1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

How many lightbars can you run on stock battery/alt

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by Dchampn, Sep 16, 2014.

  1. Sep 16, 2014 at 7:22 AM
    #1
    Dchampn

    Dchampn [OP] EMT

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2014
    Member:
    #138403
    Messages:
    93
    Gender:
    Male
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    09 Lifted Tacoma SR5
    6" Fabtech Lift, 20" Fuel Nutz Rims, 35"x12.5" Toyo Open Country
    I am curious if I can run a 30" lightbar and 4 3x3 ditch lights on the stock battery and alternator without causing a strain?
     
  2. Sep 16, 2014 at 4:23 PM
    #2
    NightProwler

    NightProwler Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2013
    Member:
    #116470
    Messages:
    3,331
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Harlan
    Maricopa, Az
    Vehicle:
    '01 Prerunner, '03 cbr600rr, '09 R1, '03 cbr954rr
    Should be just fine. What's the amp and wattage rating for the 30"? The ditch lights won't be significant to worry about. But list em anyways too I guess.
    I think on mine I was experiencing issues around an addtl ~20 amps. But I upgraded all the wiring too and that helped a ton. Bigger wire for the bars themselves and also the big 3 upgrade. You'll probly start experiencing issues if you add any more. You really won't know until you install it. All depends on what else you have running and other factors like battery type and other accessories. Are you running any subwoofers or anything?
     
  3. Sep 16, 2014 at 5:32 PM
    #3
    Figg

    Figg Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2014
    Member:
    #135085
    Messages:
    65
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Houston
    Vehicle:
    12 TRD Sport 4X4
    Led bar up top, another tucked away in lower grille. 6" Pro Comp, 35's.
    I have a 42 on top and a 30 below the grille without any issues. My ultragauge shows a slight drop in voltage when I turn them on, but it picks right back up.
     
  4. Sep 17, 2014 at 2:02 AM
    #4
    Dchampn

    Dchampn [OP] EMT

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2014
    Member:
    #138403
    Messages:
    93
    Gender:
    Male
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    09 Lifted Tacoma SR5
    6" Fabtech Lift, 20" Fuel Nutz Rims, 35"x12.5" Toyo Open Country
    I found a 20" I liked. It's 126w with an amp input of 8.0 at 12v. And the ditch lights are 18w and I can't find amp ratings. Not pulling anything else off the battery.
     
  5. Sep 17, 2014 at 2:12 AM
    #5
    Dchampn

    Dchampn [OP] EMT

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2014
    Member:
    #138403
    Messages:
    93
    Gender:
    Male
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    09 Lifted Tacoma SR5
    6" Fabtech Lift, 20" Fuel Nutz Rims, 35"x12.5" Toyo Open Country
    Did you do the big 3 upgrade?
     
  6. Sep 17, 2014 at 2:24 AM
    #6
    92LandCruiser

    92LandCruiser Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2010
    Member:
    #31761
    Messages:
    8,317
    Gender:
    Male
    Nevada
    Vehicle:
    80 series Land Cruiser
    Cummins, tons, 40s
    17...



    a lot
     
  7. Sep 17, 2014 at 2:29 AM
    #7
    Dchampn

    Dchampn [OP] EMT

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2014
    Member:
    #138403
    Messages:
    93
    Gender:
    Male
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    09 Lifted Tacoma SR5
    6" Fabtech Lift, 20" Fuel Nutz Rims, 35"x12.5" Toyo Open Country
    And you have no issues with it? So my setup should run no problem?
     
  8. Sep 17, 2014 at 2:31 AM
    #8
    NightProwler

    NightProwler Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2013
    Member:
    #116470
    Messages:
    3,331
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Harlan
    Maricopa, Az
    Vehicle:
    '01 Prerunner, '03 cbr600rr, '09 R1, '03 cbr954rr
    17 bars? Are u kidding? I have 6 total and 2 I don't run in series with the others cuz that's the limit before I experience flickering. That's WITH my uprgraded wires, big 3 AND an h/o alt. I need to run a dual battery setup if I add any more or swap out higher powered ones for some smaller ones I have.

    Edit: Even now I occadionally esperience slight flickering under heavy loads like when I'm blasting my radio/sub and/or idling.
     
