Lights Dimming even after electrical upgrades?

[lnsomnia]

Hey guys. I'll start by listing the current equipment and electrical system.

• Amp: Kicker CX1200.1
  
• Subs: Two (12) CVX Kickers (Wired at 1ohm. Yes, I know my amp isn't stable at one ohm. Yes, I'm aware of the consequences. However it has been working for the past month and is hella loud. Maybe I'm having problems because of the 1ohm load. Dunno.)
  
• 145 H/O Alternator.
  
• Big 3 done with true ofc 0 gauge.
  
• 4 gauge power and ground wire to amp with a 100amp fuse.
  

So with all of this done, big 3 AND the H/O alt, my lights are still dimming and I'm getting some voltage drop. What's going on? Is it because I've got my subs at a 1 ohm load? Or is it my battery? I tried charging it overnight with a trickle charger, but still having problems. I don't have a (working) DMM to test the voltage.

A 0 gauge wiring kit by KnuKonceptz is on the way. I chose a 200 amp fuse for the kit.

I will order a XS Power D5100R as a replacement for my stock under the hood battery. I think it's a POS. XS Power D5100R Deep cycle 12-volt battery (reverse polarity) at Crutchfield.com

Opinions? Will the XS Power battery and 0 gauge wire upgrade help significantly? Thank you everyone!

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[jar1zx 10+ year member]

Does it dim while driving? Or idle?

What kinda batt-batts you got?

 

[jar1zx 10+ year member]

Nm I seen you have stock batt. Upgrade that should help a lot

 

[NIHL8ION]

You should have 0/1 running to the back and NOT just 4 ga. 1st of all //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif 2nd - That amp realistically probably doesn't put out more power @ 1 ohm, and odds are it might even be doing even LESS power than it's Minimum impedance of 2 ohm rating with a lot less efficiency to boot, all while it is shortening it's life span little by little everyday... 3rd - a 145 amp alt is NOT going to keep your headlights from dimming when you are pushing your subs hard, upgrade your batt under the hood 4 sure, and I'd probably get another for the rear AFTER upgrading to at least single 0/1 runs for power AND ground.... For what you have NOW - A 150 amp fuse should be placed close to the batt under the hood for up to 20' of good quality OFC 4 gauge - This fuse has NOTHING to do with your amp and has EVERYTHING to do with SAFETY and preventing that wire from over-current and melting down / catching fire...

The Knu 0/1 OFC is supposed to be good for around 300 amp for an average single run I believe... Someone correct me if I'm wrong //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[lnsomnia]

Nm I seen you have stock batt. Upgrade that should help a lot

That's what I was thinking. I can't wait for that XS battery. Should be a night and day difference hopefully.

And yes, they dim while driving as well as idle.

 

[lnsomnia]

You should have 0/1 running to the back and NOT just 4 ga. 1st of all //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif 2nd - That amp realistically probably doesn't put out more power @ 1 ohm, and odds are it might even be doing even LESS power than it's Minimum impedance of 2 ohm rating with a lot less efficiency to boot, all while it is shortening it's life span little by little everyday... 3rd - a 145 amp alt is NOT going to keep your headlights from dimming when you are pushing your subs hard, upgrade your batt under the hood 4 sure, and I'd probably get another for the rear AFTER upgrading to at least single 0/1 runs for power AND ground.... For what you have NOW - A 150 amp fuse should be placed close to the batt under the hood for up to 20' of good quality OFC 4 gauge - This fuse has NOTHING to do with your amp and has EVERYTHING to do with SAFETY and preventing that wire from over-current and melting down / catching fire...

Wow. Thanks for the help. I guess what I really need is that battery. I think that battery and a run of 0 gauge should be enough for my amp.

And the reason why I have my subs wired at one ohm is because they're 4ohm DVC. I didn't want my amp at a 4ohm load lol. Meh. I'm trying to get this all in before the Texas Austin Heatwave on the 27th haha.

