Dimming Headlights

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99 mondeo

Member - Posts: 6

Joined: January 16, 2006

Location: United Kingdom

Posted: January 16, 2006 at 10:15 AM / IP Logged

Can anyone help me I have just installed my new amps and am having problems with dimming headlights.

The two amps are both 1800watt 5 channel, they are connected with 4awg cable on both earth and live and the resistance is fine on all cables, There is also a 10farad powercap connected excactly as the manual that came with it said to, but still when the volume goes up a bit (nowhere near full volume) the headlights start dimming just like the old days before things like powercaps and nice wiring and high output alternators came about. There is a voltage display on the power cap and two (one for each amp) inline AVM's (amp, voltage meters) and they all display the same voltage this being normally around 14 volts which is the same voltage as at the battery.

I did have two amps before but together they came to a mere 1000watts and I never had the problem then using just a 1 farad cap, Any help would be very much appreacited as it does look really bad and obviously cant be doing the battery and alternator any good at all.

DYohn

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Joined: April 22, 2003

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: January 16, 2006 at 10:59 AM / IP Logged

You need a high-output alternator capable of supplying the current needed by your amps and by the vehicle.

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forbidden

Platinum - Posts: 5,352

Joined: November 01, 2003

Location: Alberta, Canada

Posted: January 16, 2006 at 12:26 PM / IP Logged

Just squint...you won't notice the lights dimming.

Read the grounding sticky at the top of the forum, next up is a bigger alternator.

Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.

99 mondeo

Member - Posts: 6

Joined: January 16, 2006

Location: United Kingdom

Posted: January 17, 2006 at 9:31 AM / IP Logged

thanks I did look at uprating the alternator in the past as I also have a ICEled ufo kit and a few more leds in places that the factory dont fit. The only other one i found for a straight swap has 15 more amps on it than the current one, I know any gain is worth it but do you think that a mere 15 would cope with the extra demand?? or do I have to start looking through endless catalouges to find some else that will fit in the hole properly with all the right dimensions? and if so what sort of power would I be looking for?

alpine_king

Copper - Posts: 73

Joined: October 05, 2005

Location: Canada

Posted: January 17, 2006 at 2:35 PM / IP Logged

goto eBay, if you have an account, if not its easy to sign up and stuff, they have alot of alt's for all kinds of vehicles. get a good name brand one tho.

1993 Ford Ranger.

Head Unit.Alpine CDA-9831

Front Speakers.Infinity 6010 Reference Series

Amp.Alpine MRD-M1005

Subs.3 Kicker CVR10

Rear Speakers.SPL CS-573

20" Boss 312's, lowered 3/4

tex12gage

Copper - Posts: 83

Joined: September 28, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: January 18, 2006 at 11:38 AM / IP Logged

It probably wouldn't hurt to upgrade the "Big 3". Might be a good place to start.

tex

downstarinc

Copper - Posts: 119

Joined: October 22, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: January 18, 2006 at 11:12 PM / IP Logged

ide do the "big 3" first, get a optima yellow or red top battery, get a h.o. alternator, and run 1/0 wire to the amps..im running 2000watts to to my subs and i have 1/0 "big 3", yellow top optima, 1/0ga to the amps, and 2 farads of caps, and my lights still dim..next step is another battery. basically, upgrade, upgrade, upgrade!

jl audio..nuff said

99 mondeo

Member - Posts: 6

Joined: January 16, 2006

Location: United Kingdom

Posted: January 19, 2006 at 5:01 AM / IP Logged

Cheers to everyone so far I have looked into a HO alternator but cant sem to get a price on one aywhere just to make enquiries about the specs can anyone help with a place to actually buy one in the UK?? What sort of ampage should I be looking for? Theres a 90amp there at the moment which I've been told is the biggest ford ever fitted to this model of car. There is a 130amp one from a simular model and I'm trying to get my hands on one to see if it will fit but will that be big enough to cope??

novice86

Member - Posts: 6

Joined: January 19, 2006

Location: United States

Posted: January 19, 2006 at 6:49 PM / IP Logged

another thing to keep in mind, for both 99 mondeo, and downstarinc, on your factory or aftermarket alternator, if you happen to look at the power and ground cable running from\ to it, youll notice only 4 awg. (what i have seen anyhow) so even if you do put a 'big 3' on there your still only running it through 4 awg power wire, therefore the 1/0 awg you have running through your car is utterly and unfortunately pointless. so 1?0 awg to\from your new bigger/better alternator would make a big difference, especially for downstarinc.

Jimmy

novice86

Member - Posts: 6

Joined: January 19, 2006

Location: United States

Posted: January 19, 2006 at 7:49 PM / IP Logged

in which you would have to put 1/0 awg ground for battery and frame. not alternator. sorry.

Jimmy

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