okay...just installed a head unit, 4 speakers, a 10" sub (4 ohm so it's only getting 200w from a mono channel sub amp) and a sega dreamcast hooked up to the head unit via a DC invertor....when he turns up the sub...the lights dim ever so slightly very almost unnoticeable...so I know he's not maxing out there, but when we add the dreamcast to it, they car definitely struggles power-wise...so this would be what needing a more powerful battery or alternator?

sorry for the stupid question, but when it comes to car audio I know about 1/10 as much as mechanical...

 

what kind (and size) wiring do you have?

chances are you have to upgrade that first

 

The inverter is just in-efficient. You are converting DC to AC and then the Dreamcast power supply converts it back to DC. Bypass the inverter all together and run the Dreamcast directly on DC. You may need to purchase or build a voltage regulator to get the correct DC voltage though.

-Robert

 

so you think the huge drain on power is b/c of the invertor? how do other guys do it when they put gaming systems in their car?