Bass

hey guys

just finished putting a system in my beater - THANKS Twiztid !!

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=302398

anyway on the ride home last night i noticed the volt gauge junping down a bit when the subs hit (still in the normal level) and the lights dimmed slightly.

It's an old cop car so i would guess the alternator is strong enough so should I just buy a yellow top or a few caps??

Thanks

PJK3

yellow top. no doubt in my mind.... if you continue to experience a lot of dimming afterwards, i'd consider a cap.



btw -- it was pretty damn loud.

Project

Ditto - yellow top all the way

MR_ASDF

a new battery is worth the upgrade, you can also do something called the "big 3" upgrade. basically, you upgrade your main factory power wires to 0 ga or 2 ga.

you will need to upgrade the battery positive to alternator, battery to chassis and chassis to engine.

you will immediately notice less dimming and the voltage jumps will not be so severe.

ScottyBallistic

WOW someone I can finally agree with

DaPutster

IMO... The "Big 3" upgrade will make more of a difference on a car like that than a cap.

Bass

Thanks very much guys I agree the car is older and i should upgrade the wires - i've got a bunch of 4 gauge lying around from my S install - is that too small??

looks like another job for Twiztid

DaPutster

You can use 4, but for the amount of cable needed to do a big 3 upgrade, it's worth spending the $ for 1/0 awg. Even in your car , I doubt you'd need more than 10-12 ft + connectors.

Of course, if you already have the cable & connectors available in 4 awg, and didn't mind spending the time, you could always try doing that first and then go to 1/0 if it still isn't putting enough current thru.

MR_ASDF

im sure 4ga will work, but it will be better if you used 0/1ga or 2ga.

you can double the 4ga wire will work the same as 2ga.

make sure the cable is as short as possible since you are going to be using 4ga, simply because of wire resistance.