I have a 94 honda civic, with a jdl 300.1 amp and 2 kicker comps. in a seal box, and my lights dim ever time my subs hit, what can i do to stop that?? should i just go and buy a Cap? and does the kind it is really make that big of a difference on a Capacitor? if so what one is better Tsunami or lightting audio? is a jacobson electronics Fr 1500 a good idea? is that even good?
thanks
scott
Replies (5)
Buickman94 on 06/11/2003 00:32:21
There are a couple ways to deal with lights dimming, a cap is one of them, but there are better options. Most people uprgade there electrical system rather then getting a cap. A higher output alternator, higher CCA battery, and upgrading battery ground wires are the most common fixes for dimming lights.
I think that amp pulls somewhere around 30amps at peak. A cap may help in this case, but for the money you are better off upgrading your electrical system. I dont think a higher output alternator is warrented in this case; the highest CCA battery you can fit should do the trick. Your alternator is what supplies power to the amplifier when the car is on. If the alternator cant put out enough, the battery picks up the slack and is then recharged inbetween big bass hits, when your amp is using more power.
hope that helped
mike
Swez on 06/11/2003 07:08:17
Agree with all items noted in Mike's posted answer. Also, you may want to upgrade your power line wires between ALT/BAT and BAT/GND.
In a smaller car, these wires are probably #6-8 gage wires. Putting in larger wires (#4) as noted will help get maximum current to the amp and other electrical devices.
Also, what is the gain and bass boost settings on your amp now? Generally, +3dB bass boost is more than adequate and if your gain is set higher than midpoint, the amp may be drawing more current as well.
Finally, what gage wire are you using for main power feed and ground to the amp? A #8 gage is recommended minimum here. If you have a 2nd amp planned for mids/highs, drop to #4 gage wire.
Swez
PS A Cap may help... but have your battery and alternator tested for performance. If either is not up to snuff, then some additional diagnostics are needed. An 750-800 CCA rated battery is far better and cheaper that any decent CAP. WalMart' Interstate series is fine here.
raptor129 on 06/20/2003 19:07:48
Thanks Buickman94 and Swez, Swez i have copper #4 gage for power and ground.
drumking15 on 06/20/2003 22:51:08
i put a cap in my integra w/ the stock battery and it elimanted a majority of all the diming...althogh 1 problem w/ a cap is if you dont run you car for a period of time it will drain the battery...but im running 2 4 channels amps and a sub amp pushing 3 10's and my lights varely dim
xplicitblitzboi on 06/24/2003 00:42:34
thats also the good thing about the high cca batteries is that you can drain them completely and still recharge them. thats why you will see a lot of people in comps that use the optima yellow tops or red tops.
good luck
Blitz
thanks
scott
Replies (5)
Buickman94 on 06/11/2003 00:32:21
There are a couple ways to deal with lights dimming, a cap is one of them, but there are better options. Most people uprgade there electrical system rather then getting a cap. A higher output alternator, higher CCA battery, and upgrading battery ground wires are the most common fixes for dimming lights.
I think that amp pulls somewhere around 30amps at peak. A cap may help in this case, but for the money you are better off upgrading your electrical system. I dont think a higher output alternator is warrented in this case; the highest CCA battery you can fit should do the trick. Your alternator is what supplies power to the amplifier when the car is on. If the alternator cant put out enough, the battery picks up the slack and is then recharged inbetween big bass hits, when your amp is using more power.
hope that helped
mike
Swez on 06/11/2003 07:08:17
Agree with all items noted in Mike's posted answer. Also, you may want to upgrade your power line wires between ALT/BAT and BAT/GND.
In a smaller car, these wires are probably #6-8 gage wires. Putting in larger wires (#4) as noted will help get maximum current to the amp and other electrical devices.
Also, what is the gain and bass boost settings on your amp now? Generally, +3dB bass boost is more than adequate and if your gain is set higher than midpoint, the amp may be drawing more current as well.
Finally, what gage wire are you using for main power feed and ground to the amp? A #8 gage is recommended minimum here. If you have a 2nd amp planned for mids/highs, drop to #4 gage wire.
Swez
PS A Cap may help... but have your battery and alternator tested for performance. If either is not up to snuff, then some additional diagnostics are needed. An 750-800 CCA rated battery is far better and cheaper that any decent CAP. WalMart' Interstate series is fine here.
raptor129 on 06/20/2003 19:07:48
Thanks Buickman94 and Swez, Swez i have copper #4 gage for power and ground.
drumking15 on 06/20/2003 22:51:08
i put a cap in my integra w/ the stock battery and it elimanted a majority of all the diming...althogh 1 problem w/ a cap is if you dont run you car for a period of time it will drain the battery...but im running 2 4 channels amps and a sub amp pushing 3 10's and my lights varely dim
xplicitblitzboi on 06/24/2003 00:42:34
thats also the good thing about the high cca batteries is that you can drain them completely and still recharge them. thats why you will see a lot of people in comps that use the optima yellow tops or red tops.
good luck
Blitz
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