I think I'm running out of power
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7thgen Terminator Ninja
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,854
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From: Phoenix, Az
Rep Power: 312 
I think I'm running out of power
So when i turn my stereo up it cuts out, i'm running a 2x500w, 1x800w, and a 2x450 for amps, i've got a 4awg power wire run all the way back. I think i'm running out of power for many reasons, when i'm on the fwy at higher rpms, i can turn it up louder (I'm thinking since the altenator is spinning more it can handle the load). Also, if it cuts out, i put it into neutral and rev it, it'll pop back on, it cuts out easier at night too, i'm assuming it's cuz my lights are draining even more power. I've takin a multimeter and check the sub amp (the power hog) and before it hits, the voltage is 14.4 and when it hits hard, i've seen it go as low as 11.2, which doing that was the deciding factor in if i was running out of power or no. My question is would a cap fix this? If so i was thinkin either a 1 farad or 1.5, any comments or ideas?
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Oregon
Rep Power: 347 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 51,077
Likes: 4
From: B.C., Canada
Rep Power: 786 Yeah definitely... a cap won't give you more power... you need to fix it at the source... sure, a cap may make a bit of a difference, but where does it get that power from? You can upgrade your battery, which will help more than a cap, but where will it get THAT power from? Fix your alternator and you will have all the power you will ever need.
Thread Starter
7thgen Terminator Ninja
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,854
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From: Phoenix, Az
Rep Power: 312
Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit
how large is your main power wire?
Im also curious what amp puts out 2x450
Im also curious what amp puts out 2x450
Registered!!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,344
Likes: 0
From: bay area, california
Rep Power: 338 2x500 + 2x75 + 1x800 = 1150 watts class a/b and 800 watts class D.
your problem is your power wire is too small.
Just like what would happen if you tried to drink coffee through a stir straw, your amplifiers are trying to pull more current through your power wire than it can stand to give.
ohms law demands the voltage drop to compensate for lack of current, and so it does. till the stereo completely shuts off. I'll bet it restarts immediately as the voltage comes back up, doesnt it?
the solution for you is to increase the size of the following wires:
wire from the battery to your main +12V distribution
wire from the negative terminal of the battery to the chassis
wire form chassis to the stereo's ground distribution
wire from chassis to the engine block
the last one isnt really neccesary for the stereo, but youll have the spare 4 gauge, and it helps make the car feel electrically more powerful
from battery to chassis can also be spare 4 gauge. but everything that powers the stereo has to increase in size! 2 gauge is good, 1/0 is better.
in the mean time, turn off all bass boosts on the radio and on the amplifiers. Zero them all out. it should help a TON in the short run. if the bass drops out, feel free to go up on the gain, that should have less of an impact on voltage drops.
if the bass isnt loud enough after doing this, your equipment cant support the level of bass you want, and you need more expensive gear.
that should do it!
your problem is your power wire is too small.
Just like what would happen if you tried to drink coffee through a stir straw, your amplifiers are trying to pull more current through your power wire than it can stand to give.
ohms law demands the voltage drop to compensate for lack of current, and so it does. till the stereo completely shuts off. I'll bet it restarts immediately as the voltage comes back up, doesnt it?
the solution for you is to increase the size of the following wires:
wire from the battery to your main +12V distribution
wire from the negative terminal of the battery to the chassis
wire form chassis to the stereo's ground distribution
wire from chassis to the engine block
the last one isnt really neccesary for the stereo, but youll have the spare 4 gauge, and it helps make the car feel electrically more powerful
from battery to chassis can also be spare 4 gauge. but everything that powers the stereo has to increase in size! 2 gauge is good, 1/0 is better.
in the mean time, turn off all bass boosts on the radio and on the amplifiers. Zero them all out. it should help a TON in the short run. if the bass drops out, feel free to go up on the gain, that should have less of an impact on voltage drops.
if the bass isnt loud enough after doing this, your equipment cant support the level of bass you want, and you need more expensive gear.
that should do it!
Thread Starter
7thgen Terminator Ninja
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,854
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, Az
Rep Power: 312
Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit
2x500 + 2x75 + 1x800 = 1150 watts class a/b and 800 watts class D.
your problem is your power wire is too small.
