Capacitor question.

[Steven Lature]

I'm running two amps one for a single 12 one for my component speakers in my doors in a 2023 Ram 5500 (repo truck) . my truck has two batteries and are used for other things in the truck. is it okay to put a capacitor after the battery and before the distribution block that sits off into both amps???

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[Jimi77 Premium Member]

Yes. Is there a reason you need a cap? Have you upgraded the big 3 or the alternator? How much power are you running?

 

[Steven Lature]

Yes. Is there a reason you need a cap? Have you upgraded the big 3 or the alternator? How much power are you running?

It's in my 2023 Ram 5500 which has two batteries and two alternators but it's a repo truck so those batteries are pumping out a lot of extra stuff for the truck to run good I'm roughly pumping out $400 to all my door speakers and tweeters and then about another $600 to just 112 but I'd like to upgrade eventually but my headlights are dimming in my interior lights are dimming when it hits hard I just want to take care of the batteries a little bit better because honestly they're very expensive and I'd rather not hurt them by a stupid stereo system LOL I do notice that higher volumes I watch my battery gauge drop from 13.9 while the trucks running and when it hits Lowe's real hard or I put a bass song on I see the voltage dropping and not coming back up so I'd like to be able to keep it at a steady voltage... I know it sounds dumb but this truck is running a lot of GPS equipment it has a 12 ton lift on the back all sorts of other navigation and it runs drn cameras license plate scanners all sorts of stuff that have to have the exact voltage to run and do the right thing

 

[mahc 10+ year member]

I'd start by beefing up your electricals under the hood (engine grounds and alts to batts leads). Cheap caps could be harsh on the alt but since you have two, you'd probably be fine. Preferably within 12" of you sub amp.

 

[some dude]

Assuming you meant to say 400 watt and 600 watt amplifiers, I'd do the following.

I would find out how many Amps your alternators put out.

I would upgrade the 2 batteries to the biggest AGM batteries that fit.

I would do 'the big 3', thicker wire in 3 spots:
Alternator to battery,(+) battery to frame(-), engine block to frame(-).

My guess is these upgrades would stabilize your voltage significantly.

 

[Jimi77 Premium Member]

Do the big 3 for sure. What is the output of the alternator (amps)?

 

[Steven Lature]

Do the big 3 for sure. What is the output of the alternator (amps)?

220 amps

 

[Steven Lature]

220 amps

 

[Jimi77 Premium Member]

220 amps

That's a beefy amp, but I'm not sure what the electrical draw is on a repo truck. I'd definitely do the big 3 and see if that helps. If you're still having issues then a higher output alternator may be in your future, but not sure if that's an easy find for a 5500 truck.

 

[Steven Lature]

That's a beefy amp, but I'm not sure what the electrical draw is on a repo truck. I'd definitely do the big 3 and see if that helps. If you're still having issues then a higher output alternator may be in your future, but not sure if that's an easy find for a 5500 truck.

Nothing is easy to find for this thing lol, they're setup to have alot more things added to to them so I figure it'll be OK. I've got it installed and it's stopped things for now.

 

[AnthonyO 10+ year member]

That truck has a 220 amp alternator. Just do the big 3. That 1000 watts will not make a dent in that 220 amps.

 

[AnthonyO 10+ year member]

If you are set on a cap I have one of these

https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item-40526-NVX-XCAP10H-TRUE-10-FARAD-CAPACITANCE.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PLA&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaignid=21712131812&utm_matchtype=&utm_keyword=&utm_device=c&utm_content=&utm_devicemodel=&utm_network=x&utm_loc_physical_ms=9021007&utm_loc_interest_ms=&utm_placement=&utm_adposition=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxsm3BhDrARIsAMtVz6PDj7yN1us5BmFX27KfyMON6Md1dwAypLyZcnwpe9nxhDE6yX12FTEaAu6GEALw_wcB

I will sell for $125 shipped. Its new in box