Capacitor question...
#21
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i would upgrade the big three, and then we'll talk
#22
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The best protection against dimming lights, aside from the big 3, is a higher capacity alternator and battery. Even the STOCK stereo, when the music is all the way up, can make the lights dim (not very often, but it can happen...)
Hell, on my '85 S10, which had only a 55amp continous, 78 amp peak, alternator, as long as my RPM was above 1000, my lights would NOT dim, and my stereo was pulling around 200 - 250 watts RMS for my 4 channels (I doubt my speakers were making the amp put out full power) and my sub draws 300 watts... My volt meter and lights wouldn't dim or move, and yet, with just my signal light on, no stereo, my volt meter would dip down a little every time the signals came on...
And yes, this was at night with the headlights on, and even on the highway with some of my extra lights on, they wouldn't dim... (total power draw with low beams on, and max stereo, not counting park lights is 44.1 amps)
Your lights are dimming because your alternator can't keep up to the system, putting a cap in there will only delay when your lights dim... It _might_ help some, but your alternator now has to recharge the battery, AND the cap... Caps have a very very low storage capacity, they'll cover the power for one, maybe to good solid bass hits, then, it'll start lagging behind, making your alternator work that much harder to get the system voltage back up.
Do like hillbilly says, and upgrade the big 3, and see how much that helps... It's cheaper than a decent cap anyway, right? At worst, by doing that first, you get an over all better performing electrical system
Hell, on my '85 S10, which had only a 55amp continous, 78 amp peak, alternator, as long as my RPM was above 1000, my lights would NOT dim, and my stereo was pulling around 200 - 250 watts RMS for my 4 channels (I doubt my speakers were making the amp put out full power) and my sub draws 300 watts... My volt meter and lights wouldn't dim or move, and yet, with just my signal light on, no stereo, my volt meter would dip down a little every time the signals came on...
And yes, this was at night with the headlights on, and even on the highway with some of my extra lights on, they wouldn't dim... (total power draw with low beams on, and max stereo, not counting park lights is 44.1 amps)
Your lights are dimming because your alternator can't keep up to the system, putting a cap in there will only delay when your lights dim... It _might_ help some, but your alternator now has to recharge the battery, AND the cap... Caps have a very very low storage capacity, they'll cover the power for one, maybe to good solid bass hits, then, it'll start lagging behind, making your alternator work that much harder to get the system voltage back up.
Do like hillbilly says, and upgrade the big 3, and see how much that helps... It's cheaper than a decent cap anyway, right? At worst, by doing that first, you get an over all better performing electrical system
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#23
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Well I have a 160 amp alt in there right now and my system isnt that huge so I cant see how my amp is too small.
#24
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Maybe your wires are too small, lol.
#25
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When I didn't know any better I bought a 5 farad cap. Then I read up on other options and quickly removed it and sold it.
#26
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Only thing about the big three is, I am not sure how easy it will be. I know when I replaced my altenator the wire leading to it was coming out of a bunch of other wires which seemed to be wrapped in a mess of electrical tape or somthing.
#27
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the big three is not hard at all.maybe take half hour at most, and only cost you the price of the wire and some crimp ends. get at least 4 gauge. would recommend 2 or 0.
#28
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Yea but on my "newer" blazer there seems to be a harness for everything and that alt wire ties into that harness so I would have to tear it apart and see where it leads.
#29
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well, I have done the big three on a 92, a 95, a 97, a 99, an 00, an 01, and an 03. so it ca be done!!
#30
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Alright, well I guess the only thing I am waiting on is a day to bring the blazer in the garage and heat it up and start the destruction of my electrical system lol.
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the_mind
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09-11-2005 12:56 AM