Need more power, new battery + alt or Cap

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=19406
Printed Date: August 28, 2025 at 1:34 AM

Topic: Need more power, new battery + alt or Cap

Posted By: specialblendj
Subject: Need more power, new battery + alt or Cap
Date Posted: September 28, 2003 at 12:35 AM

OK so I just bought a new alpine deck for a '97 4-door civic dx. The deck is rated at 60x4 RMS. When I turn it up and bass hits the lights on the deck dim. I'm not sure if the headlight dim, I mainly notice the deck dimming. I'm planning on getting a 100x4 RMS amp soon and then an amp to push about 400 watts to three 12's RMS. I was planning on just using capacitators, I can get them cheap from my work, but will capacitators alone be enough if my deck lights are already dimming? I'm wondering if this is a sign that I need to replace my battery. Will I be able to power this system with my current batteries and adequate capacitators?

Replies:

Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: September 28, 2003 at 12:39 AM

You might want to consider an alternator upgrade along with a new dry cell competition battery to keep up with the changes in your stereo system. Caps wil help, but in the end your still better off with a high output alternator.

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Posted By: superstreet786
Date Posted: October 07, 2003 at 8:29 PM

In my personal opinion a capacitor would work fine but while idling the lights will still dim

Posted By: fuseblower
Date Posted: October 08, 2003 at 8:40 AM

As Velocity stated you will need to upgrade your alternator. Adding a cap will help with short bursts of music but can also be limiting. A cap charges using your alternator just as a battery does. If you can't supply enough power to your cap to feed the amp you will still have the issue of dimming lights or your amp shutting down because of a lack of power.