Will an extra Battery and Cap Help

[polofelt 10+ year member]

I am planning on getting a FI Q 15" and a Alpine Pdx 1000.1, and a Pdx 4.100, so I plan on using about 1400 watts of power. So I was wondering, If I added a cap and a and another battery, would my system be louder? Also, by adding a cap and another battery would that eliminate any lights from dimming and power surges?

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[Lakota 5,000+ posts]

Cap, no.

Battery, maybe.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

best way i know how to tell you the benifit of a battery is it lessens the overall voltage drop after 13-12v depending on the battery

 

[skrilla22 10+ year member]

Get a decent battery under the hood, and a nice one in back, and your set.

Whats the rating on your alt?

 

[polofelt 10+ year member]

12V alt

 

[polofelt 10+ year member]

Cap, no.Battery, maybe.

So why won't a cap help me?

 

[TrIgZ 10+ year member]

caps are worse then they are better

 

[Scoobydoo 5,000+ posts]

get multiple caps and wire them in that will help ALOT

/sarcasm

 

[05AztecRed 10+ year member]

So why won't a cap help me?

Caps are just a band-aid... You are better off just getting a good battery. make sure your stock alternator can support 2 batteries though. If it can't than getting an extra battery is useless.

 

[nbudros 10+ year member]

Louder no.

Cap > NEVER

Battery > Helps with electrical its a good idea.

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

i had crazy drops with my Exide Orbital g34 and 130a alt. added a g31 YT parallel in the trunk. i only get drops while sitting and it has to be loud.

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

would my system be louder?

To HEAR a difference you'd have to have a SIGNIFICANT increase in power AND your speakers would have to be able to make use of it.

Going from a total of 1300w RMS to 1400 for example, would NOT be audible.

Even if your electrical system is a bit on the small side and only averages, say 13.5v, there would be nothing gained audibly by getting it up to 14v, especially with highly regulated amps like Alpines PDX's.

So why won't a cap help me?

they can't provide enough current to make a difference.

They CAN in a RARE situation reduce headlight dimming, but the chance of your set up being in that situation is slim, and the actual stress on the electrical system would not be improved (slightly worsened actually).

 

[polofelt 10+ year member]

To HEAR a difference you'd have to have a SIGNIFICANT increase in power AND your speakers would have to be able to make use of it.Going from a total of 1300w RMS to 1400 for example, would NOT be audible.

Even if your electrical system is a bit on the small side and only averages, say 13.5v, there would be nothing gained audibly by getting it up to 14v, especially with highly regulated amps like Alpines PDX's.

they can't provide enough current to make a difference.

They CAN in a RARE situation reduce headlight dimming, but the chance of your set up being in that situation is slim, and the actual stress on the electrical system would not be improved (slightly worsened actually).

Thanks, its a definite negative on the cap.

 

[polofelt 10+ year member]

Caps are just a band-aid... You are better off just getting a good battery. make sure your stock alternator can support 2 batteries though. If it can't than getting an extra battery is useless.

Yeah, I will check my alternator out. I have a yellow top optima under the hood now, and I was thinking about going with a red top in the trunk, or I might just roll with my yellow top only.