  9. Sep 17, 2014 at 6:54 AM
    #9
    Edpsx

    Edpsx Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2013
    Member:
    #114018
    Messages:
    147
    Gender:
    Male
    DFW
    Vehicle:
    13' Double Cab Limited MGM
    K&N Intake, Stainless Tube Steps, Pioneer 8500BHS, Coming Soon:, Morimoto H1 Mini, Viper 5704
    Whats the big 3 upgrade? Did a search and didnt find anything. Wiring battery alt?
     
  10. Sep 17, 2014 at 8:06 AM
    #10
    theblindchicken

    theblindchicken Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2014
    Member:
    #125243
    Messages:
    152
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Christian
    Long Beach
    Vehicle:
    '74 K10
    HID's, LED Dash swap, LED reverse lights, 15"x10" 5 slot mags, sliding rear window, 20gal aux. DS fuel tank,
    Big 3 upgrade is swapping factory grounds (chassis, alternator, battery, sometimes adding one to the fenders) & power cables between the battery & alternator.

    The upgraded cables allow for more amps to pass through as well as lowering the overall resistance in the systems.
     
  11. Sep 17, 2014 at 9:10 AM
    #11
    Edpsx

    Edpsx Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2013
    Member:
    #114018
    Messages:
    147
    Gender:
    Male
    DFW
    Vehicle:
    13' Double Cab Limited MGM
    K&N Intake, Stainless Tube Steps, Pioneer 8500BHS, Coming Soon:, Morimoto H1 Mini, Viper 5704
    Ah yeah, I remember buying grounding kits from HKS back in the day for that same issue. I see they still make them too, but for $140 a pop. ouch.
     
  12. Sep 17, 2014 at 9:14 AM
    #12
    Dchampn

    Dchampn [OP] EMT

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2014
    Member:
    #138403
    Messages:
    93
    Gender:
    Male
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    09 Lifted Tacoma SR5
    6" Fabtech Lift, 20" Fuel Nutz Rims, 35"x12.5" Toyo Open Country
    Whats the max amount of amp pull before there is a noticeable strain on the battery?
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2014
  13. Sep 17, 2014 at 11:16 AM
    #13
    Figg

    Figg Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2014
    Member:
    #135085
    Messages:
    65
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Houston
    Vehicle:
    12 TRD Sport 4X4
    Led bar up top, another tucked away in lower grille. 6" Pro Comp, 35's.
    No, I have a bigger battery then stock and h/o alternator.
     
  14. Sep 17, 2014 at 11:36 AM
    #14
    Dchampn

    Dchampn [OP] EMT

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2014
    Member:
    #138403
    Messages:
    93
    Gender:
    Male
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    09 Lifted Tacoma SR5
    6" Fabtech Lift, 20" Fuel Nutz Rims, 35"x12.5" Toyo Open Country
    What size light bars are you running?
     
  15. Sep 17, 2014 at 4:50 PM
    #15
    NightProwler

    NightProwler Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2013
    Member:
    #116470
    Messages:
    3,331
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Harlan
    Maricopa, Az
    Vehicle:
    '01 Prerunner, '03 cbr600rr, '09 R1, '03 cbr954rr
    There's a guy on here that sells really nice big 3 wiring kits. Forget who off hand but he uses really nice welding cables and includes all terminals and soldered crimps. Sells em for like $120-130. Can also customize it for u if needed. I can look at my pm's to find him if anyone's interested.

    20"- 10amps/120 watts
    42"- 21.6 amps/260 watts
    (2) 8"- 3.33 amps = 6.66 amps/80 watts
    (2) rigid Srq = 2.9 amps/40 watts
    Edit: Plus a 1000 w amp, and a ton of led's.
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2014
  16. Sep 17, 2014 at 6:47 PM
    #16
    Dchampn

    Dchampn [OP] EMT

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2014
    Member:
    #138403
    Messages:
    93
    Gender:
    Male
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    09 Lifted Tacoma SR5
    6" Fabtech Lift, 20" Fuel Nutz Rims, 35"x12.5" Toyo Open Country
    alright cool so my 20" 10amp and 4 rigid squares should run no problem on stock everything.
     
  17. Sep 17, 2014 at 8:10 PM
    #17
    NightProwler

    NightProwler Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2013
    Member:
    #116470
    Messages:
    3,331
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Harlan
    Maricopa, Az
    Vehicle:
    '01 Prerunner, '03 cbr600rr, '09 R1, '03 cbr954rr
    Yeah man yer good. The little rigids don't pull hardly anything to worry about. You probly won't even see a voltage drop with those.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top