System installed yet again a problem

[Marc9118]

Well after taking my system up to circuit city and letting them install it, I'm now having another problem. The problem I am experiencing is when I am sitting at a red light or something and my subs are hitting hard. My dash lights and my headlights seem to dim when the subs hit hard. My friend told me that I need a capacitor. Is this true or is this a problem? Sorry if this subject has been already hit before. I'm very new to this new audio stuff for my car.

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[shortyg83 10+ year member]

Nooo cap will not help. First try the big 3 if its no help goto a second battery

 

[maldecido33 10+ year member]

My friend told me that I need a capacitor.

Probably been said a million times on this forum.

The problem is your amp is pulling more current than your car can provide. There are generally three remedies to this: Replacing your main stock wiring with bigger wire (known as the Big 3), getting a bigger/better battery, and/or getting a High-output alternator.

What car do you drive, and what is your setup?

I'd recommend the Big 3 and an Optima Yellow top. Since you're only experiencing this problem at idle, meaning when the alternator is putting out a smaller amount of power than at higher RPM, you don't need a ton of upgrades.

Here's the thread for the Big 3:http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=152355

Do that, and it should solve your problems. If you still have issues, get an Optima Yellowtop or other big, deep cycle batter. If you STILL have issues, you'll need to get a highoutput alternator for your car. Iraggi, Mean green, and Excessive Amperage all make good products.

 

[SethPhillips 5,000+ posts]

basicly what siz wire run do you have from the batt to the amp??

when you find out the wire size, take the same size wire.

run from the alt, to the batt positive.

then a run from batt ground to a good chassis ground. and another from batt ground to a good motor block ground.

and there you have it slick!! if that dosent work get a new batt up front. if that dosent work. add another batt in the trunk if that dont work then shiiiiiiiiiit i dunno

 

[maldecido33 10+ year member]

basicly what siz wire run do you have from the batt to the amp??
when you find out the wire size, take the same size wire.

run from the alt, to the batt positive.

then a run from batt ground to a good chassis ground. and another from batt ground to a good motor block ground.

and there you have it slick!! if that dosent work get a new batt up front. if that dosent work. add another batt in the trunk if that dont work then shiiiiiiiiiit i dunno

Why wouldn't you use 1/0?

 

[SethPhillips 5,000+ posts]

Why wouldn't you use 1/0?

what? you talkin my setup??

if you wanna know..... i had 4ga to a american bass 800w. took it out and ran 1/0 for the mtx. and i set up my eq and everything on my headunit..... and dont feal like resetting everything after i disconect the bat.... and i have a little light dim not mutch but a little... i'll eventualy run 1/0 big 3...... when im board... i have unlimited wire black and red ( 8ga 4ga 1/0) all stinger company dosent check stock on wire... hehe

 

[Marc9118]

Im running the stock wire that came with the 1200 watt amp kit that I bought

 

[XanderMoser 10+ year member]

what? you talkin my setup??if you wanna know..... i had 4ga to a american bass 800w. took it out and ran 1/0 for the mtx. and i set up my eq and everything on my headunit..... and dont feal like resetting everything after i disconect the bat.... and i have a little light dim not mutch but a little... i'll eventualy run 1/0 big 3...... when im board... i have unlimited wire black and red ( 8ga 4ga 1/0) all stinger company dosent check stock on wire... hehe

I think he meant why not use 1/0 for the Big 3. There is no reason to use any smaller than 1/0 for the Big 3.

 

[Hintzyboy 5,000+ posts]

I think he meant why not use 1/0 for the Big 3. There is no reason to use any smaller than 1/0 for the Big 3.

Especially since a lot of cars have 4 gauge cables for stock power wiring anyway. I know the replacement cables for my s10 main power wiring are 4 gauge. Granted, it's not the kind of 4 gauge we use for amps, but changing the quality of the same size wire won't be much of an upgrade.