 

[jar1zx 10+ year member]

4 gauge should be ok for 1200 watts but 1/0 is better

And if your not wanting to get a bigger alt try going to sams club and getting a energizer or Duracell agm battery up front and if you can fit it the biggest agm battery in the back. run + and - runs from front battery to rear battery and call it a day

 

[jar1zx 10+ year member]

^^^^^^ like he said use fuse on rear batt just like front

 

[NIHL8ION]

Wow. Thanks for the help. I guess what I really need is that battery. I think that battery and a run of 0 gauge should be enough for my amp.
And the reason why I have my subs wired at one ohm is because they're 4ohm DVC. I didn't want my amp at a 4ohm load lol. Meh. I'm trying to get this all in before the Texas Austin Heatwave on the 27th haha.

Well you can't know for sure w/o testing //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif I would see if you can get someone to scope / clamp your setup after you do your wiring upgrade and see what your amp's doing @ 1 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

 

[lnsomnia]

4 gauge should be ok for 1200 watts but 1/0 is betterAnd if your not wanting to get a bigger alt try going to sams club and getting a energizer or Duracell agm battery up front and if you can fit it the biggest agm battery in the back. run + and - runs from front battery to rear battery and call it a day

Why would I need a bigger alt? I think ~145 amps is well more than enough for my setup. And why should I go with a pair of AGM batts when I planned on getting a deep cycle XS batt under the hood? >.>

Well you can't know for sure w/o testing //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif I would see if you can get someone to scope / clamp your setup after you do your wiring upgrade and see what your amp's doing @ 1 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

I wish my little po-dunk town had some more bass heads. There's no one with a scope or anything within miles of me. I wonder if anyone would be able to test my amp at the SPL event in the next couple weeks lol.

 

[NIHL8ION]

Why would I need a bigger alt? I think ~145 amps is well more than enough for my setup. And why should I go with a pair of AGM batts when I planned on getting a deep cycle XS batt under the hood? >.>

1200 rms will draw 120 amps of current, your vehicle is using more than 25 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif More reserve power would serve you well, you are more than likely going to need to charge them every so often though if you run it hard a lot...

 

[jar1zx 10+ year member]

Depending on xs batt you get you could get two of these batts maybe cheaper

145 amp alt is not a lot when your amp if it puts out 1200 watts it could draw 120 amps leaving your car 25 amps to run on

Rule of thumb is ten amps for every 100 watts

Lots of people in here have had good luck with Sams club agm batts made by deka

 

[lnsomnia]

1200 rms will draw 120 amps of current, your vehicle is using more than 25 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif More reserve power would serve you well, you are going to need to charge them every so often though...

Ffffuuu--.

Oh well. I'm definitely not willing to chunk out cash for another alt. I just recently got this one, and it was a HUGE pain in the *** putting in my car. Had to take apart my engine manifold and ac compressor just to get to my alt. Was ridiculous. I'm sure a nice battery and a run of 0 will do great with a batt charge every month or so. It's just a daily driver to begin with. I'm not heavy into SPL yet.

Depending on xs batt you get you could get two of these batts maybe cheaper 145 amp alt is not a lot when your amp if it puts out 1200 watts it could draw 120 amps leaving your car 25 amps to run on

Rule of thumb is ten amps for every 100 watts

Lots of people in here have had good luck with Sams club agm batts made by deka

Thanks. Like I just said above though; I can't afford a new alt. *****. :/ It'll have to do.

And I plan on just upgrading to that XS batt I listed in the first post. I've heard great things from them, and I honestly don't really want two car batteries in my car.

 

[jar1zx 10+ year member]

1200 rms will draw 120 amps of current, your vehicle is using more than 25 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif More reserve power would serve you well, you are more than likely going to need to charge them every so often though if you run it hard a lot...

Beat me to it. Lol I'm going to bed

 

[NIHL8ION]

^^^ I personally really like XS Power, But Deka makes good batts too, and they are considerably cheaper //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif