Dimming lights

[Geminidj2000 10+ year member]

.....my lights are diming.......... I upgraded my alt to a 150a one and my lights are still diming........ the acuall lights dont dim and the cd player light doesnt dim just.... my panel lights.... capacitator?........ or whatr i would switch the gronds and power but my alt has a plug

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[nswartley 5,000+ posts]

get xenons to compensate http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6777&item=1876220241

 

[zane 10+ year member]

Are you sure that your alternator is working properly?

150 Amperes should easily be enough for the system that you have listed.

What does the voltage measure across the battery? The Alternator(at idle)?

Caps are really not the answer for your problem, thier discharge is so small that they are basically of little help. What you describe hints at another underlying problem somewhere.

Also, what kind of car is this?

take it easy,

-zane

 

[fantomas 10+ year member]

Originally posted by nswartley get xenons to compensate http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6777&item=1876220241

im confused...how do those 'xenons' help out his problem?

 

[Geminidj2000 10+ year member]

my acuall lights dont dim just my dash lights....... ( just got it out of the hop they checked it and said it was fine im thinking maybe its the wire i got going to my battery..... i think ill up grade it to 1 guage........ its a 1989 acura legend

 

[nswartley 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by fantomas im confused...how do those 'xenons' help out his problem?

ohh my bad i thought it was his headlights

 

[fantomas 10+ year member]

oh..im pretty sure they would still dim with a voltage drop

 

[nswartley 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by fantomas oh..im pretty sure they would still dim with a voltage drop

yea but dimmed xenons would be just as bright as normal headlights in some cases

 

[fantomas 10+ year member]

Originally posted by nswartley yea but dimmed xenons would be just as bright as normal headlights in some cases

oh, im sure they would be just as bright while dimming...but there would still be a significant light output change which shows that the electrical system can not keep up with demand. brighter headlights would be a band-aid for merely a deep flesh wound.

 

[nswartley 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by fantomas oh, im sure they would be just as bright while dimming...but there would still be a significant light output change which shows that the electrical system can not keep up with demand. brighter headlights would be a band-aid for merely a deep flesh wound.

but what could that deep flesh wound lead to? im not sure that it does much damage other than dimming lights....oh by the way, nice analogy //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[MikeofTulsa Moderator]

if his charging system is not up to par then it could ruin his alt over time....cause more wear and tear on it.....upgrading the wire definatly wouldnt hurt anything...i'd suggest doing that to start with....good luck

 

[2theMaxx21 10+ year member]

Yes, having a big voltage drop in your electrical system is bad on your alternator, but it is also bad on all the other electrical components in your car, like your CD player, ignition system, and the car's CPU.

 

[mwess 10+ year member]

I have a 1 farred cap charged properly and i still have a little dimming and im not over the limit for watts

 

[nswartley 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by mwess I have a 1 farred cap charged properly and i still have a little dimming and im not over the limit for watts

caps put even more strain on your system...

 

[fantomas 10+ year member]

Originally posted by nswartley caps put even more strain on your system...

if they are malfunctioning they do more harm than good. and you're correct.... because even when the caps are doing what they are supposed to do.. the alt still has to recharge the them while still supplying power to the amps and rest of the car.