Just like what would happen if you tried to drink coffee through a stir straw, your amplifiers are trying to pull more current through your power wire than it can stand to give.
ohms law demands the voltage drop to compensate for lack of current, and so it does. till the stereo completely shuts off. I'll bet it restarts immediately as the voltage comes back up, doesnt it?
the solution for you is to increase the size of the following wires:
wire from the battery to your main +12V distribution
wire from the negative terminal of the battery to the chassis
wire form chassis to the stereo's ground distribution
wire from chassis to the engine block
the last one isnt really neccesary for the stereo, but youll have the spare 4 gauge, and it helps make the car feel electrically more powerful
from battery to chassis can also be spare 4 gauge. but everything that powers the stereo has to increase in size! 2 gauge is good, 1/0 is better.
in the mean time, turn off all bass boosts on the radio and on the amplifiers. Zero them all out. it should help a TON in the short run. if the bass drops out, feel free to go up on the gain, that should have less of an impact on voltage drops.
if the bass isnt loud enough after doing this, your equipment cant support the level of bass you want, and you need more expensive gear.
that should do it!
your problem is your power wire is too small.
Just like what would happen if you tried to drink coffee through a stir straw, your amplifiers are trying to pull more current through your power wire than it can stand to give.
ohms law demands the voltage drop to compensate for lack of current, and so it does. till the stereo completely shuts off. I'll bet it restarts immediately as the voltage comes back up, doesnt it?
the solution for you is to increase the size of the following wires:
wire from the battery to your main +12V distribution
wire from the negative terminal of the battery to the chassis
wire form chassis to the stereo's ground distribution
wire from chassis to the engine block
the last one isnt really neccesary for the stereo, but youll have the spare 4 gauge, and it helps make the car feel electrically more powerful
from battery to chassis can also be spare 4 gauge. but everything that powers the stereo has to increase in size! 2 gauge is good, 1/0 is better.
in the mean time, turn off all bass boosts on the radio and on the amplifiers. Zero them all out. it should help a TON in the short run. if the bass drops out, feel free to go up on the gain, that should have less of an impact on voltage drops.
if the bass isnt loud enough after doing this, your equipment cant support the level of bass you want, and you need more expensive gear.
that should do it!
Registered!!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,344
Likes: 0
From: bay area, california
Rep Power: 338 absolutely it might! but remember sucking coffee through the stir straw!
you know how many folks say a cap does nothing? Possibly WILL do nothing, if you keep trying to suck that coffee through a stir straw!
you know how many folks say a cap does nothing? Possibly WILL do nothing, if you keep trying to suck that coffee through a stir straw!
Registered!!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,344
Likes: 0
From: bay area, california
Rep Power: 338 do me a favor. zero all your bass boosts. turn them to zero on the amp, and on the radio, set the "bass" level to zero (along with the mids and highs, too). if they have negative values settable, just set them to zero, not negative.
does your problem go away?
does your problem go away?
Life is better with 5lug
iTrader: (18)
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,357
Likes: 0
From: Phobos/Orlando
Rep Power: 293 these guys are right.....I had the same problem running a 200 rms amp to my highs and a 460 rms to my 15" sub and my amp(s) would cut out.....I upgraded to 2 guage, and its never cut again.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,137
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
Rep Power: 380 I have full size yellowtop, a one farad cap, and 0 guage wire. I run a 300/2 and a 500/1 and my sub amp is starting to die at loud volumes. Turn the car off and restart it and guess what, the yellowtop is near dead. 2nd one. WTF
Thread Starter
7thgen Terminator Ninja
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,854
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, Az
Rep Power: 312 i put a 1.7 farad cap in it and it helped A LOT, it still cuts out, but it has to be really really loud to do that and it sounds so much stronger too, since my stereo stopped workin i heard my belt squeaking, since i took out my power steering, there only one belt, so that might be casing it to loose power too.
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,242
Likes: 0
From: Moore, Oklahoma, US
Rep Power: 317 I have had a Wraingler HO Alternator for almost 2 years, and its one the best things I bought for my system. Running 1/0 gauge to the amps, 1000/1 and 450/4. I can crank it at idle, until I get to really high volumes, my lights don't dim at all.
I have no cap btw, just the HO Alt.
I have no cap btw, just the HO Alt.
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