Car audio, cpacitor installed and head unti still dimming :S

Hello there,

im currentley running a 1400 watt amp with 2 800 watt pionneer subs, i also have a pair of 250 watt 6x9's and 150 watt door speakers. I am runing all this off of a Alpine CDA 9811r head unit. this head unit puts out 60 watts per channel to my 6x9's and door speakers. I have a 1.0 farrad power capacitor installed correctley and have tried my subs amp and power cap in a friends car of off his head unit and eveything runs smoothley.

However, when in mine my head unit still dimms, and cuts out at high volumes. this leads me to think that the head unit is under powered, im not bothered about sending the power cap back if it is unnecesary. But i am wundering if it is possible to wire the power cap into the power leads for the head unit? or wether this is a bad idea.

If anyone has any suggestions or can help in anyway it would be much apprieciated.

Thanks

Ben.

 

Perhaps a more powerful alternator is what you need? With what you are trying to push, requires more power. The capacitor, merely holds juice, when your system needs more power. It doesn't give more power, it just holds some, when your system needs more. Your alternator, is what give the whole system the punch.

Why, o, why, do you need something like that in your car?

Welcome to MG, btw.

I personally have 10 speakers in my car, powered by 2 amps....though, currently having issues with the rear left speakers......

 

That would be my guess theefool. The cap builds reserve power to feed SHORT term demand for bass thumps, but if the overall current drain is too high, it won't recharge, and you're back to not having enough amps/watts from the alternator to power the audio system.

 

Double check all grounds, at the battery, and any system grounds. Grounds cause an amazing number of problems in cars. Also if the battery in the car is weak this will happen. I was driving my car at night with a weak battery and I only have a basic aftermarket system, the headlamps were dimming with the bass line. The cap will cover some of that, but the car electrical has to be top shape to run your system. Also theefool mentioned too small of an alternator, or maybe a failing alternator. Have it checked out.

 

Could be the battery too. Try a bigger battery. I know i read somewhere that when you own a Hundai and your installing the system (Especially the Elantra) the battery usually cant handle the extra pull. Try another battery.
-the new tech guy

 

I also just got a car stereo installed and i'm having the same problem.

When I turn up the music all my lights dim to the bass. I have no capp yet.
I haven't yet bought a cappacitor because every once and a while my deck shuts it self off at high volume. So before I put more money into my stereo I wanna solve all the problems with it. I have been to many car audio stores and they have all told me different ideas on how to fix my problem. Heres a list of suggestions i've gotten do far.

1) Ground battery Better. Go to your local automotive store and buy a 4 gauge wire with the connectors (eyes) on each end. Hook this up to your negative (Black) terminal of your battery and the other end to a Random bolt on your engine block or transmission. leave the original Ground alone.

2) Ground Amplifier Better. Pop your trunk and Find out where the ground comming off your Amplifier is going to. Try and Find a better ground to put it to. Something that is a major part of the car. *Note Must be metal* (example Chassis or frame of car.

Now this last one is the most Honest and Reliable one I have heard yet. I went to a strickly car audio store and had the guy sit in my car and diagnose the problem.

3) Remove head unit (stereo deck) from dashboard And Find the power draw wire. (It will be before the Wiring Harness that you/installer installed) Remove the Powerdraw (With battery unhooked) And replace with a totally new Wire. The powerdraw that is factory with your car is to thin and frail to handle that much power and it's causing your Stereo Head unit to shut off.

I have only tried the first two and they didn't really make that much of a difference. But the guy said it can only do good. So I did them.

The last one was hard to understand. I will be getting it professionly done by the guy who suggested it. As I don't know alot about car electrical and I do not want to "fry" my cars internal computer.

Talk to your local car audio suppliers and mention this to them. They may know what i'm talking about and may be able to explain it better for you.

But atleast I tried. I was told the cappacitor would not stop the head unit from shutting down. it would only stop/Reduce the dimming of my lights and Save my altenator.

Hope this helps.

 

Get a more powerful alternator. That amp has to be drawing over 100 amps at peak. A capacitor cannot cover for that kind of power deficit.