Buy a Yellowtop or Add Batcap

[JayRich 10+ year member]

I have a 2001 Accord Coupe and I have an Audioque 1200d running at 2 ohms so around 800 rms and have a jl 300/4 for my highs. I currently have 4 ga wire for the big three upgrade, have a 130amp high output alternator(stock 75) and my lights still dim like crazy when i have the volume up High. I have a Duralast Gold battery and was wondering should I replace it with the Optima Yellow top or just add a batcap 300 in the back? All input would be greatly appreciated

Click to read more...

 

[fasfocus00 5,000+ posts]

i say Powermaster D680 but if it was only out of those 2 I'd do a yellow top

 

[JayRich 10+ year member]

i say Powermaster D680 but if it was only out of those 2 I'd do a yellow top

Do you know where I could find those? how much roughly?

I was mainly questioning replacing the existing battery or adding a batcap

 

[JayRich 10+ year member]

I could likely get a yellowtop at cost or add a bat cap for around $100

 

[Goindef154 5,000+ posts]

Honestly I think getting a new batt. up front and really considering doing the big 3 in 0 gauge would help out a ot.

 

[JayRich 10+ year member]

Now do you think i should replace the 4 ga or add another run of gauge to the existing wiring? plus when I did the upgrade, i didn't replace the wiring but just added to what was already there.

so you think replacing up front is better than adding a small bat cap in the back?

 

[528hz 10+ year member]

I would add a Batcap 800 and be done with it. Small, cheap (used) and it gives you a little room.

 

[Goindef154 5,000+ posts]

In my opinion you should replace the 4 gauge, won't really need it, it'll be fine to out the 0 gauge with what was there factory wise. I think it would be beneficial to do it, replacing the battery up front, because that's where it all starts and you may as well get a nice batt. up front first just so you have it, then see if you need a batcap in the back.

 

[Chinbruiser 10+ year member]

A yellow top is bout 180! Im knockn around 2600 watts rms and all I have is batt,big 3 and alt and Im doin okay! But i'd remove the stock stuff and just do a run of 0 gauge!

 

[JayRich 10+ year member]

So you think 0 gauge would make more sense than having a 2nd run of 4 guage? also if you run wire in addition to the existing, wouldn't that be better(more wire) than replacing stock?

 

[Goindef154 5,000+ posts]

You can do either or, it's really up to you. You won't be using enough current to need both. The 0 gauge will be plenty large enough.

 

[SomeGuyDude 10+ year member]

So you think 0 gauge would make more sense than having a 2nd run of 4 guage? also if you run wire in addition to the existing, wouldn't that be better(more wire) than replacing stock?

The way gauges work is there's the standard diameter of "1 gauge". A 2 is small enough that two wires would fit in the same space as a 1g. Then a 4g is so four would fit, 6g is six, etc. That's how gauging works (learned that from stretching out piercings, oddly enough).

So two 4g wires won't be as thick as a single 0g, no.

 

[JayRich 10+ year member]

You can do either or, it's really up to you. You won't be using enough current to need both. The 0 gauge will be plenty large enough.

see when i did the 4 gauge it was on sale at elementals designs website, and I figured adding 4 gauge to existing wiring would be close to replacing all the wiring with 0 gauge. I'm thinking the battery is the weakest link with the high output alternator and the addition of the 4 gauge. I very well may replace the wiring, just was trying to avoid it as the wiring from teh alternator positive to batter positive is run behind the engine

 

[Goindef154 5,000+ posts]

Oh I gotcha, well try just replacing the battery then, where will you be getting it from?

 

[Chinbruiser 10+ year member]

But definately go with the yellow top as well! Or you can replace the stock battery with one of the kinetic batteries they are awesome as well. I kinda did the same thing as you, I bought the HO alt but my headlights were still dimming then I put the yellowtop in and voila problem solved! If your battery cant store the power that the alt is putting out then theres no point ya dig?