Author Topic: Power cap or beefeyer alty  (Read 1618 times)

Offline boneybradley

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Power cap or beefeyer alty
« on: 18 February 2007, 23:51 »
I have just got my sub fitted and i am running this off a 500w amp and when the car is idling with the headlamp's on you can see the light's dim on long bass notes...am i best to get a power cap or would a better higher amp alty stop this????
I have had the alty tested and it is pushing enough power out with light's,heater,rear screen on and it will still charge the battery
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Offline chrishodge06

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Re: Power cap or beefeyer alty
« Reply #1 on: 19 February 2007, 07:42 »
just one of them things id put up with it you dont need a power cap on a 500w amp as long as the engine isnt cutting out i wouldnt worry id just get a heavy duty battery i run two 1000w amps and its ok

Offline Uruk Hai

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Re: Power cap or beefeyer alty
« Reply #2 on: 19 February 2007, 09:10 »
The thing to remember about power caps is that they can only dish out the power as fast as the battery can charge them so its swings and round abouts really, I wouldn't even consider a power cap unless I had a amp of 1000 watts or more and I think a lot of people have them just for show !

Offline rtuk

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Re: Power cap or beefeyer alty
« Reply #3 on: 19 February 2007, 14:08 »
I agree there is no way you need a power cap to run a 500 watt amp mate whats your battery like is old

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Offline boneybradley

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Re: Power cap or beefeyer alty
« Reply #4 on: 19 February 2007, 15:45 »
I was thinking the ammount of power for 500w shouldn't be lot's.....
I will have a look at a new battery as i am not sure how old it is (and she's not a biggie!!!). Then i can look for another amp to power my front speaker's :smiley:
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Offline tommk3cab

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Re: Power cap or beefeyer alty
« Reply #5 on: 19 February 2007, 22:13 »
yep! i can confirm the above! i have two power caps and they are totally useless, worst money i have spent, only a high currentflow battery and/or alternator upgrade will do me now!

but also as said above, assuming the equipment is in the car in your sig ( and possibly even if its not!), you shouldnt need any of the above. you are either... (A) in need of a new battery (not a particularly expensive high performance battery though, just one fitting to the engine size) or (B) running the amp into distortion causing excess current draw. or (C) need to upgrade the wiring or fuse, be it to the amp +ve or amp ground or the car earths (from the battery to chassis, alternator to engine block or engine block to chassis). what fuses are you using in what thickness wire?
« Last Edit: 19 February 2007, 22:24 by tommk3cab »