is it better to get an second battery or an cap for a 1500 watt amp

[Stalin-ohaulic]

please read my post again... how are you going to get more power out of the same wire? yes it might decrease the overall resistance and might give you a tiny bit more than before but you still cant shove more power through the same wire either way if your going to spend the time to do 2/3 of the job go ahead and hit the last wire

I read your post and you're wrong. Upgrading 2 out of 3 will undoubtedly help. Read my post where I said I didn't condone it... I just thought I'd correct you because you're just coming off as stupid right now. (stepbrothers reference)

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

I did 2 out of the big 3. I have already the bigger wires and a bigger/better battery (yellow top), but becasue the vechicle is not mine right now, I can't put in a new alternator. My voltage drops down to well it's in between the 9 and the 14, so I guess it would be 11.5, so I was wondering would it be better if I got a second battery in the back or should I get a cap. I will hopefull get an alternator upgrade soon. But I was just wondering what would be better.

I would get something with some capacity, an agm battery right around the size of a kinetik hc1200 (as a second battery in back) would be good in many systems and allow you to take from car to car if you change vehicles often. Depends on your power though as obviously 1 smaller powercell is not going to do much good on a system of 8,000 watts and an 80 amp alt.

 

[smoka 10+ year member]

I did 2 out of the big 3. I have already the bigger wires and a bigger/better battery (yellow top), but becasue the vechicle is not mine right now, I can't put in a new alternator. My voltage drops down to well it's in between the 9 and the 14, so I guess it would be 11.5, so I was wondering would it be better if I got a second battery in the back or should I get a cap. I will hopefull get an alternator upgrade soon. But I was just wondering what would be better.

1. From reading the OP, I think he has the wrong idea of what the big 3 are. It sounds like he thinks its bigger (wires, batt, alt). If this is true OP, then check out the sticky on the big 3 on this forum.

2. Ecrack is right. TwoEggs is wrong. Its not the size of the wire thats a problem, its (resistance x length) that affects the voltage drop. If you reduce the length of small wire in a power loop, you reduce the overall voltage drop.

3. OP, it would be best to get the same model of Optima yellowtop that you put up front for your rear batt. If you mix/match a different batt, you could shorten the life of either/both batts.