Stereo & Electronics - How much can the stock charging system handle?

My car is wired for a 10" stealth sub + an amp. When shopping for a sub and amp do I need to restrict my purchase so that the stock charging system won't be affected? I'd like to put an amp and a sub in, but not if I have to go monkeying with the charging system to handle it. Is there a baseline for the tipping point of the stock system?

The amp will be only for driving the sub, nothing else.

I'd say up to 1000 watts and you should be fine.

I'd say up to 1000 watts and you should be fine.
agreed - 1000 is a good, safe cutoff

I have 2 10's and running a 500 watt rms old school mtx amp. I could go a little bigger, but I don't like the surging etc and seems to be a perfect cutoff point for me.

yea also depends a lot on how efficient your equipment is

Thanks for the responses.

I was looking into a 250w amp to drive the sub. Looks like that shouldn't be a problem at all.

I'm running 1500 watt alpine amp w/ stock battery and alt w/o a cap, and it works awesome!!! But 1000 watts sounds more reasonable...

I'd say 500 watts tops and even that's cutting it close. Take into account night driving with a/c on.

500 watts is only about 35-40 amps of current... our cars have a 120 amp stock don't they? Mine did, at least.

500 watts is only about 35-40 amps of current... our cars have a 120 amp stock don't they? Mine did, at least.

some due, some have 102amps too.

take in mind, that's at 4-5k rpms too. idle is about 20amps.

500 watts is only about 35-40 amps of current... our cars have a 120 amp stock don't they? Mine did, at least.

not all of them. Some have the 102 amps. If I'm not mistaken, most of them are the 102 amps.

take in mind, that's at 4-5k rpms too. idle is about 18 amps.

oh yeah, big time db problem this morning. :bang: