QUESTION ON BIG 3/DIMMING LIGHTS/PLEASE HELP

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Jan 20, 2004 | 06:35 PM

Southview

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Racer

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From: LaPLATA Md

QUESTION ON BIG 3/DIMMING LIGHTS/PLEASE HELP

I installed my system finally!Buuuutttt,my lights really dance when the music is turned up.I installed an Alpine 7897,MB QUARTS SEPERATES up front,10" MTX sub in rear running off a PPI 6 channel amp.60X4 200X1.I ran 4gauge from batt to amp,grounded to a main ground behind rt seat bolt.I ran 4 ga wire run from the alt to battery.Didn't solve my problem.Does it need to bigger?Do I need to do the ground also?I ran a volt meter and the alt is showing between 13.2-14.2 volts when car is running(13.2 whan the bass hits hard but jumps back up almost immediately )Can I run 4 ga from alt directly to the main distribution box next to battery?Wil it help?I have only experienced this problem on my GM cars.HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jan 20, 2004 | 09:45 PM

RoadRebel

Melting Slicks

Joined: Mar 2003

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From: Macomb MI

Re: QUESTION ON BIG 3/DIMMING LIGHTS/PLEASE HELP (Southview)

Install a 1uf capacitor to smooth out power oscilations. Any good sound shop (heck even Bestbuys) has them in stock

Phil

Jan 20, 2004 | 11:02 PM

EatRice

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From: Wesley Chapel Fl

Re: QUESTION ON BIG 3/DIMMING LIGHTS/PLEASE HELP (RoadRebel)

Current flows in a circle. Your ground needs to be as large as your positive. Change out the grounds especially the one to the frame from the battery and you should be fine.

Jan 21, 2004 | 12:05 AM

Mixman

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Joined: Oct 2003

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From: New York NY

Re: QUESTION ON BIG 3/DIMMING LIGHTS/PLEASE HELP (EatRice)

I guess the first thing I should change is the groung on my amps from 8 ga to the 4ga to match the + power wire from the battery. I always thought the grounfd wire didn't matter as much since a lot of the wiring kits come with say a 4ga power wire and an 8 ga ground.

Jan 21, 2004 | 08:28 AM

EatRice

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From: Wesley Chapel Fl

Re: QUESTION ON BIG 3/DIMMING LIGHTS/PLEASE HELP (Mixman)

If you measure current on the positive lead it will be the same as the negative lead. As for the kit Mixman...that was a multiamp kit. The 4ga was to power more than one amp and the 8ga was to be cut up and used on more than one amp.

Jan 21, 2004 | 03:58 PM

Southview

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Racer

Joined: Sep 2003

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From: LaPLATA Md

Re: QUESTION ON BIG 3/DIMMING LIGHTS/PLEASE HELP (EatRice)

I used 4 ga on the ground also.What about jumping from alt to main distribution block next to battery?Should I go with 2 ga or is it not that much difference?

Jan 21, 2004 | 04:55 PM

EatRice

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From: Wesley Chapel Fl

Re: QUESTION ON BIG 3/DIMMING LIGHTS/PLEASE HELP (Southview)

The battery is has 4 ga ground on it? Replacing the factory 10ga to the frame? If so that is good. It will not hurt to upgrade the factory fus panel power feed either. I upgraded mine and have no problems with lights. Give it a try it can not hurt.

Jan 21, 2004 | 09:31 PM

Southview

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Racer

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From: LaPLATA Md

Re: QUESTION ON BIG 3/DIMMING LIGHTS/PLEASE HELP (EatRice)

lights are still dimming.I installed a friends1 farad cap and it helped a little.I do not want to run a cap it is just temp.I read the manual for the amp and from what I can understand,it draws around 67 amps.I don't know what the Alpine 7897 draws.It is really starting to **** me off.Will changing to 2 ga help,bigger alt or change the amp.?????????