It can be hard to choose a battery for your sound system. You need to know what you are looking for to have the best experience possible.
A car battery is much different from a regular household battery because it needs to withstand more abuse and power demands. You must know how long your car will take before it dies, so you don’t accidentally buy one too big or too small and how many amps the voltage of your sound system draws because this will dictate what type of batteries are compatible with it.
If you know what kind of voltage draw your sound system has, then go ahead and find out what amps your battery needs to deliver.
So, how do I choose a battery for my sound system? The size of the battery you need depends on how powerful your sound system is. The more power that it has, the bigger battery you’ll need. You can find out how much power your sound system has by looking at CA (Cranking Amps) and see if it’s at least as big as the total watts for your sound system. For example, a system with a 1400 watt capacity will require at least 1400 cranking amps.
This article will help determine which type of rechargeable battery is compatible with your setup.
How to Choose a Car Battery for a sound system?
You want to have the best sound system possible, but you’re not sure how to choose a battery for your car.
There are so many different types of batteries on the market that it’s hard to know which one is right for you.
We’ve got you covered with this guide!
This article will walk you through all the factors to choose a good battery and help make your decision easy. Check out our top picks below.
Battery Watts:
You will need to choose a battery that is as big as the wattage of your car. The bigger the wattage, the more power you will need for your car. The RMS Wattage is used to measure how much power there is and what size of a battery we need. For example, if you want a 1400-watt system and you have an 1800-watt system, then you can use it with no problem.
Battery Dimensions:
You might initially be hesitant to choose a battery because you are not sure if it will fit in the stock location under the hood. You can measure your current battery to see if that is the right size. Make sure that your replacement is not higher than your current one.
In some cases, the battery posts on a new battery can be bigger than the stock one and still fit in place. The post configuration must also match what you have.
You need to use your best judgment because every vehicle will be different. Second, ensure that the aftermarket battery is long enough and wide enough to fit in the car’s battery compartment.
Starter versus Secondary Battery:
Many people think it’s okay to put a secondary battery in their car, even if they don’t replace the starter battery. This is not correct. Suppose you have a secondary battery and still have the stock starter battery. In that case, your car will not work well because your car will be using up all the power from your alternator on an inefficient lead-acid battery when it could otherwise use that power on your secondary battery.
However, replacing the starter battery first is good for your car. The starter battery usually has a higher amp draw, so it will make the rest of your electrical system more efficient. Your headlights will be brighter with less power needed to turn on. You also won’t have to deal with corrosion that comes from having two batteries hooked together.
Moreover, a battery isolator is when you have two batteries, one for your car and one for your music. If you want to drive with no music, then it will help. It helps the car battery stay well if the other battery makes it go dead.
It is wise to buy a deep cycle battery if you are using an isolator. The deep cycle battery will drain power multiple times, so doing the big 3 upgrades never hurts.
What Kind of Battery Can You Use for Car Audio?
There are many types of car batteries. You need to find the right one for your car and how much energy the stereo and amplifiers use.
There are 6 kinds of batteries for cars. They are:
- Deep cycle batteries
- Calcium batteries
- AGM batteries
- Lithium-ion batteries
- Wet cell batteries
- EFB batteries
Recognizing the differences between them will assist you in determining which one is best for your vehicle audio system.
01. Deep Cycle Batteries
Deep cycle batteries are used in cars with many electronic components, like amps or stereos. Deep cycle batteries don’t get damaged when you charge them and then discharge them over and over again. They provide constant power to the car for a long time.
02. Calcium Batteries
These batteries are different from other batteries because they contain calcium instead of antimony in their grids. This means that both the negatives and positives will use calcium components.
You can use these batteries in your car. They are less affected by extreme weather than other batteries so that they can last longer.
03. AGM Batteries
AGM batteries are dry cell batteries. They use paste instead of liquid to carry the current. So they might not need water or acid like other types of batteries. AGM’s last longer than other types of batteries too.
AGM batteries are a good choice for backups and RV’s because of their long life. It is said that they can last up to 8-10 years, depending on the quality of the battery. Which, if true, makes them relatively cheap compared to other rechargeable batteries. They also have a higher output than other types of batteries. AGM batteries are also more resistant to bumps and shocks, making them ideal for off-roading.
While AGM’s are strong workhorses, they are very heavy for their size. That makes it hard to use them in smaller electronics because you might need to use more batteries to give the same amount of power. They are also one of the most expensive types of batteries on the market, so they might not be ideal for young people with a tight budget.
04. Lithium-ion batteries
There are many types of batteries. The lithium-ion ones are different than the ones you might be used to. They last much longer, and they will hold a steady voltage better.
But they are not as strong, so make sure they don’t get overcharged or discharged too much. These batteries only need 500-1000 charge cycles, but as technology advances, these batteries could last up to 2000 charge cycles or more.
You will need different chargers for the lithium-ion battery because your battery will not work as long if you do not have the right one.
05. Wet Cell Batteries
Wet cell batteries are a type of battery that can cause acid spills or swell if it does not have a proper electrolyte solution. To avoid these problems, you need to make sure the caps on the wet cell batteries are tightly closed, and there is enough water in each one. The wet cell batteries should be opened as little as possible to ensure they don’t spill anything out.
06. EFB Batteries
EFB stands for Enhanced Flooded Batteries. These are also called Advanced Flooded Batteries. They have less time to recharge, and they don’t use as much power when they’re running.
They can be used in automatic start-stop systems, but if you want to replace the battery in your car, then an AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) battery is better because it’s more powerful and better for your engine.
Can a Car Battery Affect the Sound System?
The car battery starts the engine for your car and makes sure that the lights, air conditioning, and radio work when you turn off the engine.
Although, your car’s sound system needs the correct voltage to make it work. If you don’t have enough voltage, then your radio or other parts might not work, making the sound quality bad.
Moreover, if your battery is smaller than the power you use, it will go down. For example, if you’re using more electricity than the battery can give out, then your sound system will go down.
Let me show you an example.
Suppose you have a battery with a voltage of 14.4 volts, and the alternator has a current of 80 amps. That is 1150 watts, or 1.2 kilowatts, which is how much power you have to move your car around.
If you use 40% of this, then the available power for a car audio system would be 1,150W x 40% = 460W
If you use an amplifier, the total amount of power you can get is 460 watts.
A D class amplifier is about 70% efficient so that it can make 322 Watts of power.
If you have speakers and subwoofers, your car will have good sound.
However, if you use powerful speakers and subwoofers that are too loud, then it’s time to upgrade your battery with greater amperage or install an additional battery for car audio.
The battery is a major factor in determining the sound system of a car. So if you have small batteries, you need to get an upgrade from it. Or else, if your batteries are dead or not working, then it will affect your sound system’s quality. In that case, instead of amplifiers and speakers, you may need a new car battery.
As your car’s sound system is an additional accessory, it will use up more of your battery power. Therefore, remember to install only the needed components for good quality sound.
Can I Use a Motorcycle Battery for Car Audio?
No. Motorcycle batteries can’t handle the high current load.
If you still think a motorcycle battery will work for your car, there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it:
Buy a second loud amplifier battery, wire one up to your car, and wire the other up to your amp, so they don’t share power; then, when one drains from playing music, swap it out with the other until you need another charge.
The better way to do it is to use a deep cycle battery designed specifically for car audio and buy another one just like it.
A motorcycle battery can’t handle that kind of load, and the wrong wiring could blow up in your face and kill you.
Conclusion
There are many factors to consider when choosing a battery for your sound system. We hope this blog post has given you the information necessary to decide which type of power supply is best for your needs. If there’s anything else we can do, just let us know.