All you need is a capacitor.

 

What size battery are you running?

 

All you need is a capacitor.

Capacitors dont really even do anything, from what ive read and seen on my truck. Theyre kinda good when you just have your key switch on and trucks off, and your hearing loud music. It helps your battery not die, and ive seen some of my friends cars, still die out.

I would consider a red top battery or something much better than your stock one.

im running 2 12, 2 amps, 2 TVs, i have a yellow top battery from autozone, and there is no problem with dimming not even when the bass hits really hard.


I plan later on in the future when i bag my truck and get some efans. Im going with a higher voltage Alternator, and an extra battery. Maybe you might want to look into that if you get a big system in there.

 

You need a bigger alternator or your battery is dying, the amp you are running is not strong enough to pull power from the headlights even at idle.

 

Basically the alternator's job is to charge the battery. That's all it does. Any voltage the system needs it takes from the battery. The battery stores the energy until it's needed. If the headlights dim when the amp pulls voltage from the battery the battery is either in a state of discharge or it's capacity is too small for the amp.

 

Are your add-on devices wired directly to the car battery or the large cable from the car battery using large gauge copper wire?

Wires a like a water pipe. If you have a small water pipe like the small water tubing on the back of a refrigerator and connect a water faucet to this, not much water will come out and there is no way it will supply both the refrigerator and the faucet at the same time.

But if you have a large fire hose size water pipe going there, it would easily supply the refrigerator and the water faucet!

Same thing with wires. Large wires can supply multiple large loads at the same time. Small wires can't.

At an automobile factory, they determine the amperage loads on each circuit, then use the correct size wire for those loads. Then use the correct fuses for the size of wire used.

Wire size table...
http://www.offroaders.com/tech/12-volt-wire-gauge-amps.htm

 

in my opinion red tops suck if you want a good and even stronger battery get the kinetik HC1800 however getting the battery isnt going to fix the dimming you need more amperage, i would take out your alternator and run it to a shop and have it rewound to around 180 amps (our alternators can actually go to 220 thats what i did) and you will never have another problem again, although a battery would help after you do that because the kinteik's are specifically designed for heavy battery usage.

 

in my opinion red tops suck if you want a good and even stronger battery get the kinetik HC1800 however getting the battery isnt going to fix the dimming you need more amperage, i would take out your alternator and run it to a shop and have it rewound to around 180 amps (our alternators can actually go to 220 thats what i did) and you will never have another problem again, although a battery would help after you do that because the kinteik's are specifically designed for heavy battery usage.

Just go to the junkyard and pick an alternator from a HD truck

 

I had the same problem when I first installed my system. I upgraded the wiring to 4g for all the grounds and battery connections. The problem went away. I also upgraded to an HO alternator, but I had a problem with it and had to remove it. However, I still did not have the dimming lights, so I believe the wiring was the real fix.

 

Just go to the junkyard and pick an alternator from a HD truck

2tone is right the HD alternators do have more amperage so that wouold be good too!

I had the same problem when I first installed my system. I upgraded the wiring to 4g for all the grounds and battery connections. The problem went away. I also upgraded to an HO alternator, but I had a problem with it and had to remove it. However, I still did not have the dimming lights, so I believe the wiring was the real fix.

Mean Green i know what you are talking about everytime i used an aftermarket HO alternator in a car we have built there was nothing but issues thats why i usually try to recommend rewinding the factory alternator its soooooooo much better and you usually wont run into any problems!

 

Had same type issues when I built my car audio system.

Installed an Optima Yellowtop batt, 140amp Alt, and two 2-Farad Caps.

Also ran two seperate 2awg B+ wires from the Bat to the Caps, which fed the Amps.

This allows me to run my system with out frying the lights.

But I am only running two 1800watt Amps, Four 12" Subs, and Six 6x9 Tri-Ax speakers.

My 76 Impala is a big car, so it needed some big sound.

"Never to Old, never too LOUD..."

 

Had same type issues when I built my car audio system.

Installed an Optima Yellowtop batt, 140amp Alt, and two 2-Farad Caps.

Also ran two seperate 2awg B+ wires from the Bat to the Caps, which fed the Amps.

This allows me to run my system with out frying the lights.

But I am only running two 1800watt Amps, Four 12" Subs, and Six 6x9 Tri-Ax speakers.

My 76 Impala is a big car, so it needed some big sound.

"Never to Old, never too LOUD..."

I had a yellow top there real good

 

Ok so, I know I'm reviving a dead thread here, but I didn't want to start a new thread. Especially when I am the one who started this one in the first place.

