#5571, "RE: power for amplifier" In response to Reply # 1 Mar-11-03 07:38 AM by SPL_Eclipse
you could, in fact, run the amp straight from the alternator. the alt/batter/amps positive connection are all "touching" each other anyways. you will not get anymore power out of a setup like that though.
edit: forgot to add why... as i said earlier, they are all connected, so the voltage potential should be the same no matter what point you "tap into" it for the amp. the only reason you might get *slightly* better voltage if you run the wire straight off the alternator is due to the fact that you are eliminating the resistance found in the wire that connects the battery to the alternator. the difference will be very minimal though, and given the dynamic nature of music, you will never ever notice a percievable difference.
the main reason to run the amp off of the batter is this:
the alternator has diodes on it that help reduce any kind of a/c ripple being carried on the d/c power. this works pretty well, but not excellently (in most cases). this "dirty" power can cause some noise in the system. storage devices, such as a battery or a capacitor help to further weed out some of the a/c ripple. that is the reason you want to run your power line off of the battery.