flashing lights..WOOH!!

[SUSS8]

Well i was driving home from work tonite and heard a song I liked so i put the music up to about volume 20. I noticed my dash lights and my headlights were diming every time the bass kicked. Ive got 2 12s in the boot with 6x9s and etc. Wondering if anyone else has had this problem and how I could fix it ??

[Nic92]

common problem when the amps are drawing so much current that the battery/alt cant provide enough power to the lights and that. easy fix would be a cap but everyone says there a band aid etc, so another option is The Big Three. may i ask what amps are you running and power wire thickness (will be in AWG or gauge).

[jbray1984]

I had this in my VT, never got around to fixing it although went through 3 alternators lol.
Kept getting suggested a capacitor, but never got around to it hahah

[Jesterarts]

common problem when the amps are drawing so much current that the battery/alt cant provide enough power to the lights and that. easy fix would be a cap but everyone says there a band aid etc, so another option is The Big Three. may i ask what amps are you running and power wire thickness (will be in AWG or gauge).

Watched that video and no idea how exactly that's supposed to stop the lights dimming. The issue is the stereo drawing too much current and there being not enough left for the lights etc. The thicker gauge wire allowes more current to travel through it but doesn't change the fact the alt is not putting out enough.

Aside from that, that muppets installation was terrible. The terminals he had didn't fit the wire so there was threads sticking out, the grounding screw was a joke, just rubbish all round.

Solutions are:

- Alternator upgrade
- Capacitors

[one_and_only2004]

Watched that video and no idea how exactly that's supposed to stop the lights dimming. The issue is the stereo drawing too much current and there being not enough left for the lights etc. The thicker gauge wire allowes more current to travel through it but doesn't change the fact the alt is not putting out enough.

When you draw too much current through a small conductor voltage drops over the whole system, so replacing it with a bigger cable gets rid of this problem. I used to have crazy voltage problems running 8AWG cable, then I went to 4AWG and all my problems disappeared.

[MAG00]

Issue is called voltage drop. It occurs when a large resistance blocks current that the amp has drawn from getting back to the negative terminal on the battery, thus a drop in voltage occurs across the system.

Doing the big three is a great way to reduce the resistance, as thicker wires have less resistance to current flow.

Steps to actually fix the issue:

1) Do the big 3, replacing the alternator to positive terminal, chassis ground to negative terminal and engine block ground to negative terminal stock cabling with large PROPERLY crimped and heatshrinked 4 or 0 gauge cable. Make sure you do it properly, a dodgey job is dangerous. If you don't have a hex crimper, get your auto elec to crimp some lugs onto some pre-determined lengths of wire.
2) Replace the battery. A bigger deep cycle battery will be able to keep up with the load. Common recommedations are the Optima D34 batteries or the Deka Intimidator batteries.
3) Replace the alternator. This should be the last on your list. Get a police pack alternator or any bigger one to suit.

Steps to not fix the issue:
1) Buy a capacitor. Bandaid solution, useless, dangerous and should be avoided.

[juzzyx]

Come of it.

Just get a 1.2 or 2.0 farad capacitor and you problem will be fixed. If your entire system is under 800rms 8gauge wire will be fine.

I've been running 800rms on 8gauge for just under a year with a 1.2 farad capacitor and have never encountered a problem with voltage or dimming lights.

[wrx884]

Come of it.

Just get a 1.2 or 2.0 farad capacitor and you problem will be fixed. If your entire system is under 800rms 8gauge wire will be fine.

I've been running 800rms on 8gauge for just under a year with a 1.2 farad capacitor and have never encountered a problem with voltage or dimming lights.

anything under 10 farard its pretty unless man and wont fix the problem u have laying elsewhere.

im also running 900wrms but with 4 gauge wiring through my VT's system and dont have a cap and dont have any problems.

[one_and_only2004]

Come of it.

Just get a 1.2 or 2.0 farad capacitor and you problem will be fixed. If your entire system is under 800rms 8gauge wire will be fine.

I've been running 800rms on 8gauge for just under a year with a 1.2 farad capacitor and have never encountered a problem with voltage or dimming lights.

1.2 farad? Waste of time. If you wired it properly you wouldn't need a capacitor at those power levels.

[MAG00]

Come of it.

Just get a 1.2 or 2.0 farad capacitor and you problem will be fixed. If your entire system is under 800rms 8gauge wire will be fine.

I've been running 800rms on 8gauge for just under a year with a 1.2 farad capacitor and have never encountered a problem with voltage or dimming lights.

Oh shut up.

Op, read my post and properly fix the problem.

[StoneX]

Come of it.

Just get a 1.2 or 2.0 farad capacitor and you problem will be fixed. If your entire system is under 800rms 8gauge wire will be fine.

I've been running 800rms on 8gauge for just under a year with a 1.2 farad capacitor and have never encountered a problem with voltage or dimming lights.

Read this: WIRE

8ga is not sufficient for the current 800Wrms amplifier will draw when making maximum power. It will cause voltage drop which will then cause the amplifier to clip.

[juzzyx]

MAG00 you have no idea what you are talking about, get off the forums.

Suss8 did this just start happening? if so then a capacitor wont fix it, you need to test your battery, most battery shops do it for free.

Need more info.

[juzzyx]

I have been meaning to upgrade to 4gauge.

But my amps have never clipped before. I have got my 1.2farad cap hooked up to my mono-block after the distribution block. The capacitor has never gone below 12.00volts and that's at full blast with no distortion.

I will upgrade to 4gauge soon.

p.s

My system is putting out around 700rms (300rms subs, 110rms x 2 for front splits, 80rms x 2 for rear splits)

[MAG00]

Judging by your system and the advice you are giving, you sir have no idea. Don't tell me to get off the forums you waste of space.

This is a common issue, for which it gets two responses. One where the big 3 is suggested, which is correct. The other where an idiot suggests a capacitor.

Replace the stock wiring with larger wiring, the results will speak for themselves.

[FstStig]

Flux capacitor will fix everything and will send us all back to the future.

[SUSS8]

Yeah I'll have to look up what wiring is in it since i bought the system already done "professionally" apparently. I was suggested Putting in a VT alternator but it's alot of mucking about. If it's the wiring its no stress won't take me long to do or much mucking about

[mint]

Man. what a lot of bitching~!

BTW, Do any of the "big3" proponents have a "howto" on a VE?

[MAG00]

Some of the lower chain stores don't do that much of a "professional" job.

I'm fairly sure the VE battery is in the boot? Makes it a lot harder as you'll need very long lengths of cable.

One from positive on alternator to positive on battery.
One from engine block to negative on battery.
One from a chassis rail to negative on battery.

[vn1989]

one of my mates had this problem running 2 alpine type r subs and he wired up a battery in his boot got rid of his spare whell and no more dimming he pumpes it that hard he blew up one on his subs so now he has 2 alpine type x

[MAG00]

Sounds like a knowledgeable mate

[StoneX]

Except even with a second battery your voltage will drop from charge voltage to battery voltage which will be visible as dimming.