I put a full blown aftermrket stereo in my 98 C5 with Optima Yellow top. Problem is that my headlights will dim when i crank it, pretty much all the time but is embarrassing. I thought the upgraded battery would solve it, but did not. I only run a Rockford 600A4 (240 watts?) So, I guess to solve this problem, I need a .5-1 farad capacitor. Anyone added a capacitor to thier aftermarket stereo and could I install it under the hood? Any suggestions Thanks.

 

More than likely, a Cap will not help this much, if any at all. Start pricing a high-output altenator, your best bet by not adding much weight. Caps discharge in secs-millisecs. Won't help with prolonged bass passages. I believe Ohio Generator provides some nice 250 Amp Alts. Also try JoeyG, he has a HO alt in his vette.

 

Are you trying to start the car with the stereo already on? That amp will not drain that much power. You should not be having that problem with just a RF 600a4. Sounds like you have trouble with your alternator. The Yellow Top is a good idea but the source of your cars electrical system is the alternator. If it is bad then the whole system is screwed! With a bad alt, adding a cap will only make thing worse. Check into that alt first!

A far as the concept of a cap goes, a cap will only help you if you don’t have an SPL system, and by the looks of it you don’t. Low sustained bass frequencies are what eat power and a cap will only be a liability in that case.

Whether or not you get a new alt you should upgrade the electrical system wiring. Also, NEVER put a capacitor under the hood of a car! ;)

If you don’t know how to upgrade the stock electrical system it goes like this:
Use at least 4-gauge power wire and run it from alt to positive battery post, fuse it with an ANL fuse at what your alt is rated at. Then run at least 4-gauge ground wire from negative battery post to chassis and from engine block to chassis. Leave the stock wiring alone, just add this wire to it. That’s it in a nutshell.

Good luck! :seeya

 

First thanks for the prop Jason, second diddo what The^Nomad said cabling upgrade is a must on these cars. Measure alternator voltage at idle, then measure alternator voltage at idle with radio on full volume or close to. If it deviates more than 1 volt upgrade cables and look at either a capacitor upgrade for instantaneous peaks/drops, or go witht he upgraded alternator. But glancing at your equipment, you should be fine with additional power cables and maybe a 1 farad capacitor. Also what size is your amp wiring and where is it grounded to? :cheers:


[Modified by JoeyG, 8:12 PM 5/13/2002]

 

THanks everyone, there is always great advice on the forum. I just had a 1 Farad Capacitor (Stinger) installed this morning (professionally) and will test it out tonight. I sure as hell hope it's not the alternator. When they did the intall and added a 60 amp fuse. I have the amp installed on the rear deck and grounded somewhere there. I hope this works, we'll see. :cheers: