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<blockquote data-quote="CWT" data-source="post: 373798" data-attributes="member: 552399">From what I&#039;ve read from other posts (What&#039;s going on with the cap debate), and what I know about automotive electronics, it makes sense to do what you can to improve the efficiency of the electrical system.&nbsp; First, did you upgrade your power and ground cables (Big 3) in the engine compartment?If not I recommend it; resistance kills voltage and your alternator&#039;s ability to provide power when it&#039;s needed.&nbsp; Especially on sport-compacts; the car manufacturers have been using the cheapest crap lately when wiring up the charging systems.&nbsp; Even on my full-sized truck!And second, a stronger primary battery could&#039;nt hurt; especially if your driving anything Japanies.&nbsp; Yellow top?&nbsp; Stronger than standard lead-acid as far as durability goes, but more importantly, try to get a battery that has a higher CCA (Cold Cranking Amprage) rating.&nbsp; Optima batteries seem to have about 700 or higher which is pretty good.&nbsp; I think the most I&#039;ve seen the Japanies use is 450-500.&nbsp; A higher CCA rated battery can take a higher load hit.&nbsp; That&#039;s why V8&#039;s need more than 4&#039;s, and Diesel truck engines need two or more batteries to get started (The starter motor pulls the heaviest load).&nbsp; In a sense, a good battery can do the same job as a cap; to a point.&nbsp; Installed close to the sub amp a cap might take some of the momentary shock loads off of the charging system though, but NOT if the overall load on the electrical system is too high.Remember:&nbsp; It&#039;s the alternator&#039;s job to keep things going once the engine is started, NOT the battery; so it needs to be able to do its job well; after that, it&#039;s up to the battery to back it up.&nbsp; But repeated high current draw/heavy charging on ANY battery will reduce its life span (That might be why someone came up with the cap idea).Just my 50 cents on the issue.&nbsp; Later.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="CWT, post: 373798, member: 552399"] From what I've read from other posts (What's going on with the cap debate), and what I know about automotive electronics, it makes sense to do what you can to improve the efficiency of the electrical system. First, did you upgrade your power and ground cables (Big 3) in the engine compartment? If not I recommend it; resistance kills voltage and your alternator's ability to provide power when it's needed. Especially on sport-compacts; the car manufacturers have been using the cheapest crap lately when wiring up the charging systems. Even on my full-sized truck! And second, a stronger primary battery could'nt hurt; especially if your driving anything Japanies. Yellow top? Stronger than standard lead-acid as far as durability goes, but more importantly, try to get a battery that has a higher CCA (Cold Cranking Amprage) rating. Optima batteries seem to have about 700 or higher which is pretty good. I think the most I've seen the Japanies use is 450-500. A higher CCA rated battery can take a higher load hit. That's why V8's need more than 4's, and Diesel truck engines need two or more batteries to get started (The starter motor pulls the heaviest load). In a sense, a good battery can do the same job as a cap; to a point. Installed close to the sub amp a cap might take some of the momentary shock loads off of the charging system though, but NOT if the overall load on the electrical system is too high. Remember: It's the alternator's job to keep things going once the engine is started, NOT the battery; so it needs to be able to do its job well; after that, it's up to the battery to back it up. But repeated high current draw/heavy charging on ANY battery will reduce its life span (That might be why someone came up with the cap idea). Just my 50 cents on the issue. Later. [/QUOTE]

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