Question about lights dimming.

[chaostic1]

I am currently running a 300W Monosub Kicker Amp, and a 400W 4 Channel Kicker Amp in my 05' Jeep Wrangler with upgraded battery. I am getting heavy light dimming both interior and exterior which i cannot explain. Even after installing a 2.2 Farad power cap, no relief to any of the dimming during the bass.

The only thing I can think of is bad wiring because a few months ago I was running the same sub amp and an audiobahn 300W 4 channel amp with no power cap and didnt ever have any dimming problems. Then both my amps were stolen, with all the wires cut and my insurance replaced it with the 2 kicker amps, installed by circuit city using the same old cut wiring. Ever since then ive been in dimming hell.

Any thoughts or ideas? Think its a wiring problem like me? Lights really shouldnt be dimming at 300W in a vehicle thats designed to power a winch, upgraded alternator and blue top optima battery.

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[morgans432 10+ year member]

please search there has been so many threads about this crap and you shouldnt have lights dimming with that little of power. Re do the wiring and see what happens, do the big 3 (search for that), and get rid of the capacitor.

 

[mile098 10+ year member]

can u just fill in on how they used the same old cut wiring?

 

[60ndown 10+ year member]

lights dimming means something is not getting the juice it needs.

 

[chaostic1]

they pretty much left everything how it was, overstretched all the old wiring to my old amps and re-hooked everything up. Looks like shit and im guessing is the root of my problem.

 

[60ndown 10+ year member]

I am currently running a 300W Monosub Kicker Amp, and a 400W 4 Channel Kicker Amp in my 05' Jeep Wrangler with upgraded battery. I am getting heavy light dimming both interior and exterior which i cannot explain. Even after installing a 2.2 Farad power cap, no relief to any of the dimming during the bass.
The only thing I can think of is bad wiring because a few months ago I was running the same sub amp and an audiobahn 300W 4 channel amp with no power cap and didnt ever have any dimming problems. Then both my amps were stolen, with all the wires cut and my insurance replaced it with the 2 kicker amps, installed by circuit city using the same old cut wiring. Ever since then ive been in dimming hell.

Any thoughts or ideas? Think its a wiring problem like me? Lights really shouldnt be dimming at 300W in a vehicle thats designed to power a winch, upgraded alternator and blue top optima battery.

try bypassing the cap.

 

[chaostic1]

Well heres the thing about the cap, i originally didnt have one...they said the cap was the only way it would stop dimming and the funny part is the cap didnt do shit. Still the same dimming level and no difference whatsoever.

 

[60ndown 10+ year member]

I am currently running a 300W Monosub Kicker Amp, and a 400W 4 Channel Kicker Amp in my 05' Jeep Wrangler with upgraded battery. I am getting heavy light dimming both interior and exterior which i cannot explain. Even after installing a 2.2 Farad power cap, no relief to any of the dimming during the bass.
The only thing I can think of is bad wiring because a few months ago I was running the same sub amp and an audiobahn 300W 4 channel amp with no power cap and didnt ever have any dimming problems. Then both my amps were stolen, with all the wires cut and my insurance replaced it with the 2 kicker amps, installed by circuit city using the same old cut wiring. Ever since then ive been in dimming hell.

Any thoughts or ideas? Think its a wiring problem like me? Lights really shouldnt be dimming at 300W in a vehicle thats designed to power a winch, upgraded alternator and blue top optima battery.

Well heres the thing about the cap, i originally didnt have one...they said the cap was the only way it would stop dimming and the funny part is the cap didnt do shit. Still the same dimming level and no difference whatsoever.

which is true?

 

[mile098 10+ year member]

your cap is acting like a consumer not a 'battery'....try bypassing it....if u need more wire just take a fuse holder and some more wire to put in the trunk...smthg is deninately getting the power thet it needs...how are the contacts on their wiring now?anything loose?

 

[chaostic1]

"a few months ago I was running the same sub amp and an audiobahn 300W 4 channel amp with no power cap and didnt ever have any dimming problems"

"my insurance replaced it with the 2 kicker amps, installed by circuit city using the same old cut wiring. Ever since then ive been in dimming hell."

So in essence, i had the same sub amp, a different 4 channel (same power) before and no dimming problems.

I got jacked, replaced it with a diff 4 channel, same sub amp...No power cap, dimming hell.

I took it back, got a power cap on it, same level of dimming hell.

And im not really sure on the wiring as its not here, i just called circuit city back told them to take the power cap out, and re-wire it if they have to because something is screwy.

 

[mile098 10+ year member]

u have a 2.2 F cap on 300W of power, maybe thats your issue...kw/F

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

You've got a short somewhere. Chances are the dick that jacked your stuff, jacked up the wiring. CC should have replaced the wires. Check the ground, it's probably totally effed up.

 

[chaostic1]

Thanks for the constructive replies. I wish i could get my hands on the little shits who jacked my stuff....causing me problems months later for a measely 100 bucks they got for the amps.

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

u have a 2.2 F cap on 300W of power, maybe thats your issue...kw/F

Bigger would theoretically be better if caps actually worked. Unfortunately they don't. Especially when the rest of the electrical is messed up.

Take the car to AutoZone and get them to check your battery. A weak battery will present these symptoms as well.