Dash Dims when sub kicks.

[King_berald]

hey guys....just installed my new stereo....i had the car running and started playing some music, and noticed that everytime the sub kicked, all the lights on the dash would dim a fair amount......does this mean i have an electrical fault? or do i need to upgrade my alternator or something?

[TrikkBen]

It means the sub is drawing to much power from the car, You could install a Capacitor.

[Philthy]

Upgrade your earths. There is a thread floating about somewhere that will show you how

Search "big 3" or simply "earth upgrade"

[King_berald]

i was going to ground the negative battery terminal to the chassis.....but is this going to be a bare minimum fix?

[Philthy]

Its a good start. Use at least 4g cable, sand back the paint, and lately I have been using "wire glue" from jaycar on my earths as well to seal them up

[sweefu]

Plus ensure your amplifier earth is the same as philthy said, well sanded back etc. Make sure you power cable is up to the job too. If your amp terminal accepts 4awg - give it 4awg.

My last stereo ran 1260wrms on stock altenator and battery with no dimming anywhere at all.

[HCVP]

hey guys....just installed my new stereo....i had the car running and started playing some music, and noticed that everytime the sub kicked, all the lights on the dash would dim a fair amount......does this mean i have an electrical fault? or do i need to upgrade my alternator or something?

If you gave us some more detail, such as a full list of the components you are using, then we would be more likely to be able to tell you what upgrades would benifit you the most.

And no, a capacitor will not fix the issue.

[King_berald]

oh sorry....i got 6.5" type R splits in the front doors....6.5" typr R coaxs in the rear....and a 500watt rms type R sub....i have a 500watt monoblock and a 1320watt 4 channel...

[sweefu]

oh sorry....i got 6.5" type R splits in the front doors....6.5" typr R coaxs in the rear....and a 500watt rms type R sub....i have a 500watt monoblock and a 1320watt 4 channel...

Plus ensure your amplifier earth is the same as philthy said, well sanded back etc. Make sure you power cable is up to the job too. If your amp terminal accepts 4awg - give it 4awg.

My last stereo ran 1260wrms on stock altenator and battery with no dimming anywhere at all. Have you checked all this stuff mate?

[King_berald]

i have sanded patches under the rear seat to bare metal then got a terminal with a copper washer and used a self taping screw into the body....is there any other ways that would be better?

[sweefu]

What are the model numbers of the amps and what power cables have you run/how are they distributed?
Cheers.

[King_berald]

umm mrpf600...mrpm500....i bought a 4gauge sony wiring kit....and ive run the power cable straight from the battery up the side of the car to a distribution block under the back seat, which splits in 2 and goes to my amps in the back.

[sweefu]

Is the 4 guage kit split to 2x8guage wires? The 4 channel needs a 4gauage power cable all to itself. According to the specs the mono can run off an 8guage powe wire, though if you can fit it under the terminal 4guage is the way to go, considering it is putting out 500wrms.

I'd say an upgrade in power wires is needed mate.

[savage1987]

I wasn't aware that undersized power wires could cause dimming..

This would definitely be the problem in my VR if it is indeed the case

Sam

[sweefu]

Not sure mate but i know it wouldnt be helping the situation, but with those amps you shouldnt get much dimming. Either way though - always make sure your power cables are up to the job!

[bandit10]

And no, a capacitor will not fix the issue.

a power cap fixed the exact same problem in my car have a read of this...

Car Audio Power Capacitors

[savage1987]

Capacitors are like band aids in most installs.

[King_berald]

theres no 8gauge wire in my install...i got 4gauge going to the distributer...and two 4gauge wires coming out...

[King_berald]

what do most people use for an earth?

[StoneX]

Wire the same size as your power wire.

[HCVP]

a power cap fixed the exact same problem in my car have a read of this...

Car Audio Power Capacitors

If i wrote a page long article about why you wouldn't buy one, then posted a link, would that be sufficient to change you mind?

[bandit10]

if your page long article made my lights dim again then maybe... but seen as the power cap fixed it then no lol

[StoneX]

Stop saying "power cap" it's gay. It's simply a capacitor.

It should be one of the last things to try when diagnosing electrical issues. First things to do is to make sure the wiring throughout is adequate size, including grounding from battery to chassis and battery to engine block. The grounds should all be checked to ensure there is good contact to bare metal.

[sweefu]

Stop saying "power cap" it's gay. It's simply a capacitor.

It should be one of the last things to try when diagnosing electrical issues. First things to do is to make sure the wiring throughout is adequate size, including grounding from battery to chassis and battery to engine block. The grounds should all be checked to ensure there is good contact to bare metal.

StoneX is right here, everyone quick! Listen to him!

[acarmody]

if your page long article made my lights dim again then maybe... but seen as the power cap fixed it then no lol

HAHA "Power Cap". Hey maybe its a capacitor that generates its own power, that would be awesome.

I remember someone telling me that a 1 farad cap holds about as much power as a AA Battery, any thoughts?