat as it's some old interstate, but it says it has 875 CCA I couldn't find any other info on it though. Looks older.

Something odd I noticed this morning, when I start the truck my volts read about 14.8 or so, but then after the drive into work they stableized at that same 13.8. Why does that happen?

I thought it was pretty dang odd.

That's very normal. 14.8 may be a bit high, but a higher voltage right at start is normal. This happens for two reasons. One, the engine is cold, and as we know, cold electronics run more efficient. And two, your battery just got drained a little from the starter when you started the engine, so the alternator kicks it up a notch to help recharge the battery. Then after you drive a ways the engine both gets warmer and the battery gets recharged, so the voltage goes down.

That's very normal. 14.8 may be a bit high, but a higher voltage right at start is normal. This happens for two reasons. One, the engine is cold, and as we know, cold electronics run more efficient. And two, your battery just got drained a little from the starter when you started the engine, so the alternator kicks it up a notch to help recharge the battery. Then after you drive a ways the engine both gets warmer and the battery gets recharged, so the voltage goes down.

i guessed that, but i wanted to make sure. TY!

Interstate makes great batteries, I personally would run with it. How much power are you going to be running?

Interstate makes great batteries, I personally would run with it. How much power are you going to be running?

If my 4 chan works... 65 per chan.

the saz could probably go to 1600ish or so from what I heard but I will probably never come close to that.

honestly, I will probably have the gains set to the bottom, or close too for 90% of the time. I want to scope it but I don't have the tools. I'm all about SQ, but it will be fun to go back home over N mpls, and show some of the local kids what you can do if you build smart and don't waste money on other things. I like hip hop and some found sound with tons of bass and other such (ie NIN and postal service etc.), but I hate it when the subs are overpowering the front stage. I definately don't want it to make noice outside of the truck much with the windows up.

I will really like the overhead in amp power for hip hop and electronic music.

I had no dimming with an Interstate and a JL 1000/1 & 450/4 so you should really be fine. When I clipped it like hell testing the IXL my lights dimmed, but I am not surprised.

I had no dimming with an Interstate and a JL 1000/1 & 450/4 so you should really be fine. When I clipped it like hell testing the IXL my lights dimmed, but I am not surprised.

ha sounds good. I get a verry verry slight dimming when parked and I roll up the windows in the truck. Verry slight, but I'm such a nit picking perfectionist.

I really need to change the factory ground on the batt to a 0 gauge, the one in there is smaller than the power. Silly ford.

Thanks for the confirmation though.