Light Bar and alternator question

[AlexKJ]

Hi

If I put a Light bar in my KJ do I need a better alternator? I've heard the Renegades haves different alternators than the other KJ's... Is that true?

 

[Marlon_JB2]

That is true. The Renegades come with a 160A alternator, lightbar or not. There's plenty of KJs out there running around with the standard 136A alternator and the lightbar, so......... if you installed it without upgrading the alternator, you at least wouldn't be the only one. I don't know if there's any negative consequences of running it like that though. The KJ might start pulling power from the battery then if the alternator isn't kicking out enough power, but this is unlikely.

 

[M&P40]

the renegade has an upgraded alternator. whether it is necessary i am not sure, i know i have the renegade (without the light bar, but with the upgraded alt) and when i turn my stereo up loud it dims the lights when the bass hits

 

[JeepJeepster]

I wouldnt run the heated seats, bright lights, hit the brakes while towing a trailer, turn the heat on high w/defrost, turn the rear defroster on, light bar, fog lights(wired it so you can with brights), turn the inside lights on, adjust a powered mirror, open a visor w/light, charge a cell phone, all at the same time if I didnt have the 160A alternator.

Edit: My Sub also dimmed my headlights at night if it hit hard. That doesnt have as much to do with the amount of power the Jeep can deliver as it does with the speed it can deliver it. Get a capacitor, thats what its made for.

 

[JeepINgeek]

in my PT ( yes i know this isnt a PT forum) we sound buffs did something called hyper grounding. We would take large guage wire and "reinforce" the grounding throughout the vehicle. It helped ALOT with audio dimming, turnsignal "shimmy" and some would say engine idle.

 

[tjkj2002]

The 160amp alt is not nessecary unless you want to run all your electronic stuff(radio,lights,fan,heated seat,and such) all at the same time.I have the renny light bar with the 136amp alt and zero problems,also have a WARN XP9500 winch.It's all in the battery,I ran a Optima Red Top until I got the winch then switched to the Yellow Top.Can have all my lights on(low beams,fogs,HID's,and renny light bar) and have my stereo cranked up(two 10" subs with 750watt amp) without any dimming at all,even when the bass hits and no capicitor for the stereo.It's all in the battery,and allowing the battery to recharge after being drained like that.

 

[JeepJeepster]

tjkj, you have HID's and subs? Is there anything you dont have on your Jeep?! What else do you have?

 

[tjkj2002]

tjkj, you have HID's and subs? Is there anything you dont have on your Jeep?! What else do you have?

I couldn't find a place for the kitchen sink .

Yes the HID's are my KC HID's mounted on my ARB bumber,and I have two 10" EarthQuake DepthCharge subs(I hear no rattles in my Jeep ).Many more goodies to be added(and not to do with my SFA swap either) that are top secret right now.

 

[AlexKJ]

Maybe this info could be useful someday:

Desc.________________________Amp.________Mopar P/N
AN Body 3.9L, 4.7L, 5.9L ______136 Amp_____56041693AC
AN, DN Bodies 3.9L, 4.7L, 5.9L__160 Amp_____56029914AA

 

[rsincav]

This may not belong here but it is an electrical question. I have an 07 barely over 10K miles and have noticed if I close two windows together my headlights dim. The dimming of the headlights is farely noticable. Anyone experiance this or have a solution besides raising one window at a time. Just wondering if tthe alt. is maybe bad or something else is drawing to much current. Not reeally a big fan of going to the dealer unless a warranty problem.

 

[JeepINgeek]

it sorta belongs here. Yes this is common. its along the same lines of don't run your hellas, your wench, while heating the seats, running the AC, etc etc.

solutions were kind of mentioned here. I know in the PT Cruisers reinforcing grounding helped. Or a better battery can help too. Unless your lights are SEVERELY dimming i wouldnt take it to the dealer. they will just charge you to tell you theres nothing they can do.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

This may not belong here but it is an electrical question. I have an 07 barely over 10K miles and have noticed if I close two windows together my headlights dim. The dimming of the headlights is farely noticable. Anyone experiance this or have a solution besides raising one window at a time. Just wondering if tthe alt. is maybe bad or something else is drawing to much current. Not reeally a big fan of going to the dealer unless a warranty problem.

Normal. Don't worry about it.

 

[Ry' N Jen]

The 160amp alt is not nessecary unless you want to run all your electronic stuff(radio,lights,fan,heated seat,and such) all at the same time.I have the renny light bar with the 136amp alt and zero problems,also have a WARN XP9500 winch.It's all in the battery,I ran a Optima Red Top until I got the winch then switched to the Yellow Top.Can have all my lights on(low beams,fogs,HID's,and renny light bar) and have my stereo cranked up(two 10" subs with 750watt amp) without any dimming at all,even when the bass hits and no capicitor for the stereo.It's all in the battery,and allowing the battery to recharge after being drained like that.

Im with tjkj.
I can run 700 watts of frontal light in my Mini with a 100 amp alternator.(58.333Amps)
Plenty left over for the ignition, intercom, and remaining electrical system.
It's not the alternator, it's the battery that you have installed. An Optima Yellow top is the choice for me.