I have a 1200 watt amp in my Mark VIII and I receive voltage drops. My factory alternator already died cause of this and I have put in the new 96 motorcraft alternator. I receive minor power drops where my AC control unit briefly turns off and resets before this happens my CD changer skips the CD. I have now disconnected the fuse that goes to my amplifier. Would a capacitor help me out? If so I know there's different kinds and which would serve me best?
Amplifier Problems
- Thread starter MaloriaN
- Start date
vr4
Dedicated LVC Member
minimum 1 farad cap. i would also try to find an alt from the recent police package upgrade.
94m5
Dmaup's Daddy
IF it's a decent quality amp, (and I assume it is,) your gonna need at LEAST 1 farad, but would be better off going with a 2. take your new alternator to somewhere that can turn them up. I have a handbuilt alternator on my 95 turning 200 amps at 1500.
If you want the contact info, I could prolly dig through my reciepts for ya.
Mike
If you want the contact info, I could prolly dig through my reciepts for ya.
Mike
Amplifier Problem
If you would be so kind and do that for me would be greatly appreciated. I can't go without my amp much longer. I will try gettin the 2 farad cap to see what that does and then if need be get the upgrade done.
If you would be so kind and do that for me would be greatly appreciated. I can't go without my amp much longer. I will try gettin the 2 farad cap to see what that does and then if need be get the upgrade done.
bufordtpisser
Dedicated LVC Member
Also consider....................
Also consider a second battery with an isolator, and Yellow top batteries.
MaloriaN said:
Also consider a second battery with an isolator, and Yellow top batteries.
vr4
Dedicated LVC Member
he didnt state how its rated at 1200 watts.
for all we know its 1200 watts peak at 2 ohms mono.
thats not that big of an amp.
1200 RMS at 4 ohms...thats a big mofo.
for all we know its 1200 watts peak at 2 ohms mono.
thats not that big of an amp.
1200 RMS at 4 ohms...thats a big mofo.
Yeah I forgot to mention this thing does go at 4Ohms
Key Features
Amplifier Type Dual Channel
Bridgable Bridgable
RMS Power at 4 Ohms 200 W x 2
Performance
Frequency Response 5 Hz - 50000 Hz
THD at Rated RMS Power
what do u recommend to do here?
Key Features
Amplifier Type Dual Channel
Bridgable Bridgable
RMS Power at 4 Ohms 200 W x 2
Performance
Frequency Response 5 Hz - 50000 Hz
THD at Rated RMS Power
what do u recommend to do here?
vr4
Dedicated LVC Member
1 farad would be good enough. no need for dual batts.
talincolnlsc
LVC Member
i run a 1500 watt amp with a 1.5 farad cap and an optima battery. the cap is the first one ive ever owned and it didnt make much of a difference. i would just have a better alternator built and get an optima yellow top
As far as a cap it's 1 Fared per 1,000watts. That said caps really don't do a whole hell of alot. I would start with a good size battery rated at 1,000 ca 850 cca. Upgrade the power and ground wire going to the battery. Last I would upgrade the amp, but I have run more power than that w/ stock alt. and had no power issues. Also what kind of amp is it make/model?
I figured out that the radio I am using is crap ... Setting the D- Bass feature on makes it work too hard I am looking to get a better radio or DVD unit. But most don't fit with our marks at least the double DINs its a shame.
rmac694203
Dedicated LVC Member
Yeah many people I have talked to say caps are overrated and power drops are usually due to the wiring around your battery/alt and not so much the lack of stored power.
Cbecker1994Vlll
Well-Known LVC Member
well from working in a car audio shop i can tell you caps are not overrated by any means. but not always the best solution
from what we recommened for this type of situation is
battery
alt
then cap
but if you are running serious amounts of juice caps always help
and according what i've learned from experience about caps from working there is 1 farad up to 1000 anything over needs at least a 2 farad
just thought i would throw some info out there from the car audio world
going on 11 years experiance
from what we recommened for this type of situation is
battery
alt
then cap
but if you are running serious amounts of juice caps always help
and according what i've learned from experience about caps from working there is 1 farad up to 1000 anything over needs at least a 2 farad
just thought i would throw some info out there from the car audio world
going on 11 years experiance
JoeyLincolnMK8
Dedicated LVC Member
get a cap and be done with it!
A capacitor will only stop your lights from dimming while your battery dies. Get a new alternator if you're having substantial voltage drops, and also consider upgrading the "Big 3", which are the wires connecting the alternator to battery+, battery- to chassis, and chassis to engine block.
KainDTE said:
I was sort of exaggerating, as the alternator in the Mark VIII is usually good enough to handle nearly any wattage you'll throw at it. I'm ~2000W RMS, and I hardly get any voltage drops at all. Voltage very rarely drops below 13V, and I don't have any capacitors at all. I have the stock alternator (it's a worn-out peice of crap, and hardly ever charges over 13.5-13.7V), and an Optima Yellow Top. Before the new battery and the "Big 3", though, my battery was eaten alive. A capacitor's not going to save an alternator from dying, but they'll stop lights from dimming if that's the problem you're looking to fix. If he's having problems to the extent of things in his car shutting off, a capacitor's not going to fix his problem.
