Capacitor question

[Elizle]

I have two amps in my trunk and I was wondering what size capacitor I need. It didn't do this to bad before but after a firmware update on my Zune the lower end of the sound is a lot louder. I was laughing when I realized this, but the bass kinda sucked on it when I first got it.

I have a great big 1900 watt peak amplifier for my sub and something in between 100-300 watts peak for my 6x9s.

I just figured it was time to get a cap when the bass would hit and my second amp would cut out because there wasn't enough power. Thanks in advance.

[05_GTO]

Look into getting a new high output alternator, just a word of advice.

[Elizle]

Yeah, I have looked around a bit. It would probably be a good idea since the stock speakers made the interior lights dim when I first got the car, but I think the battery was suck when I got it too.

[KooL]

Do you have a yellow top? you might want to consider getting that first.

[Elizle]

No, thanks for the advice though. It is really bothering me that I can't have my sub up loud. I used to have a bigger battery, but I left my amp on 3 times and I couldn't even let of the throttle with my headlights on or they would about cut out. I sent my dad to get me a battery because I worked every day this summer during the hours the store where I get everything was open, and he got me a smaller battery. I guess I should look into that then, they are 160ish on Amazon. After shipping that shouldn't be too bad compaired to the 205 it was going to be at Advance Auto Parts. I will probably get one in a few months and if that doesn't help I will look into a bigger alternator.

[KooL]

I know you can get a yellow online for around $100, just browse

[chullen]

it really depends on what how u are using the subs. Are they in a parellel or series setup? Also what is the RMS you are sending to the subs? I am looking for RMS not peak power, it doesn't matter really. I have a Kicker 650.4 and Kicker 750.1 and use a single Kicker 1 Farad Cap. It will help some you could also use a battery and this would help alot.

[AdvanceSpeedShop]

capacitors are "band-aid" fixes to larger problems. You shouldnt be leaving your amps on, they should be turning off when the car isnt on. and what chullen said, peak power means nothing, RMS power is what you should be worried about. Check the electrical system first, if it isnt working properly, a cap will just be one more thing the electrical system needs to charge. Try adding a battery, if you dont like yellowtop, look into kinetik or odyssey. But if you absolutely must have a cap, rule of thumb is 1Farad for every 1000 watts rms you're running.

[MrSo0h0o]

check your gains on your amp too.. they are not volume controls.

[LoudCamry]

what size of wire are you using? using bigger awg will help send more current move to your amp. Do the big 3 upgrade. A cap don't really help, it going to make you alternator work harder since it will need to charge the battery and the cap.

[KooL]

Caps basically store unused energy, if you hit that hard, they are just going to drain. You definitely want to upgrade some sort of powering device, ie new alt or battery.

[Elizle]

Yeah, It just seemed weird that the bigger amp wasn't turning off. I still need a bigger battery or alternator, but I think the main problem is that I have a loose wire somewhere and when my sub hits real hard with a quick low note instead of something constant it causes the wire to become disconnected for a short period of time. I think it is my remote wire going from my sub amp to the amp on my 6x9s. I will have to look tomorrow.

P.S. I know how caps work, I got a pretty good book on electronics earlier this year. I am an IT major at a school where they don't have an actual IT program so we mostly take electronics classes and a mixture of computer science and other stuff that I won't use. Oh well I will be out of there in a year or so. Bad choices lead to crappy schools.

[LoudCamry]

a good soild ground will help also.