hey all
been thinking about upgrading my system (complete makeover) and realized i need to upgrade some other components of my vehicle first...

i have a 2003 mazda protege5
thinking about the following
-high output alternator
-big 3 upgrade (not sure what gauge/how much wiring to buy)
-add a second (kinetiks) battery

currently i have a 1000w alpine amp with 2x 12" t,alpine ype R's (newest model) in a ported box and experience TREMENDOUS dims (believe it or not, have gone through 5 pairs of low beams over the last few months from blowing them)

MY PLANS:
-15" Orion Hcca 2ohm
-make a ported box for it
-Amp (not sure if hifonics zuse would be a good choice)
-the upgrades mentioned above
-(in the future i plan on getting a 4channel amp for mids/his and upgrading my door speakers and tweeters, keep that in mind)

BASICALLY, I am looking for input from yall as to what amp, alternator, battery, and wires to buy in order to upgrade... AND/OR if you have suggestions or pieces of information to tell me

Also I plan on doing all of this by myself, haven't done it before but I am not afraid to learn by trial and error (i have done a fair amount of research)

Thanks yall

This post was edited by T3H on Jan 17 2013 09:10pm

for big 3 wiring you'll want about 10 feet(estimate you might be better off just taking a tape measurer to your current wires) of http://www.knukonceptz.com/productDetail.cfm?prodID=KCA0BK if you don't want to spend a bunch on it.

if you feel like going with full copper not CCA wire you should go with http://www.knukonceptz.com/productDetail.cfm?prodID=KFX0BK

you can choose any colors you want just make sure its the 1/0 gauge wiring.

as for the alternator there are a few good choices but which brand you ultimately go with is going to depend on your budget.

http://www.soundqubed.com/AQ2200D-Amplifier_p_31.html would be the amp if i was buying a 2000rms watt sub.

are you wanting to remote mount your battery? because keeping it under the hood you'll need to measure the clearance because its easy to buy battery thats too tall when you order online.

also keep in mind the alternator upgrade is the only thing thats going to solve your electrical problems. alternator+big 3 upgrade are the first things that should be purchased and installed. after that i'd grab that AQ amp because its on sale lol.

as for your subwoofer choice i'd go with an FI btl n2 if i was shopping in that price range.http://store.ficaraudio.com/n215/

Big 3 you total don't need 100ft that's way overkill, if you think about it most motor homes are 75 ft long... I just bought 25ft of 1/0 awg blue wire for 30 bucks... all you need is negative from battery to ground (frame of car) 3ft there
post battery to alt (3 ft there) and and then engine ground to chassis. Seriously you don't even need more than 15ft depending on your vehicle.. the rest is going from battery to amp depending on your amp some take 4 awg some take 1/0 awg,

alternator is the only thing that will help your system with electrical charge... Big 3 is done after alternator upgrade. Big 3 is really done to stop the dimming is lights in most cases, for the alternator i'd go with a DBelectrical Alt, I picked up a 250 amp alt for around 180$. As for the battery, well i get a new battery once a year for free so I don't have to do anything special on that. Remember, eBbbbbbayyyy is your best friend when shopping.

This post was edited by Dragon0slaye on Jan 27 2013 06:53pm