Confused about Capacitors?

[Jimmaaay 10+ year member]

I tried searching the web and could not find what I was looking for, so I thought I would ask you guys. I have a Hifonics BXI2008D and I noticed dimming of the lights when I have it up at a higher volume. I read that a farad capacitor would help with how much of the voltage is being pulled from the battery. What farad capacitor size would I need, 1.5, 1.8, 1.9? I couldn't figure out which one would work for the BXI2008D.

Thanks, Jimmy

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[Bobby322 10+ year member]

ya need to do the big 3 and/or another battery

 

[oldschool4me 10+ year member]

:crazy:uh oh here we go

 

[Jimmaaay 10+ year member]

What is the big 3? I am relatively new to car audio.

 

[Bobby322 10+ year member]

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=152355

 

[k_schutte 10+ year member]

^beat me to it^

 

[Jimmaaay 10+ year member]

Ok, I will definitely try this. Thanks for finding it.

 

[iknownothin2006 10+ year member]

lose cap

 

[Enellz 10+ year member]

Yea no caps, their bad for the electric. A bigger battery upfront and the big 3 will help. Remember bullsh$t electric is what make your car dims, and caps don't help. Just a quick fix to what is a bigger problem which is your alternator can't keep up with the current draw. So that's why your car is dimming. You need a bigger reserve, which means more or a bigger battery, and doing the big 3 helps with your charging system.

 

[Jimmaaay 10+ year member]

I get the big 3, but whats the deal with farad capacitors? Why do people use them?

 

[bigaudiofanati2 10+ year member]

You can do the big 3 but I have used caps for a few years now with no problems, they do work and I have used them myself. All and all it is up to you weather you want to upgrade your wires and maybe even your alt as well or just buy a cap, in the end about the same cost.

They use them so when power is required it dose not pull to much current from your factory battery.

 

[Bobby322 10+ year member]

Cause people at Best Buy tell them to.

 

[atsaubrey 10+ year member]

You can do the big 3 but I have used caps for a few years now with no problems, they do work and I have used them myself. All and all it is up to you weather you want to upgrade your wires and maybe even your alt as well or just buy a cap, in the end about the same cost.
They use them so when power is required it dose not pull to much current from your factory battery.

I will agree to the "theme" of responses here. I WILL recommend the the Big 3 and a upgraded battery or two, BUT a cap WILL help in filtering the power. Is it a answer to YOUR problem? Probably not. The LAST thing I recommend is a typically NOISY alti.

 

[PaulD 10+ year member]

The LAST thing I recommend is a typically NOISY alti.

Then why do you get points in USAC comps for an upgraded alt ? I agree that in an SQ system they usually just add noise if your not careful and almost always have less power at idle than the stock one.

 

[nineball 10+ year member]

Just a quick fix to what is a bigger problem which is your alternator can't keep up with the current draw. So that's why your car is dimming.

while that is true in most cases it is not a rule. one of my cars has the alternator externally regulated by the pcm, so even with 0g big3 and a second battery it is impossible to eliminate all of the dimming. i am good to about 27/30 (30 is clipping not max) on the hu before the dimming starts.