battery or capacitator

yahyah

guy i got 2 polk 500.1 running 2 DVC Bazooka subs and a c400.4 running my speakers oh and i got a few neon lights running so i was thinking it would be a good idea to invest in either an optima red or yellow top battery or a capacitator...what do you guys recomend

exalted512

do your lights dim? does your voltage run fine?(13.8ish)
-Cody

AustinKP

Originally posted by yahyah
guy i got 2 polk 500.1 running 2 DVC Bazooka subs and a c400.4 running my speakers oh and i got a few neon lights running so i was thinking it would be a good idea to invest in either an optima red or yellow top battery or a capacitator...what do you guys recomend

It's a "capacitor", not a "capacitator". Nitpicky, I know, but it'll keep people from laughing at you when you're asking for one in real life. Capacitors, although they do have their applications, generally only mask an underlying problem. A battery is a better fix, but if you're constantly drawing more current than your alternator can provide, the only real fix is a better alternator or you'll have problems down the road.

yahyah

yea the lights do dim when the volume is at full blast and i have an integra so how is the alternator on that thing? cody i remember you have some safe speakers in ur truck so u must have a big amp on them neways do u use ne of those 2 things

yahyah

i meant do you use one of those things in the aftermarket format

exalted512

i have dual batteries and a capacitor, my voltage only drops when im at idle and i have the volume up...my lights get dim, but not when the bass hits or whatever, my voltage just slowly drops and the lights get progressively dimmer
i need a bigger alternator but im not going to get one because...well...im cheap and ill be getting a new truck soon so i dont think it would be a wise investment
if you just have minimal dimming, then a cap might do the trick, if your voltage just drops, and stays down, you need a better alternator
what would i do in your case?
1. replace the 'big 3'
positive battery -> alternator
negative battery -> chassis/frame
engine block -> chassis/frame
do it with 4awg or bigger
this is the cheapest thing to do and it could solve your problem...it WILL help it
if its gone, then voila...you fixed it for the price of 10 ft of 4awg
if its not, then add a cap...dont get the real fancy ones with your voltage on top or any of that crap
hell, mine have these little bars on top that says how much its charged...if i could go back i wouldntve gotten that...
go to ikesound, get the cheapest 1.0 farad capacitor you can get...lightening audio comes to mind...mine are RF
a cap is a cap
if that doesnt solve your problem, go to Pep Boys and get an Energizer Max--mine were $90 each---theyre $80 without the side posts...get the big one...the one that has 875 CCA
if none of those work, you need a bigger alternator
dual batteries doesnt keep your voltage up, it keeps your voltage at 12 volts...but your electrical system works at 13.8-14.4, so that doesnt help
-Cody

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get a larger alternator (150-ish amp) and a nice big battery and call it a day.