Lights still dim!

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

:slaps you for saying something stupid:

Yup he's a dummy.

I'd suggest replacing current battery with an optima yellow top.

NG

 

[AznRevlAzn 10+ year member]

since you did the big three, next up is a new Alt. Doesn't need to be a HO since what i believe your use for your audio equipment won't need excessive amounts of amperage. Try and find a 120 alt or arund that area. Try looking up iraggi alts in ebay. I am right now thinking about getting a 200 amp alt thats there for my volvo even though my current stock 120 just about meets my equipment's needs.

 

[Colt9699 10+ year member]

The thing is I refuse to spenjd any money on upgardes to this car as I hope to NOT have it soon.

Also spending that kinda money ona yellow top or a aftermarket alt is insane to power sucha small system......

Maybe I will take it all out and rewire and see if I made a mistake somewhere.

 

[tRiGgEr 5,000+ posts]

Did you set your gains following the gain setting tutorial???

?????????????????????

 

[Colt9699 10+ year member]

?????????????????????

Yes actually I set them lower than they needed to be because my subs overpower the rest of my speakers....

 

[RandyJ 10+ year member]

Yes actually I set them lower than they needed to be because my subs overpower the rest of my speakers....

So you used a DMM?

 

[singlesubsetup 10+ year member]

I'd say it's one or a combination of the following ...
1) Your alternator has really weak output at idle

2) Your alternator is going

3) Your battery is going

4) Bad ground(s)

5) You're pushing your amplifier(s) into clipping

6) You have other stuff on (air conditioning)

How bad is the dimming, exactly ? Some dimming is pretty normal and is harmless. However, if you're constantly dropping well below 12 volts, that's a problem ...

You should grab your digital multimeter and test how low the voltage goes at high volumes ...

Only thing I can add to the above is your CONNECTIONS.... did you make and crimp your own connections??? (if using ring terminals is the wire very secure?) Are the ring terminals screwed down tight? What about on the battery? If they're secure and nothing's loose and your only dropping to 13. volts I personally would'nt worry about it...

 

[tRiGgEr 5,000+ posts]

Yes actually I set them lower than they needed to be because my subs overpower the rest of my speakers....

What voltage did you set it at? And what tone did you use?

 

[Colt9699 10+ year member]

DMM? Whats that???????????????

Connections are all crimped and taped.

All bolts are tight and secure.

All grounds are bare and secure.

I used a Digital MultiMeter!

24.494 volts

30hz test tone

Then I turned the gains down further because as I stated earlier the bass was drowning out the rest of my speakers.