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ulrisa
Starting Member
10 Posts |
 Posted - 05/11/2009 : 10:11:01 AM
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Hi-
I wanted to get some opinions from the community. I have a 2000 Volvo S40, with the stock 120A alternator. I am using a punch 500-2 amp. It dims my lights throughout the entire car when the bass hits (dome lights, head lights, dashboard, tail lights), and I've tried a number of things to fix it. It doesn't matter what accessories are on either. I have 4 awg wire run to the trunk, both the positive and the negative to a batcap 400, in parallel. The amp is hooked up to the batcap. I have upgraded the big 3 to 1/0 awg wire, and put in the best yellow top optima, I think it's the 34R or something like that. I would think I would have plenty of power for a 500 watt amplifier... The voltage stays above 14 at all times. Any suggestions? Experiences?
Thanks. |
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durtbagg16
Advanced Member
USA
2464 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2009 : 10:15:02 AM
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Since your electrical seems pretty strong, Id try borrowing someone 1 farad capacitor (a decent one since the cheap ones are just glorified voltage meters) and see how that does. If your voltage isnt dropping below 14.xx volts then really you have no real problem, unless of course the dimming lights bug you.
by lights thoughout the car, do your headlights outside the car dim too? |
lol |
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ulrisa
Starting Member
10 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2009 : 2:27:12 PM
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Yes, it's kind of strange. The lights always dim the same amount no matter what accessories/lights are on. Even if I just put on the parking lights, those will dim just as much as the head lights. I'm probably just going to have to live with it... Any other suggestions?
Thanks. |
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Kryptonite
Average Member
USA
565 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2009 : 5:44:52 PM
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| Is that 14 volts on the dash gauge? Those aren't always as quick to read a voltage drop. I would trust the dimming lights as an indication of a voltage drop over the stock gauge. I will bet also that your amp is putting out more than 500 watts and drawing more amps than a typical 500 watt amplifier. |
Pioneer DEH-P490IB
RF P450.4
2 RF T5002
2 Punch HX2 10" Subs |
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ulrisa
Starting Member
10 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2009 : 6:48:05 PM
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| I do have a gauge inside the car, but I've also hooked up a voltmeter directly at the battery and gotten the same results... I don't have the birth sheet for the amp, but you are probably right, it does seem to have a lot of power for "500" watts. It's probably not damaging the car assuming the volt meters are not lying to me, right? |
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Kryptonite
Average Member
USA
565 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2009 : 7:13:51 PM
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| If you are staying above 13 volts then you will still be charging your battery. If you drop below 10 volts then you risk damaging your electrical equipment. One of my 500 watt Rockford amps puts out 1134 watts at 2 ohms bridged. |
Pioneer DEH-P490IB
RF P450.4
2 RF T5002
2 Punch HX2 10" Subs |
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OceanSoundz
Senior Member
Canada
1553 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2009 : 04:09:50 AM
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| I notice when my amp is adjusted higher than 60hz my lights will dim on the higher frequencies, but if I keep it adjusted at 60hz it's fine. You have to adjust your amp to play the frequencies the enclosure was designed to play. Since I'm tuned to around 35hz I can play that the cleanest without drawing too much current, once I start playing frequencies in the high 20s and low 40s I start to dim a bit, anything else beyond those points will dim my lights a lot. |
2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer
****waiting for the new T2****
Rockford Fosgate T1500-1bd |
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lantzdarla
Senior Member
USA
1019 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2009 : 11:02:46 PM
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| out of curiosity,what size batcap do you have? |
Member #002, AA---Amplifiers anonymous.
"hello,my name is Lance, and where the hell is Justin!! |
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OceanSoundz
Senior Member
Canada
1553 Posts |
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ulrisa
Starting Member
10 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2009 : 09:57:31 AM
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I will try adjusting the cross-over to 60 hz. Right now it is at 80 hz. I'll try it out tonight and see if it makes a difference.
Wow, that's pretty crazy Krytonite! I wonder how many watts mine actually puts out... |
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lowblueranger
Average Member
USA
717 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2009 : 11:22:10 AM
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The only 500 watt amp to make that much power would be the T5002-T5001 would both be right around there, but the punch amps would not. The crossoveer point shouldn't make any difference in the power it draws. What is your gain set at? It sounds to me like the gains are set too high. Maybe your alternator or battery are going bad.
You shouldn't need a extra battery for just that amp either. I have a T20001 running off my stock 120 amp alternator and it doesn't dime the lights at all. |
Edited by - lowblueranger on 05/13/2009 11:27:23 AM |
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Hless421
Starting Member
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2009 : 11:53:20 AM
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Ok well i have a P500-2 and it runs off an 80 amp alternator and 2 group 35 batteries. one main one close to amp. My lights used to dim a whole lot more before adding the 2nd battery. Now i have to pretty much max it out to get lights to dim, but not like you descirbe.
From what i heard form others, the yellow top is not to be used as a main battery. The red top for main and yellow for amp.
And i really dont see how the voltage can stay above 14 volts if all the lights are dimming, meaning stress on the electrical system. I would put the stock battery back as the main, take out the battcap and use the yellow top instead. Good luck finding and fixing the issue. |
Edited by - Hless421 on 07/13/2009 11:55:55 AM |
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micknaughty0080
Junior Member
USA
154 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2009 : 08:24:35 AM
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| all of my lights used to dim. i have a yellow top and upgraded to a 220 amp alt and big 3. once the alt ground was put on and adjusted my gains my cabin lights didnt dim but my headlihts still did. i bout a HID kit off of ebay and fixed that problem. |
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Discussion Forum
Dimming Lights P500-2
