jellymonster

HI,
the other day I noticed that the lights in my car are dimming when the base notes play. Very soon I am planning to add a second amp into my car and I am scared that it will make this issue really bad.

Just wondering, what is the best way to get round this?

I heard capacitors are the cheapest but I just wanted to back this up, and also check if it will work well enough?

Thanks
JM

MP3Car.com

 

DarquePervert

Capacitors are a complete waste.

Search for the "The Big Three". If you google it, the first hit is an article at the12volt.com that is very informative.
It is basically upgrading your wiring to handle the additional load.

If upgrading the big three doesn't resolve the issue, then you need to look at alternator and/or battery upgrades.

__________________

jellymonster

I thought that capacitors were a waste of time, from what I've heard, all they do is improve sound quality. I will probably do this at some point but not now. I'm gonna take one thing at a time.

Ready through 'the big three', I dunno how effective it really is but I'm definitely gonna give it a go.

TBH, because I plan on getting a second amp, I will probably have to renew the alternator. Unless ofc, the big three is really effective :P.

Any other ideas anyone?

csfile

I was also going to recommend a grounding kit with a minimum of the big three. I've seen this fix the problem you are having.

jellymonster

Awesome, when u say 'minimum', that leads me to think there are alot more solutions. Are you regarding stuff like, new alternator and battery and shiz?

soundman98

yes-- and capacitors are mostly marketing junk, and bandaids for bad installers/installations-- i have yet to see any numbers that prove a capacitor is worthwhile, other than as a bandaid-- most spl competitors have increased their numbers by removing them, and the one test that i did find tested capacitors from a power standpoint-- meaning they took voltage measurements with and without the capacitor, but never did any freqency response, or spl measurements. that test proved that a capcitor is more of a load on the electrical system--it might only help for the first 'bump', but then it must recharge, but doesn't fast enough, so it becomes a load...

its like having a 4" diameter water pipe connected to a 20" pipe, and then going back to a 4"-- the first serious draw will use up the reserves that stayed in the 20" pipe, but after that you will be drawing more from the first 4" pipe because you will be trying to fill the 20" pipe AND supplying the other 4" pipe...

capacitors are bandaids--if you fix the problem, you won't need it.

DarquePervert

It's all about making sure the circuit that provides power to your amp(s) is capable of allowing the necessary power flow all the way through.
The big three is basically upgrading those portions of the circuit that aren't quite so obvious.


A capacitor is going to do absolutely nothing for SQ.
The big three will probably make the light-dimming problem go away. If not, then look at a better alternator and/or battery.

__________________

csfile

Grounding kits are usually a bunch of wires to upgrade the grounding in your car. By minimum, I meant the 3 wires for the big three (alternator + to battery +, battery - to chassis, and engine ground to chassis). The rest of the wires may help, but the big three are the important ones. Ready made grounding kits are usually expensive, and it's easy enough to do yourself.

DP explained it nicely.

MP3Car.com

 

jellymonster

ok thank you very much all. I will order some fatty wires and do the big 3 and get bac to you. Don't expect it any time soon though, I'm quite busy :P.
If this fixes the problem, I will then buy the 2nd amp.
If it doesn't, I will probably buy a new alternator (which, unfortunately, I don't know much about so will need some help on which one to buy).

HecticElectric

ok i do alot of car audio and used to do spl back in the day
capacitors are junk seriously, always use a good battery yellow top or a kinetik and u shouldnt have to worry about it being drained down but still upgrade the alternator.
If u are running 1/0ga from the battery to the amp make sure u have 1/0ga ground for the amp...But for the battery to the frame run a 2/0ga. Reason for this is frames are a poor conductor.
Run a new alternator wire usually 4ga is sufficient for this...Now is what some people forget is an alternator makes both positive and negative current..so upgrade the ground wires to the motor i myself do motor to frame on each motor mount with 4ga on v8s and 8a on 4cyl cars and then on v8s i do one 8ga to the back of each head on 4cyl i dont do this.

usually its not the positive side of your electrical system that fails its the negative causing problems

MP3Car.com