help with choosing capacitor

[ziwang55]

i have a infinity 1200 watt amp. with 2 12inch infinity reference subs.
and it draws alot of power from my car. and i want to get rid of that light dimmin and changing of my cars rpm. please help me pick a capacitor and tell me what to get. and what to do. thanks!!!!

[Aastan]

Choose at least .5 farad (500,000 microfarads) per 500 watts RMS of power output. That would put you at 1.5 Farad CAP to cover your amp. You can use as many farads as you wish, but just the number indicated by the formula here is all that is necessary.

[bikinpunk]

Start off by upgrading the battery's ground wire to 0 gauge. If that doesn't work, finish off 'the big 3' (the negative ground wire is the first step). Then move on to a larger capacity battery b/c the stock one SUCKS!

A capacitor is essentially a band-aid on electrical issues. You want to target the problem at its core.

[odinson]

Try a Flux. It might be expensive but you can change the past with it.

[SiliconX]

Originally Posted by odinson

Try a Flux. It might be expensive but you can change the past with it.

More than 12 hours until the first Flux Capacitor joke. That's gotta be an all-time high.

[Toxis]

Personally, adding a cap will not do a lot for you but it could help a bit. Kind of like putting a band aid over a bullet wound. Not the best idea but it'll do a lil something.

Start with the big 3, get a better battery then a new alternator. That's where you need to go.

[Aastan]

Originally Posted by Toxis

Personally, adding a cap will not do a lot for you but it could help a bit. Kind of like putting a band aid over a bullet wound. Not the best idea but it'll do a lil something.

Start with the big 3, get a better battery then a new alternator. That's where you need to go.

Still run a CAP for added protection. I would see it as wearing a bullet proof vest after getting shot for the first time.

[MaXaZoR]

Agreed...upgrade your grounds and buy a bigger batter. I'm running close to 1600 watts and no dimming w/ a Stinger SPV44

[ziwang55]

im still confused on what the grounds and stuff are for. i got monster cable kit. and installed by bestbuy

[Toxis]

you dont' know what grounds are for? Read up on AC/DC current.

[SiliconX]

Originally Posted by ziwang55

and installed by bestbuy

Well there's your problem

/Mythbusters

[Cr8tive_leo]

Originally Posted by bikinpunk

Start off by upgrading the battery's ground wire to 0 gauge. If that doesn't work, finish off 'the big 3' (the negative ground wire is the first step). Then move on to a larger capacity battery b/c the stock one SUCKS!

A capacitor is essentially a band-aid on electrical issues. You want to target the problem at its core.

Originally Posted by Toxis

Personally, adding a cap will not do a lot for you but it could help a bit. Kind of like putting a band aid over a bullet wound. Not the best idea but it'll do a lil something.

Start with the big 3, get a better battery then a new alternator. That's where you need to go.

Originally Posted by MaXaZoR

Agreed...upgrade your grounds and buy a bigger batter. I'm running close to 1600 watts and no dimming w/ a Stinger SPV44

Originally Posted by ziwang55

im still confused on what the grounds and stuff are for. i got monster cable kit. and installed by bestbuy

I'm not in the league of Bikinipunk and a lot of others here, I have done this though, and can offer what knowledge I've learnt...

Ground. Simple explanation. Your car is a circuit, the power source is the battery. The negative terminal is attached to your car (ground), the positive terminal goes to every single electrical device in your car. To complete the circuit everything is attached to the chassis, which goes to your negative terminal... okay not so simple...

Here's the kicker. Everyone tells you to use the same or larger gauge wire from your amp to ground. Well, the chassis is attached to your battery by ONE single wire, and it isn't 4 gauge, or 8 or even 10, it's probably around 12 - 14 gauge. so you're choking right there. Upgrade your grounds.

At least do this...

Partial Big 3 Upgrade FTW!! [PICS INSIDE!]

I've done it, and it seems to have worked , I do notice a few things have changed since doing it. (I ran 4 gauge, left over from the amp install and bought a few copper 4gauge ends and crimped them on) Also have 2 12's and a nice powerful amp. Before the grounding, when I cranked the amp up and hit Bass hard, the lights dimmed slightly, now, nada.

It may now be the solution for everyone, but it is a start.