i just put in new subs and amp.. 2 mtx thunder 8000 400rms(800max) and a Hifonics zx6000 600rms amp to power them.. my lights are dimming like crazy and my idle drops when the bass hits so i know i need a cap and i have 8ga wires right now so im gunna upgrade to 4ga.. what size cap should i look for?

 

dude maybe its your altenator, or probably even your batt

 

well the battery is like 6 months old and the alternator isn't bad i don't think but with the power that my system is pulling when i have it turned up i think im gunna blow it.. good thing that hifonics amp came with a remote bass boost controler so i can almost turn off the power to the subs but for now its turned down all the way

 

but i need a cap and have no idea what a good cap would be for my setup because i don't now too much about them yet

 

Just upgrade the wire first. Upgrade it to 2 or 0ga wire andyou probably won't even need a cap.

 

From everything I've been reading getting a cap is a like using bandaid after you leg has been amputated...does little to nothing. You need to do some grounding (search for "the big three" on an audio forum...I like www.caraudioforum.com). If that doesn't do it then it's time for a new battery and/or a high output alternator.

 

alright thanx.. how meny feet u think ill need to run from the batt to the middle of the trunk

 

don't know exact, but I'm using 18 feet of power wire with a little excess slack on the line.

 

im running 2 gauge and a huge capacitor but my headlights dim and so does my interior and also my idle fluctuates, i think its my battery because i have a 2000 i30 and the battery is still factory haha. anyways i think a capacitor helps if your system is running at its prime, if it didnt really do much people wouldnt really use them.

 

1. Hifonics amplifiers are current hogs
2. your power wire is lacking in girth( should use 4 gauge for over 500-700rms of draw)If I were you since you have to upgrade wire, do 1/0 ga in case you want to add another amp in the future or more power- BIGGER IS BETTER
3. Use same gauge wire for power, to ground your battery and replace your engine to ground as well

Only interior lights/gauge cluster should be succeptible to dimming(which is normal) from there- your headlights and idle should be fine after taking care of those things

A cap will only add more strain to your alternator as oppossed to running the amp alone

 

really? dam im about to sell the cap

 

IMO, My cap isn't drawing that much more power from my alternator than it was before I started using one. I have 2 amps running with the cap, 1 for bass, the other for interior speakers, using 0 gauge wire for power and ground, and a Interstate Megatron battery. Before the cap, lights would dim, after and no dimming at all. Alternator and Battery all checked out fine before adding cap. It's just a matter of preference if you want one or not. BTW, I am using a RF digital 1 FARAD cap. 1 FARAD per 1000 watts.

 

Definintely bump up your wire gauge. Caps do work for big bass notes, if your lights are dimming when the bass hits then it could help. I had the same problem when I first installed my system. First I bumped up to 4ga, and rechecked my grounds. That didn't help to much. Second I bought an Optima Red Top. This helped out quite a bit, but I still had a little dimming on high volume when the bass hit. I bought a 1.5 farad cap and the headlight dimming is completely gone. They do work if applied correctly. As far as which one to buy, well caps are all pretty much the same as far as what they do. There are a crapload of different models available so just get what you like. I also heard Batcaps are good, don't know buch about them though. Good luck with the disco light syndrome.

 

hold the gas down at like 3k rpm and play your music loud, see if it dims then, if it does you need an alt, if it doesnt get a cap or a better bat.

 

thank you to all that replied... its deffintly not the alternator and im actually running 10g wires!!!!!! not good! so since my amp directly bolts 4g in im gunna do that and a cap.. and since my batt isn't old... well see after the wires n cap