headlight dimming, did changing the big 3 help out? Options

[rocky2006]

i only have 600 rms going through my system. i was wondering if you guys replaced the big 3 and if it helped out at all. my 400w amp is class d and my 200w amp is class a/b.

[Scarrell]

a/b amps draw alot of current. replacing your altenator and battery will not stop dimming completely... but it is a must have in the car audio world if you want the most out of your system.

[rocky2006]

im not THAT serious about it. its just an annoyance. i was just wondering about the big 3 because i dont want to spend any more money.

[shid]

I'm pumping 700W total with no headlight dimming

*shrug*

new battery, class d mono amp.

[Scarrell]

ah ok, i thought you said you did replace em and it was still happening. it is always a good idea to get a new battery and altenator and ofcourse new wiring for this stuff. for some people it can still happen(dimming) but when replacing this stuff it will not happen as bad.

[mikew04]

The big three is upgrading wires, not battery and alt. It would definitaly be a good idea to upgrade... just replacing my grounds i noticed a difference with my headlights dimming.

[BLINKYxMUNKEY]

I think getting a capacitor would solve the light dimming problem.

http://www.cardomain.com/shoptype/Stiffening+Capacitors

[mikew04]

caps wont solve the problem. ugrade the big three, and if that doesnt work and your willing to spend the cash, upgrade the alternator.

[shid]

A cap would "solve" the light dimmer problem; but it really only just hides the larger problems until it all comes crashing down.

[Scarrell]

a cap doesnt solve anything, it just takes the charge instead of the battery, and the cap itself takes current.. caps are a "if you want one, but you dont have to have it" type of thing.

[rocky2006]

well a cap would work fine at hiding the dimming for like bass drums where its real quick and the cap can handle it, but for like a bass sine wave or bass guitar forget it. it cant do a damn thing.

[Scarrell]

as i said, its one of those "if you want one" type of things.

[playr158]

get bigger ENGINE ground wires and find a better ground for your amp

[rocky2006]

why does the engine have a ground?

[shid]

why does the engine have a ground?
[right][snapback]227476[/snapback][/right]

Because it'd catch on fire or do lots of nasty things.

[playr158]

cause it has electricity

[creis]

all the metal rubbing metal, and spinning friction blah blah blah, all you need to know is: it go boom with no ground.

I have no idea what class my amp is but it makes my lights dim a bit two, can go really dim during a long instance. I recomend the following

- Optima red top batt.
- better hylogen(sp) head light bulbs, that take less power
- 2 guage wire (what I have, for + and the ground)
- A good cap (if you only pushing 600w then that is enough to stop the dimming, any more is overkill i think.)

I will be having bigger problems when i re-wire mine for 2 ohm, (1600w 800 rms) but well see.


or do the real easy thing, and hook a small 12v batt. up to your head lights so they have there own to help when the system cant give full power to it.

This post has been edited by creis: Dec 29, 2004 - 6:22 AM