Dimming Headlights

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lostinthewoods

Member - Posts: 3

Joined: July 11, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: October 28, 2005 at 3:20 PM / IP Logged

I have a '98 Subaru Legacy Outback. I am having a bit of headlight dimming when my base pounds. My system is a 10" Infinity Kappa Perfect DVQ in a 1 cu ft sealed box powered by a profile amp w/ 600watts RMS though it is only turned up about 75% when tested. Other than that i have a Alpine head unit and Infinity Kappa 6.5" components. I also have a Rockford Cap in the trunk for the sub to stiffen the system. I was wondering what I could do to get the headlights to stop dimming.

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dwarren

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Joined: December 03, 2004

Location: California, United States

Posted: October 28, 2005 at 4:10 PM / IP Logged

Alternator, ditch the cap.

lostinthewoods

Member - Posts: 3

Joined: July 11, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: October 28, 2005 at 4:59 PM / IP Logged

Is it just a case of a alternator that needs to be replaced, or do i have to get a larger one. would an 85 amp be sufficient and is the cap causing part of the problem.

dwarren

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Joined: December 03, 2004

Location: California, United States

Posted: October 28, 2005 at 5:58 PM / IP Logged

It seems your alternator is not enough. The cap can add to this. The cap is a storage device and when it empties (ususlly after the first bass note) the alternator must provide power for that now power hungry device. Once you upgrade to a larger alternator, you may include the cap.

There are numerous past topics that go into great detail about this subject so if you have some time and want to learn about this, I would suggest doing a search here, about your question. Try using "lights dimming" or "alternator" or "caps" as keywords.

pimpincavy

Silver - Posts: 880

Joined: May 20, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: October 28, 2005 at 10:48 PM / IP Logged

Your alt should be sufficent size for the wattage your running. Get rid of the cap, that may help. If not try getting a new alt. you wont need a huge one for only 600W, a new 85 amp should suffice.

KarTuneMan

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Joined: December 14, 2004

Location: Isle Of Man

Posted: October 29, 2005 at 10:56 AM / IP Logged

What is the overall condition of your battery, cables, and conectors? Thats where I would start, cheaper and easier than an alt. Have the damn battery load tested. Also check the output of the alt. at idle and with the RPM's up. 13.6/14.4 volts with no fluctuations (drops or spikes) even the smallest amout of corrosion can hamper the performace of a stock charging system. If the battery has marginal load handling, it FOR SURE is giving you a problem while bumpin the system. Then while doing that, you're slowly killing your alternator....it wil do its best to keep up, till the very end!

One more thing.....stock light bulbs in the headlights?

lostinthewoods

Member - Posts: 3

Joined: July 11, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: October 30, 2005 at 3:24 PM / IP Logged

yeah, stock bulbs in the headlights. I had headlight dimming before i got the cap too. I haven't checked the condition of the battery, i think that is going to be my first step from the advice given above. So what is being said here is that at the simplest level, the battery is failing and overloading the alt to some degree?

arrow12

Silver - Posts: 527

Joined: October 06, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: October 30, 2005 at 3:32 PM / IP Logged

You just eliminated the cap in your system. If it still dims with the cap, then just ditch it. Your alternator might be wearing out too.

That's my opinion. Take it, leave it, or correct me.

Mad Scientists

Silver - Posts: 380

Joined: February 07, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: October 30, 2005 at 7:15 PM / IP Logged

If you can, measure the current coming out of the alternator.. also measure the voltage at the alternator and the battery. If your connections are ok, I'd say the alternator isn't keeping up with demand. If the cap isn't shorted internally I don't believe it's adding to any problems you might have.

Jim

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sdlimited

Member - Posts: 4

Joined: August 19, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: October 31, 2005 at 2:25 PM / IP Logged

I would place in a optima battery and you will possibly be able to ditch that cap. You will need a yellow cap optima battery.

Stylindetail@hotmail.com

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Dimming Headlights

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