Second battery for stereo

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NickT88LSC

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I have a question for the Stereo guys or anyone knowledgeable in my question.

I added a second battery to my LS about 3 to 4 years ago for the stereo which is also like a capacitor, see link
http://www.batcap.net/Products/BatCap800/tabid/66/Default.aspx

http://www.batcap.net/Products/BatCap800/tabid/66/Default.aspx

Does anyone know of a way to test it???? Lately my lights are dimming with stereo cranked at idle, so I want to be sure it is the BatCap going bad and not something else like alternator.

We have this tester in link below at my job but not sure if I can use to test this type of battery and what settings to use???
http://www.interstatedealers.com/ed18/V2/index.asp
http://www.interstatedealers.com/ed18/V2/index.asp
 
NickT88LSC said:
I have a question for the Stereo guys or anyone knowledgeable in my question.

I added a second battery to my LS about 3 to 4 years ago for the stereo which is also like a capacitor, see link
http://www.batcap.net/Products/BatCap800/tabid/66/Default.aspx

http://www.batcap.net/Products/BatCap800/tabid/66/Default.aspx

Does anyone know of a way to test it???? Lately my lights are dimming with stereo cranked at idle, so I want to be sure it is the BatCap going bad and not something else like alternator.

We have this tester in link below at my job but not sure if I can use to test this type of battery and what settings to use???
http://www.interstatedealers.com/ed18/V2/index.asp
http://www.interstatedealers.com/ed18/V2/index.asp
Click to expand...

I don't have an answer for the test but rather a question. How many watts are you pushing without cutting out with this BatCap?
 
well at idle, you are not creating full power from the alt, either of you batteries only can store power. so it could be that either your alt is finialy giving out from all the extra work it has to do, or you may have a problem with one or both of you batteries.

i would disconnect the extra battery, and leave the sound system off then have the OEM battery and the alt tested and see what that tells you.
 
If you want to see if your alternator is working simply start your car up while its running then disconnect your oem battery if the car cuts off its your alternator, if not your stero battery needs a charge. I had a 96 deville with a system running about 5500 watts running off two batteries I would charge the stero battery about every month hope this helps.
 
Wavez said:
If you want to see if your alternator is working simply start your car up while its running then disconnect your oem battery if the car cuts off its your alternator, if not your stero battery needs a charge. I had a 96 deville with a system running about 5500 watts running off two batteries I would charge the stero battery about every month hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Disconnecting the battery while running is bad on the Ls. You will run the risk of frying one or several electrical components up to and including the computer! That method was ok for older cars without the complex electronics but not on newer vehicles. I think loud had good advice on this one!
 
unhooking the battery on a running car is like a hot chick with an STD... errr wait, was that nitrous?
 
reaper76 said:
I don't have an answer for the test but rather a question. How many watts are you pushing without cutting out with this BatCap?
Click to expand...

I only have 2 amps, a JL500 and an older alpine amp for the smaller speakers, not sure wattage on that one but most I would say is 100 per channel (4 channel amp) if that much.

I put the Batcap in about 3 years ago, changed regular battery somewhere around same time also, and alternator about 2-3 years ago. If I were a rich man I would just replace all 3, since I am not I am trying to see which one or which ones are the cause right now so I can cranl it up :). Worried I will overload the Alt. if I keep cranking it the way it is now.

I will disconnect Batcap and have regular battery and alternator tested first as 1LoudLS suggested and go from there. I spoke to the guy I use for batteries/alternators/starters today and he suggested removing the Batcap and giving to him to slow charge a few days and test.
 
theres a device you can by at a local car hardware store that you plug into you cig lighter and it tells you the voltage coming in. If it reads 14.2 with the car idle, alternators fine. I forget what this device is called... Its like 15 bucks i think
 
lincoln_zero said:
If it reads 14.2 with the car idle, alternators fine. I forget what this device is called... Its like 15 bucks i think
Click to expand...

not really a thorough test, I have seen a few alt failures start off where the alt seemed fine with normal voltage will little load on it, but when the demand is higher, the shortcomings are far more noticeable. using a volt meter at idle may be a good place to start, but may be far from conclusive.
 
lincoln_zero said:
theres a device you can by at a local car hardware store that you plug into you cig lighter and it tells you the voltage coming in. If it reads 14.2 with the car idle, alternators fine. I forget what this device is called... Its like 15 bucks i think
Click to expand...

At the beginning of my post I mentioned I work in a dealership and have access to the interstate tester, also our Hyundai specific midtronics tester, so I can test the systems, just was not sure if to test the Batcap if it was like testing a regular battery or another way since it chrges and discharges quickly. No one seems to know and the Batcap site and facebook page suck for info or contact info.
 
reaper76 said:
Disconnecting the battery while running is bad on the Ls. You will run the risk of frying one or several electrical components up to and including the computer! That method was ok for older cars without the complex electronics but not on newer vehicles. I think loud had good advice on this one!
Click to expand...

My bad good thing you told me that so I know now. Did that on my deville and zx9r b4 worked great
 
Wavez said:
My bad good thing you told me that so I know now. Did that on my deville and zx9r b4 worked great
Click to expand...

Your welcome bro. It has been discussed several times in my few years on this forum. That's why we are all here!
 
Tested batteries and alternator today at work, found the culprit the second BatCap battery failed. see attached.

I am going to go to one AGM battery instead of the 2 now. I looked into the Kinetics, Batcap and XS batteries, Sears someone mentioned, and when I spoke to the guy I use for my batteries/alternators and starters he has this battery below which has same or better specs than the other brands for 1/2 the price of some of them.

http://www.dekabatteries.com/assets/base/1534.pdf

FAILED.jpg
 
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