Now, I've taken all of your suggestions and the only thing I haven't tried is getting the alternator rewound. I still haven't found a shop around my house willing to do that for some reason. Maybe I'm not asking correctly, I don't know. I also haven't replaced the alternator with a HD one, I'm really not that mechanically inclined, although I would love to be. I've replaced the wires with 4 and even tried 0 gauge wire at one point, still dimming. I was considering getting another battery for just my sound system, but I don't really have anywhere to put an extra battery, other than the bed, and I don't really want to mount a battery in my bed.

I have a family owned shop where I could go. It's where my dad takes his car to get it worked on and he always has. I was considering taking my alternator up there and asking if he could rewind it for me, but he has always been kind of a dick to me for whatever reason.

Any other suggestions would be much appreciated. I don't know what is going on, maybe I'm just really lucky.

 

Ok so, I know I'm reviving a dead thread here, but I didn't want to start a new thread. Especially when I am the one who started this one in the first place.

Now, I've taken all of your suggestions and the only thing I haven't tried is getting the alternator rewound. I still haven't found a shop around my house willing to do that for some reason. Maybe I'm not asking correctly, I don't know. I also haven't replaced the alternator with a HD one, I'm really not that mechanically inclined, although I would love to be. I've replaced the wires with 4 and even tried 0 gauge wire at one point, still dimming. I was considering getting another battery for just my sound system, but I don't really have anywhere to put an extra battery, other than the bed, and I don't really want to mount a battery in my bed.

I have a family owned shop where I could go. It's where my dad takes his car to get it worked on and he always has. I was considering taking my alternator up there and asking if he could rewind it for me, but he has always been kind of a dick to me for whatever reason.

Any other suggestions would be much appreciated. I don't know what is going on, maybe I'm just really lucky.

Google " the big 3"......this is the first step you should take in upgrading your electrical system.

capacitors are a waste of money

A second battery such as a yellow top is a good place if the big 3 dont help.

Also a high output alternator.

 

Look in your engine compartment I know on the GMT 900 platform (Silverados at least) have quite a bit of room, and almost a perfect place for another battery (possibly for diesels with two batteries??) I would try buying a aftermarket alternator with higher amp output and then if that doesn't fix it run a dual battery setup. Replacing an alternator is quite easy, though a shop should do it for a nominal cost.

If you dont have adequate room, looks at getting an Optima or a gel type of battery that allows you to mount the battery on it's side etc.

 

Google " the big 3"......this is the first step you should take in upgrading your electrical system.

capacitors are a waste of money

A second battery such as a yellow top is a good place if the big 3 dont help.

Also a high output alternator.

That is an awesome thread. I'll definitely look into that as my next step.

Look in your engine compartment I know on the GMT 900 platform (Silverados at least) have quite a bit of room, and almost a perfect place for another battery (possibly for diesels with two batteries??) I would try buying a aftermarket alternator with higher amp output and then if that doesn't fix it run a dual battery setup. Replacing an alternator is quite easy, though a shop should do it for a nominal cost.

If you dont have adequate room, looks at getting an Optima or a gel type of battery that allows you to mount the battery on it's side etc.

Does installing a new alternator require anything more than replacing the old one? I really don't know the first thing about reprogramming anything in a vehicle, but I have a friend who could help me install a new alternator if no programming is required afterward.

 

Have you had the system checked for a draw anywhere. There is no reason for your headlights to dim on such a low amp running your subs. The factory system should not be having any problem with it. My factory electrical can run, my 2 KC Daylighters and the 3 amps in the truck without the headlights or KCs dimming at idle.

 

I have similar set up to yours 2 JL 12w3v2 and a Jl 1000/1 watt amp also have a JL 300v3 4 channel running the components and no dimming at all I do have a red top and HD alternator. I would look into the alternator not hard to replace at all takes about 15mins.

 

My headlights dim on occasion .. depending on how loud it is. If I use my power windows then they do dim while using those. Upgrading an alternator is simply unbolting and bolting it back in. Should be quite easy especially on trucks ... for a cheaper route look for a wrecked HD truck at a salvage yard and use that one.. or buy a high performance either or should work.

 

DONT GET A CAPACITER
- Waste of money
- Possibility of it burting and spraying battery acid all over your interior
- Wont fix anything

What is happening is your amp is sucking more power than your battery and alternator can give the truck, hence the lights dimming

The most effective solution to fixing this problem is getting a small second battery, or a larger High Output alternator.

~Jake