When my bass hits my lights dont dim but the rpm's in my vehicle drop big time, it was suggested to me that I purchase a capacitor. What is the exact function of a capacitor?
Replies (6)
baine on 08/9/2003 08:08:33
a capacitor is a power storage unit that when your car battery goes below a certain point it will add its juice to make up for it . A better perchace would be a new bigger 800 amp batt or a high power alt. Capacitors are nothing but in a word a small battery ( they store power for use when needed ). The rpms drop because the alt is calling for more power , if the lights dont dim then you might be ok. You need to figure out what your alt puts out now ( call a parts sore and ask how much the stock alt for your car puts out ) then figure out what your car is useing and what your system is using. What is the fuse on your amp
that will give you a idea of what amps the amp is pulling. I would never get a cap as they are pricey and overated and you will still have the same problem as before your car cant give your system what it needs .. Waite for the pros to answer as they can lay it out better than I can. I could also be wrong but I do not beleive so.
Swez on 08/9/2003 09:37:16
I agree... if your lights are not dimming, but engine RPM is dipping, it is because your sound system is pulling high amount of current from the system which causes the Alt to work harder.
You might want to try bumping up the engine rpm via the idle adjustments at the throttle connection point of your fuel intake system. Not much... maybe 50 more RPM should help. There is usually an adjustment screw for that purpose.
Finally, a larger battery will help store larger amounts of power to help run the audio system and your other electricals. However, as battery power levels are depleted, they still have to call back to the ALT to replenish the system... works harder again... but seems that ALT is adequate for now.
Swez
greg311 on 08/9/2003 20:23:07
I take that back, my headlights and dash lights are now dimming when bass hits...I have a larger than normal battery (die hard) for this vehicle and a stock ALT, I am assuming that a cap is probably the most cost effective way to solve this problem? yes?
Swez on 08/9/2003 21:30:59
Simple yes... cost effective... debatable... most effective way to manage the problem permanently... NOPE!
If you had an 800 + CCA rated battery (stock is ~600 CCA or less) then you would have a larger buffer for current to pull reserves from. But if you don't give the ALT adequate time to recharge any battery, (toys off for a few hours of driving) the electrical system will suffer.
One inexpensive thing you can do, upgrade the stock wires between the ALT/BAT and BAT/GND to say #4 wires, this will allow more current to pass from ALT to BAT and system with less electrical resistance. Most stock wires are #6- #8 wires. Cannot handle too much current inrush demand, thus a "bottleneck".
Try that first and see if your system improves. If not, a larger output ALT is your best and most effective purchase. There is an FAQ on this subject that you may wish to review. Blitz did a good job outlining the issues and fixes.
Swez
accusedmonk on 08/10/2003 10:02:35
Yeah Swez is right about the bottleneck. The higher current draw creates more heat which increases resistance making it much harder to do the same job. It has to pull even more current to make up for lost current.
You can if you don't wanna replace the wires that are there, you can hook wires up to it parallel, allowing more current to flow through the smaller wires.
Seems to me that everything in the car audio business is bigger the better. Most of the time.
Relax_The_Mind on 08/11/2003 06:23:03
860cca battery solved all my problems in my camaro... nothing but uninterrupted BASS!!!! HAHAAHA!!!!k
And yes I Used my 4gauge leftovers to upgrade the wiring from alt/bat ground/chassis with high temp wire loom.
Also make sure to sand or file all the connections to your Alt and all terminals once in a while. Corrosion and build up is horrible for current flow.
Oh yeh if i get to it I will take pics of it and try to post something up for the FAQ's for visual aid.
Anyone got anything they want me to take pics of for the FAQs? ill post in the gold section..
RTM
Replies (6)
baine on 08/9/2003 08:08:33
a capacitor is a power storage unit that when your car battery goes below a certain point it will add its juice to make up for it . A better perchace would be a new bigger 800 amp batt or a high power alt. Capacitors are nothing but in a word a small battery ( they store power for use when needed ). The rpms drop because the alt is calling for more power , if the lights dont dim then you might be ok. You need to figure out what your alt puts out now ( call a parts sore and ask how much the stock alt for your car puts out ) then figure out what your car is useing and what your system is using. What is the fuse on your amp
that will give you a idea of what amps the amp is pulling. I would never get a cap as they are pricey and overated and you will still have the same problem as before your car cant give your system what it needs .. Waite for the pros to answer as they can lay it out better than I can. I could also be wrong but I do not beleive so.
Swez on 08/9/2003 09:37:16
I agree... if your lights are not dimming, but engine RPM is dipping, it is because your sound system is pulling high amount of current from the system which causes the Alt to work harder.
You might want to try bumping up the engine rpm via the idle adjustments at the throttle connection point of your fuel intake system. Not much... maybe 50 more RPM should help. There is usually an adjustment screw for that purpose.
Finally, a larger battery will help store larger amounts of power to help run the audio system and your other electricals. However, as battery power levels are depleted, they still have to call back to the ALT to replenish the system... works harder again... but seems that ALT is adequate for now.
Swez
greg311 on 08/9/2003 20:23:07
I take that back, my headlights and dash lights are now dimming when bass hits...I have a larger than normal battery (die hard) for this vehicle and a stock ALT, I am assuming that a cap is probably the most cost effective way to solve this problem? yes?
Swez on 08/9/2003 21:30:59
Simple yes... cost effective... debatable... most effective way to manage the problem permanently... NOPE!
If you had an 800 + CCA rated battery (stock is ~600 CCA or less) then you would have a larger buffer for current to pull reserves from. But if you don't give the ALT adequate time to recharge any battery, (toys off for a few hours of driving) the electrical system will suffer.
One inexpensive thing you can do, upgrade the stock wires between the ALT/BAT and BAT/GND to say #4 wires, this will allow more current to pass from ALT to BAT and system with less electrical resistance. Most stock wires are #6- #8 wires. Cannot handle too much current inrush demand, thus a "bottleneck".
Try that first and see if your system improves. If not, a larger output ALT is your best and most effective purchase. There is an FAQ on this subject that you may wish to review. Blitz did a good job outlining the issues and fixes.
Swez
accusedmonk on 08/10/2003 10:02:35
Yeah Swez is right about the bottleneck. The higher current draw creates more heat which increases resistance making it much harder to do the same job. It has to pull even more current to make up for lost current.
You can if you don't wanna replace the wires that are there, you can hook wires up to it parallel, allowing more current to flow through the smaller wires.
Seems to me that everything in the car audio business is bigger the better. Most of the time.
Relax_The_Mind on 08/11/2003 06:23:03
860cca battery solved all my problems in my camaro... nothing but uninterrupted BASS!!!! HAHAAHA!!!!k
And yes I Used my 4gauge leftovers to upgrade the wiring from alt/bat ground/chassis with high temp wire loom.
Also make sure to sand or file all the connections to your Alt and all terminals once in a while. Corrosion and build up is horrible for current flow.
Oh yeh if i get to it I will take pics of it and try to post something up for the FAQ's for visual aid.
Anyone got anything they want me to take pics of for the FAQs? ill post in the gold section..
RTM
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