Lights are dimming w/bass
 

Hi folks, I got a 12"Kicker Solobaric sub installed in my car with a 1000w Alpine monoblock and when I'm slamming some techno or IDM the bass makes my headlights dim. Is this problem fixed with a Capacitor or is there a better alt/battery combo I could get? Is there a product that fixes this? Keep in mind that I have just started modding the stereo and I would like to perform the better solution and not the quicker/cheaper solution.

get a Power Capcitor, it should help.
I have a Yellow Top Optima + 2 farad cap+ 1400 watt amp + dual 10" JL's and my lights don't dim. :)

+1 to Jedi. OP, you are draining too much power from your car battery

Great! I've got the same battery, bought it 2 mnths ago. If I got a farad cap I mount it near the amp or the battery? Any other caps suggestions?

I've always gone with the 1farad for every 1000 watts and doing a quick google search confirmed this as well.


What Size Car Audio Power Capacitor Do You Need?
http://www.caraudiohelp.com/newslett...citor_myth.htm



You can mount the cap in the trunk, that's what I did.

Awesome. Doctor Prescribes 1 Cap. Should be easy as pie. eating pie that is, i have no idea how to make a pie.

Caps do not eliminate dimming, a new battery or a kinetik powercell will do the job. There $100 including shipping on amazon.com

Like hell they don't. I've even watched a car step through the amount of farads and watched the lights dim less and less with each farad added.

:rofl:
much to learn you have my young Padawan.

read this then:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Car-Audio-...ney&id=1552880

and here as well to all the Cap lovers out their:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyKqWqzHMVI

the power cable from your capacitor to your amp should be as short as possible.

/\ thanks, that should be easy.
Is there a better brand or the cheap craigslist Power AcoustiK/Stinger 2.0 Farad for 50$ should be good.

---off topic but my taillight is foggy. :(

check out this video then:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIRV7...response_watch

and these two clowns are WHO???

i'd recommend getting one with a built-in voltmeter and also one with an audible warning. those features can be useful for checking your system's performance. Stinger has some good products, i'd recommend them. personally i'm using this product: http://www.crutchfield.com/p_120PP10...M.html?tp=2614

for the tail light, take it off, dry it out and get a new gasket from Mazda or make your own sealing gasket. (DO NOT DRILL HOLES IN YOUR TAIL LIGHT!)

Cool, thanks. There is one in the locals with the voltometer.
I'll get a new gasket at the dealer. would BtB warranty cover that?

Exactly my thoughts.

Just like the 15 year old's reaction in your video.... "capacitors. Where do I begin." This issue has been argued back and forth for a solid 10 years now (Yes I can remember having these same discussions 10 years ago).

First things first, I don't think anyone will argue that a H/O alt is the ideal solution. It is the source of all that is electrical in the car. However, they can be damned expensive. Take the RX8 for example. You priced them? They're in the $400-500 range for the bottom-end ones.

Your statement of "caps do not eliminate dimming" is false. If you have a small amount of dimming, a cap is a cheap solution for this. I've watched them fix dimming issues time and time again AND I've come in contact with that same customer nearly 2 years later, who is still enjoying the benefits. So don't jump on the caraudioforum.com bandwagon and say that it puts more stress on the alt and eventually fries it. Don't argue. Prove it to yourself. Get your hands dirty and eyes ready.

unfortunately not. Mazda is now saying that the condensation is normal. :icon_bs: they just dont feel like paying to put new gaskets in so they're passing the buck to you. check out what it will eventually do.

Attachment 266929

Yea, your right: "If you have a small amount of dimming, a cap is a cheap solution for this" I was talking about alot of power like 2,000+ Watts RMS. Cuz my old car had dimming problems with a 2.0 Fad cap & I didnt want to go through that again, so i went with a kinetik powercell. It is Overkill but, I feel better with a second battery.

I have a quality battery, the dimming is only bad when I am cranking it, which I only do on the highway. I actually noticed it the most when it was snowing. If that doesn't work well then I will have to do a step 2, but I don't think that will be nessesary.
The h/o alts are very pricey.

trust me, i've got basically the same setup as you and i have absolutely no dimming. i'm using a 2F cap though.

Attachment 266926

Attachment 266927

oh yeah, i also have the yellow top.

what size are your power cables? do you have a grounding kit installed?

Very simmilar, except I have the amp/sub in opposite spots. Sounds great. I'm going to get a 2farad friday.

no grounding kit.

Don't waste your money on a capacitor. 1.) It likely won't fix your problem. 2.) If for some reason it does, its only a band-aid.

Now, if you want to cover up/only possibly fix your problem, go right ahead and get one, I personally don't think it will work. If you want to spend your money wisely, you would want to upgrade your electrical system. How this hasn't been even whispered yet, quite honestly, is beyond me. Upgrade your alternator or add another battery. Make sure your power wire is of proper size, and make sure your grounds are proper also.

While this isn't scientific proof by any means, my system got stolen from one of my old cars 5 years ago. They took everything possible, but left my 2F cap in plain sight. Either they forgot to take it or they didn't want a paperweight... Who said thieves weren't smart? I used it for the digital volt meter anyhow :)

I don't want to present myself as a car audio guru, as I'm not by any means, but I've dabbled in it for quite a few years now.

This was my setup from the past summer. Attachment 266896


4000wrms and not the slightest bit of dimming, all from upgrading my alternator and adding batteries to the electrical system.

Good luck with your choice and by the way, I have a 2F cap that's for sale due to lack of use :) I'm not asking much for it so make an offer!


EDIT:

firebirdude mentioned H/O alternator that I missed the first time around, so I would like to say that he is 100% correct for mentioning that, good work!

I don't take back my capacitor comments as personal experience proved to be a waste of time and money for me. Results may vary for your setup, i suppose!

yes/no/yes/no

hi-test alt or hi-price denso? any other suggestions?

where do I get a grounding kit? I've never really heard of one b4.

As mentioned before, it has been a debate for many years now. I vote no. :)

And I thought I was the only one on here that hated Caps. Finally there is someone on here that agrees with me!

I purchased a Kinetik High Current Car Audio Power Cell/just got done installing it and the dimming is gone, completely.
I learned that H/O alts are pretty unrelyable and expensive.
Caps are a fix, but my audio is growing.

Thanks alot for the help and information as always!

glad to hear you got it fixed.
:)

Congrats on getting it fixed! Dimming is very annoying, and not always cheap to fix! Kinetik is a fine name when it comes to car audio and powering it. Good job.


Michael

I told you the Kinetik powercell would do the job. Great choice man.

Kinetik = 1billion caps hahha , no, more like 100 or something and is the same size.
When it warms up I'm gonna stip the paint off it and paint it vr, the blue is ugly.
And yes, Kinetik is a very good product. -Recomended.