Big Three and Cap But No Cigar HELP

[tanpatnode 10+ year member]

Yesterday a friend and I installed the big three using 0 gauge wire followed all the steps and got it completed. Car even started the first time! Btw, this is a 99 Subaru Legacy and the total RMS of the system is just shy of 2000 and is going to be moved to 2800 shortly. We also installed a 5 farad cap hoping that that would at least help somewhat with the extreme dimming.

It has a voltage meter thing on it and when the sub hit, it's a RE XXX 15 through a 1200W Hifonics amp, were gettings readings of 11.4 at the lowest. I know caps don't fix everything but I guess we were expecting the get slightly better readings.

What do we upgrade first? Battery or alternator? Both stock currently and alternator is 85 amps.

Thanks for any help guys...

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[NASTY08IMPALA 5,000+ posts]

Yea caps r garbage ...more than likely gona need alt and batteries...good agm under the hood and one in the back.

 

[av83 10+ year member]

grounds well sanded? Terminals securely fastened? And yeah, switch the cap out for an agm.

 

[SomeguyinPDX 10+ year member]

Also verify that amp gains are set properly. If it's even a tiny bit off it can make a huge difference in power consumption at high volumes.

 

[NASTY08IMPALA 5,000+ posts]

yea trying to run 2000w on a 85a alt is gona be no fun regardless...u gota figure the car uses 40-50 just to operate ..not much reserve left..def make sure al the install is done properly. ie ..good grounds gains set proper etc ..then start with batteries and alt

 

[myjaja 10+ year member]

Yesterday a friend and I installed the big three using 0 gauge wire followed all the steps and got it completed. Car even started the first time! Btw, this is a 99 Subaru Legacy and the total RMS of the system is just shy of 2000 and is going to be moved to 2800 shortly. We also installed a 5 farad cap hoping that that would at least help somewhat with the extreme dimming.
It has a voltage meter thing on it and when the sub hit, it's a RE XXX 15 through a 1200W Hifonics amp, were gettings readings of 11.4 at the lowest. I know caps don't fix everything but I guess we were expecting the get slightly better readings.

What do we upgrade first? Battery or alternator? Both stock currently and alternator is 85 amps.

Thanks for any help guys...

Just wondering, if you have a hifonics 1200 watt amp, how is that close to 2000 watts rms? Do you have a 4 channel amp as well? Id get rid of that cap and put yourself an xs power battery in the back. You should be good to go with that. Also, what ohm are you wired at? Id also change out the battery up front as well.

 

[jteske88 10+ year member]

Where are these numbers coming from?

 

[NASTY08IMPALA 5,000+ posts]

He probably has another amp

 

[tanpatnode 10+ year member]

Sorry Yes I have a 700watt 4 channel for the others. Thanks for all the good stuff guys, I knew that it wasn't going to be a perfect fix but it really didn't improve anything.

What do you mean by adjust the gains? I think right now we have it set at 9 out of 10 as 10 brings distortion.

We are going to upgrade the sub amp to give the XXX's at least their RMS so thinking maybe a some sort of Sundown amp roughly around 2000w.

Would we be able to get by with just an alternator change then leave the stock battery?

 

[slim2fattycake 10+ year member]

you want an extra battery as well as alt.

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Sorry Yes I have a 700watt 4 channel for the others. Thanks for all the good stuff guys, I knew that it wasn't going to be a perfect fix but it really didn't improve anything.What do you mean by adjust the gains? I think right now we have it set at 9 out of 10 as 10 brings distortion.

We are going to upgrade the sub amp to give the XXX's at least their RMS so thinking maybe a some sort of Sundown amp roughly around 2000w.

Would we be able to get by with just an alternator change then leave the stock battery?

No I dont think that would work..lol..Thats a big draw for one thing, and a standard batt even with a HO alt is not going to be good enough for that amps needs, let alone with the other amp you have.You would be working the Chit out of that alt, prob wouldnt last you very long at all,2/4/6months?A year MAYBE?Be worth getting a Good AGM under the hood, and possibly one in the rear as well,for supply needs.You Need Power To Make Power..i just took out a 600 Kinetick, and put my old 6 farad cap in, and working just fine/no dimming with a redtop under the hood/stock alt with ELD Bypass,may look into getting a larger alt that bolts directly on before buying an ho,not all caps are garbage,and work in some instances