Quick Questions on Amps and Car Acceleration

[Immortal 10+ year member]

Hi, last christmas I set up a 2 amp system in the back of my car, with a mono serving the two subs and a second amp serving the speakers/head unit. Although it can certainly be something else, I am just curious to know if the new draws on the power could somehow be affecting the acceleration of my car. It seems a bit more sluggish after the install, and while I am not really convinced they are related, I thought best to ask.

I am buying better amps this summer when I get back home (maybe alpine or kicker). In a nutshell I want my music to be louder (especially to people I drive by outside lol //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif ), am I right in assuming that more powerful amps will allow me to get more volume out of each notch on the volume control on the dash? (Ie. volume 35 will sound louder than 35 with the old amps).

I am also considering a capacitor to aid the amps, is this a worthy investment? I hear they arent too expensive.

Thank you for your time!

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[BEAVER.989 10+ year member]

If nothing else, the weight added by your system could cause a slight decrease in acceleration. I doubt the power draws have anything to do with it.

Save your money on the cap, do the Big 3, instead.

 

[Immortal 10+ year member]

Big 3?

Well I just added a sub box with 2 Fosgate 12s (p3's ) do I doubt the extra what, 50-100 pounds could really be that big a of deal...

 

[DBDRAGGUY 10+ year member]

Big 3?Well I just added a sub box with 2 Fosgate 12s (p3's ) do I doubt the extra what, 50-100 pounds could really be that big a of deal...

Upgrading power and ground distribution from alt, battery and frame. Do a search and there is lots of info on this. Draw from your amps is very unlikely to cause your car to perform any diiferently.

 

[TPABlazer 10+ year member]

The idea is that every 100 pounds you take off you car, you take off .1 in the 1/4, and the inverse is true. For every 100 lbs you add, it feels like you are taking away ~10 hp

 

[Immortal 10+ year member]

on a side note, what exactly are "chips" for cars? add horsepower and gas mileage? sounds like pretty big claims for something. lol I just heard of this in passing, no research on the subject yet so please dont hate //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

ill look into the big 3

By getting a better amp (fosgate), will my music player louder as I suspected?

 

[GreenMachine70 10+ year member]

on a side note, what exactly are "chips" for cars? add horsepower and gas mileage? sounds like pretty big claims for something. lol I just heard of this in passing, no research on the subject yet so please dont hate //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif
ill look into the big 3

By getting a better amp (fosgate), will my music player louder as I suspected?

First of all, What kind of car do you have? A "chip" is actuall piece of electronic hardware installed betweet your factory ECU and the wireing harness, and or replaces a part of your ECU. those types of chips are more common with the older OBDI vehiles (ODBI is on board diagnostics system I) they were all pre 1996 cars and trucks. Now 1996 and later vehicles wich are OBDII use a handheld programer that plugs into the DLC (data link conector) on your car and it reprograms your ECU setting with pre-calibrated configurations. Both do the same thing they adjust ignition advance, fuel curve, air/fuel ratios, etc. Now they can both increase horsepower and increase fuel ecomony but thats all dependant on your driving style. The other way to do this modification is to go to an engine tune specialist. there not as cost efective but can be your best bet if your car already has some aftermarket upgrades on it beacause they can "tune" your car according to whats been done. Now some hand held programers have different tune for some mods also but they are limited. All in all you'll see more bang for your buck with a ECU tune any other bolt on part.

As far as a better amp making you louder, not true but a more powerfull one can...

 

[Immortal 10+ year member]

Thank you, I looked into chips a bit more and find they arent for me. Sound likes a lot of hype for something I dont need.

Yes im def looking to get more watts in my amp as well as a fosgate amp, which already understates the watts to begin with

 

[Haden 10+ year member]

how are you going to get more watts in your amp lol

 

[GreenMachine70 10+ year member]

Thank you, I looked into chips a bit more and find they arent for me. Sound likes a lot of hype for something I dont need.
Yes im def looking to get more watts in my amp as well as a fosgate amp, which already understates the watts to begin with

Well if your looking for a little more power out of your car its the best way to go. Its not like supercharging or N2O but theres you'll see a gain of 10-35hp. Trust me its what i do for a living.

 

[Immortal 10+ year member]

Haden: I just meant that I was going to buy a higher wattage amp than what I have now, as well as ideally a fosgate because they tend to have actual RMS wattage above even what they claim (go fosgate!)

I have a new 2004 car, and extra hp would be great but it seems fairly negligble especially seeing as I have no custom engine mods or anything like that. I hear they can be expensive so I doubt it would be worthwhile investment. Id rather spend the money on a bigger amp //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[InfinitePeace 10+ year member]

I've been told by more than one person that upgrading to a HO alternator can actually lose you a few horsepower, nothing big, like 5 maybe? Is that true? I don't know if it has anything to do with the difference in pulley size or what, but I have heard this more than once. He didn't mention having upgraded the alternator, but if he did, and that is true, that could be it, no?

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

Every 100lbs adds approximately .1seconds to 1/4mile time...

Supposedly.

nG

 

[GreenMachine70 10+ year member]

I've been told by more than one person that upgrading to a HO alternator can actually lose you a few horsepower, nothing big, like 5 maybe? Is that true? I don't know if it has anything to do with the difference in pulley size or what, but I have heard this more than once. He didn't mention having upgraded the alternator, but if he did, and that is true, that could be it, no?

Yes i higher output alt can add more parasidic drag to your engine

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

Or you can give your engine a tune up, because that's what is really the issue.