Notices
ICE Serious sounds for serious cars.

Preventing voltage drops?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 27, 2007 | 10:50 PM
  #1  
ScoobyDoo69's Avatar
ScoobyDoo69
Thread Starter
Scooby Senior
20 Year Member
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,143
Likes: 3
From: WMI
Default Preventing voltage drops?

Hey all,

I am getting a lot of lights dimming when my stereo is turned up, and the bass is hitting hard. Voltage can drop to 12v from 14v when the engine is running. What can I do to prevent this? Better earthing/good engine earthing kit?

Cheers,

ScoobyDoo69
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2007 | 02:55 AM
  #2  
vindaloo's Avatar
vindaloo
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,213
Likes: 0
From: South Bucks
Default

Originally Posted by ScoobyDoo69
Hey all,

I am getting a lot of lights dimming when my stereo is turned up, and the bass is hitting hard. Voltage can drop to 12v from 14v when the engine is running. What can I do to prevent this? Better earthing/good engine earthing kit?

Cheers,

ScoobyDoo69
Better/bigger alternator or a replacement if yours is a bit long in the tooth. 2nd battery closer to the amps or a BFO battery up front.

J.
Reply
Old Dec 30, 2007 | 12:53 PM
  #3  
Simon 69's Avatar
Simon 69
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,002
Likes: 0
From: GC8 Enthusiast - Scumball3000 Team 69
Default

You can buy a large (one farad) capacitor too.
Reply
Old Dec 30, 2007 | 12:54 PM
  #4  
Simon 69's Avatar
Simon 69
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,002
Likes: 0
From: GC8 Enthusiast - Scumball3000 Team 69
Default

Helpful Wiki how-to.

Simon
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2008 | 09:49 AM
  #5  
scooby51's Avatar
scooby51
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 667
Likes: 0
From: Playing the Loudest PS2 in my car
Default

Check your earthings and your battery first then -

Deep cycle battery like Stinger or Optima as first port of call

As Simon 69 says - capacitor

As Vindaloo says - second battery

What amps are you running??????
Must be quite serious as I have no probs with mine
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2008 | 12:51 PM
  #6  
ScoobyDoo69's Avatar
ScoobyDoo69
Thread Starter
Scooby Senior
20 Year Member
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,143
Likes: 3
From: WMI
Default

Well I re-earthed it the other day, and that has helped a lot. Volts rarely drop below 13.4v now. It's a fairly big amp it's an Inphase IPA2400 - running 2 x 12" Subs. My understanding was that there's no point in changing the battery if the volts don't drop below 12v? As the alternator is providing all the power above that?

Thanks for the help so far guys.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JimBowen
ICE
5
Jul 2, 2023 01:54 PM
fatboy_coach
General Technical
15
Jun 18, 2016 03:48 PM
Mattybr5@MB Developments
Full Cars Breaking For Spares
28
Dec 28, 2015 11:07 PM
Billet
ScoobyNet General
42
Oct 14, 2015 10:38 PM
Ganz1983
Subaru
5
Oct 2, 2015 09:22 AM




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 03:30 PM.