i know nothing about car audio, but i know there must be a way for my lights not to dim when im playing some music. i know my amp is what is causing the dimming but how can i fix it? bigger bat? bigger alternator? im clueless plz help

 

Upgrade your grounds on the battery and amp. make them as big as possible.

Depending on how many amps your drawing you may need a bigger alternator as well.

Or it could just be that your amp for some dumb reason is making the lights dim. I had a small 180 watt pg amp that made my lights dim. Then replaced it will a zapco ag 360 and my lights didnt dim.

 

a Capacitor will help alot, 1 farad should be enough

 

LoL Capacitor. Equipping a new alternator is the only way to solve your problem. Current is the issue here and you don't have enough to supply the car properly under load therefore your solution is to generate more current by using a larger alternator.

 

now where can i get a new bigger alternator?

 

do your lights dim while driving or at idle? if it happens only at idle....don't worry about it.

 

nope it happens when driving too, and when the subs hit hard...

 

only solution is:

MORE POWER!!! get a bigger alternator. i'm sure if you called around local shops, etc. you could find some place that will equip you with a larger current alternator, or maybe rewind your alternator to provide more current.

 

any idea how much those options would cost?

i got this problem too..my headlights are even dimming a little

 

new alternator will run you around 300-500 depending on how big, plus installation. no clue how much it costs to rewind your current alternator. i'd plan on replacing some wires too.

if your getting "slight" dimming only with bass hits, and generally only at idle...2 thigns you should do. first, get a capacitor and a deep cycle battery. the cap will help deliver the bass and the deep cycle battery will take the abuse. second, lower the volume.

i think the culprit of most stereo systems isn't overpowered subs, it's underpowered tweeters. if your tweeters were half as loud as your subs, you wouldn't be able to turn the music up so freakin loud in the first place.

 

a capacitor will totally remedy this problem.
the function of a capacitor is to store power, so that in the instance of a high draw of power the energy is taken from the capacitor instead of the rest of the electrical system itself.
as long as your current draw is below 55 amps, an aftermarket alternator should not be neccesary, even when running high beams.
the alternator would still not be a bad idea if you plan to add to any stock audio system.
you can usually find an electrical rebuilding company who can
"redo" your stock alternator at a much smaller cost than purchasing an aftermarket one, just look in your yellow pages.

 

nothing worse then having your headlights and your gauges dim everytime your bass hits. 1 Farad Cap solved all my problems. It would be much easier and cheaper then having to replace or upgrade your alternator.

 

depends on how severe the dimming is. capacitor doesn't provide extra power, it just takes the strain of the rest of the electrical system. if after a couple days or so, you find that your car is hard to start, etc....you are not properly recharging your battery. A. get an optima yellow top and B. upgrade the alternator.

however i do agree that for most systems this is not necessary. a 1 farad cap and an optima yellow top will allow you to pump, as long as you pump responsibly

 

------A capacitor is exactly what he needs, how the hell r u gonna send him to go get a new alternator for like 300 and up?

 

Funny thing is nobody asked what exactly he's pushing. How many Amps, the wattage on the amps, etc? It was right away "get a new alternator".