[amp3d]

Trying to be proactive here and make sure I'm doing everything properly.

Anyone have any issues with the weaker electrical system when running an amp for audio? No sub or anything here (although, I'm considering a small 6 or 8" down the road), but my speakers are about 125w RMS x 2, so just curious if you guys doing audio upgrades have run into any issues with the charging system in these small cars.

 

[SDSUsnowboards]

Same motor and amp as a Corolla, which has a larger user base to pose this question to.

 

[amp3d]

Good point, I didn't even think of that.
I'll look around.

 

[pwnzor]

I don't run an amp on my stereo, but I do have a CB and UHF radios that have 300 and 45 watt amps, respectively. I can run those along with charging two laptops at 90 watts each, run the radar detector and laser shifters ( no idea what those draw).

I've not had any problem with the stock alternator and battery.

 

[carlbecker]

I use a 25 watt class A amp for 2 way Focal replacement speakers without issue. I don't play music loud enough to hear much when doing 70mph and the top down, then I just listen to the spyder.

Class D amps deliver lots of power and with efficient speakers should pose no problems. Class A amps have a much higher current draw.

 

[rmeller]

... and laser shifters ( no idea what those draw)...

No idea what those are, either. What the heck are they?

 

[Gunship Runabout]

No idea what those are, either. What the heck are they?

They scatter/diffuse the incoming police lasers so it's harder to get an accurate lock.

This is the best video I could find of them in action:

 

[pwnzor]

No idea what those are, either. What the heck are they?

They work in tandem with my Escort MAX360c. Radar detectors don't cut it by themselves these days, it's all about countermeasures.

The head unit plus four shifter pods - two front, two rear. The pods spot the incoming laser (actually LIDAR) and instantly emit an interference pattern that eliminates the return signal. Illegal, but very effective.

Escort MAX360c - $650
Escort ZR5 - $1700
Not having to go to traffic court - $priceless

 

[anon]

They work in tandem with my Escort MAX360c. Radar detectors don't cut it by themselves these days, it's all about countermeasures.

The head unit plus four shifter pods - two front, two rear. The pods spot the incoming laser (actually LIDAR) and instantly emit an interference pattern that eliminates the return signal. Illegal, but very effective.

Escort MAX360c - $650
Escort ZR5 - $1700
Not having to go to traffic court - $priceless

Would a cop who's targeting you get suspicious that they don't get a return signal?

 

[pwnzor]

Would a cop who's targeting you get suspicious that they don't get a return signal?

User has control of the software. It's up to you how to make it behave.

I have it set for auto-shutoff after 3 seconds which gives me enough time to scrub off some speed. When it shuts off, they get their reading, and I'm within 10mph of the speed limit which brings me into the range of an infraction, and most troopers won't bother with it. They're looking for super-speeders.

If you leave it on, and they decide to pull you over... well, you're a short inspection away from having the car impounded and possibly being arrested depending on what your mouth is doing while this is all going on.

You can get it all thrown out in court. It's not illegal to possess, nor to install. It's illegal to USE it. In most states.

It's actually an FCC violation, as per 47 C.F.R. § 97.101(d), and if you don't have your Amateur Operator's license, and if it is shown that you were not identifying your station between communications, then you're in violation of some other codes as well.

Technically, anybody who flies model aircraft without a HAM operator's license is also in violation... so, yeah...

 

[rmeller]

They scatter/diffuse the incoming police lasers so it's harder to get an accurate lock.

They probably just send back a series of jamming pulses that overpower the reflections that the instrument is looking for.

Jammers are quite energy efficient, because it doesn't take much power from a transmitter to overwhelm a reflected signal.

...Not having to go to traffic court - $priceless

Good luck with that. I would expect to get some serious harassment, particularly once the highway patrol gets to know your car and realizes that it never makes a signal. I predict that at some point one of them will stop you in order to get a look around your car, for this sort of thing or any other illegal equipment that he can write you for. If he doesn't find anything, he might write you anyway, for "obstructing governmental administration," or some other such catch-all statute for messing with the cops. If you take it to court, he will tell the judge that you were jamming his speed gun, and in the absence of physical evidence, a town judge will hold his word good against yours. If you want to beat it, you would need to hire a lawyer who knows this kind of stuff, and take it up the ladder until you find a judge who is interested in legal theory.

You might also want to check on whether you agreed to equipment inspections when you applied for your license. Pretty much everywhere now, when you apply you sign a document agreeing to certain terms as a condition of keeping a license. For example, one of them is consent to drug and alcohol tests.

 

[pwnzor]

No inspections here in Georgia beyond yearly emissions, and only in the Metro counties.

My car does in fact make a return signal, they just don't get it until I'm close, or I let them have their signal by deactivating the unit when I'm not speeding. All the cops around here know my car, and I'm friendly with a pretty good number of State Troopers. "Back the Badge" custom license plates don't hurt, either.

Never go to court without representation. It's not worth it even if you pay more than you save by getting out of a fine.

 

[scotched]

They work in tandem with my Escort MAX360c. Radar detectors don't cut it by themselves these days, it's all about countermeasures.

The head unit plus four shifter pods - two front, two rear. The pods spot the incoming laser (actually LIDAR) and instantly emit an interference pattern that eliminates the return signal. Illegal, but very effective.

Escort MAX360c - $650
Escort ZR5 - $1700
Not having to go to traffic court - $priceless

Very illegal and very cool!

 

[Gunship Runabout]

... radar detector and laser shifters ( no idea what those draw).

I use a escort iX detector and love that thing when that Toyota mid-range magic hits and 35mph becomes 55mph on my canyon crawl home from work...

Anyways, you got me curious and it is probably safe to assume 0.25 - 0.33 amps for each 12V connection. I found a fella hardwiring his window wire in his Porsche.