[ View Full Version Of This Page ]

amp and subs dimming lights

All Forums » Audio/Visual Electronics » amp and subs dimming lights

steviebix
7/28/2007 6:38:16 PM
okay, so on my car with a 300 watt Pioneer amp, 2 kicker 10's, and kenwood deck, all my lights, including heads and tails, neons and gauges, all dim when the subs hit. like their pulsing to the music. but i definetly dont want it. seems like my car is being overloaded with power and cant handle it all. what exactly should i do? links? names? anything? thanks.
smaglik
7/28/2007 7:59:38 PM
cheapest first...
 
first, improve your ground points.
second add a capacitor
3rd, yellow-top (high performance) battery
4th, high output alternator.
 
 
tru_44
7/28/2007 9:30:34 PM
^ yeah what he said, lol also big 3,and batt dosen't have to be yellow top but a high end brand is reccomended, and to be real cheap and spend nothing ride with your ac off
steviebix
7/29/2007 9:36:44 AM
can anyone recommend a brand of capacitor or a place where i can get one? where does it go exactly? on the amp? on the amp wiring?
tru_44
7/29/2007 11:10:47 AM
ebay has cheap caps, you run power wire from batt to cap(+)and from that to amp(+) ground cap and amp to metal, also a new cap should come with instructions
tru_44
7/29/2007 11:13:40 AM
Hebrew Hammer
7/30/2007 9:13:04 AM
the big 3 should be first along with a better battery...caps are only good for helping the cars electrical system deal with the harsh loads of a stereo system but do little if anything at all for the actual system...your alternator should be suffice for now...
Wolf
8/24/2007 7:45:32 AM
Wow, your lights are dimming with only 300 watts of power? At one point in time I had a kicker L7 15" subwoofer in my car running on a kicker zx 1000.1 amp (1000 watts power) My lights dimmed then. I had to replace the amp and bought an mtx thunder series 600 watt amp and it doesnt dim at all, also I now have an alpine amp on my highs and still no dimming...I didnt know that could happen with such low wattage.
bssmagik83
9/5/2007 9:29:37 AM
I also have a 1000 watt amp and a 15" L7, I have no dimming...make sure you have a good ground for the amp...And I would also recommend doing the big 3 grounding..upgrade the battery if that stuff doesnt help....What else are you running off your battery?
falkore24
9/5/2007 10:13:30 AM
I agree with grounding and a cap.  If you don't have any trouble starting your car, there's no need for an upgraded battery.  Also, the cap does not have to go between the amp and battery.  It just needs to be hooked up to the main lead that powers your amp.  It can be a branch on a distribution block.  The cap will also help cold starts.  With the power that you are running better grounding should take care of the problem, but a capacitor will buffer the electrical system from voltage spikes and valleys caused by the subs.

Bottom line, do #1 and see if you need to go from there.  #2 is always a good idea and will also give you better bass suspension.  #'s 3 & 4 should not be necessary with this power demand.
Related Threads

[ View Full Version Of This Page ]

Return to the Honda Accord Forum home page - Archive Home