on my first build i just got a sub amp package and then a mate told me to buy a power cap so i got one. now i am doing a larger install i am told there useless and its for people who like flashing lights. they say get a larger allternator, or a second battery. can some one help and let me know if its needed or not?

btw my new install will run at about 800-1000 RMs if that helps

a better alternator will be a good start.

i am told by people that power caps do make a difference, but its only when the music is loud and the bass hits hard.

i've had loadsa different builds before and a cap makes sod all difference!

better off with uprating your cables.

1 - try and get a more powerful alternator

2 - upgrade cables from alternatr to battery

3 - upgrade earth cable from alternator

4 - upgrade cables from battery to earth

5 - dont use a massive amplifier for your install as the current it will draw will just put to much demand on the alternator.

6 - ensure you make good solid earthing points for any kit used. and the shorter the cable the better.

7 - remember to secure all cables and have them spaced "rca's away from power etc etc"

8 - use a fuse in the power cable close to the battery equal to that of the amp used.

hope this helps.

rob.

cheers that helps alot, i know for definate i will be getting a more powerful alternator do i buy a second hand one, or a new one? they are good tips, may help others cheers

warren

Edited 8 November, 200718 yr by waz56

powercaps are pointless

imo

They do work, when put into the right setup but yeah, a better alternator is called for. As you will be running 800-1000w, you maybe jus on the limit of needing a 2nd battery but i don't suppose it would hurt to have one anyway!

powercaps dont work ever.

they are the devil.

1000wrms will be fine from a stock powersupply usually.. just use good quality powercables (4gauge minimum.. 0guage preferably!)

Edited 8 November, 200718 yr by Foxie

you should realy go for a new alternator but a refurbed one should be ok, or failing that get a second hand one and replace the brushes and relay give a lick of paint and a good clean up, job done, i'm doing this on saturday. :-D

powercaps dont work ever.

they are the devil.

1000wrms will be fine from a stock powersupply usually.. just use good quality powercables (4gauge minimum.. 0guage preferably!)

what about my system then? probably running 4500w.

If power caps don't work, anybody want to buy 2 RF 1farad power caps? lol.

what about my system then? probably running 4500w.

If power caps don't work, anybody want to buy 2 RF 1farad power caps? lol.

is that 4500w rms or peak?

waht kit are you using?

Wouldn't worry, as people have said, decent wiring is enough usually, unless you're running 4 subs or so!

I'm running at 2000w with full Alpine, no probs so far and it still moves your hair!! Enjoy!

powercaps dont work ever.

they are the devil.

1000wrms will be fine from a stock powersupply usually.. just use good quality powercables (4gauge minimum.. 0guage preferably!)

what about my system then? probably running 4500w.

If power caps don't work, anybody want to buy 2 RF 1farad power caps? lol.

RMS ? i doubt it :)

what amps are you running ?

when you say second battery, do you mean connect another to the first, or wire one up to the sub system?

i am thinking of having one in the boot so do i run a 0 AWG gauge to the front battery?

power caps workbut only in spl when you have one connected to the headunit when you burp it stops the voltage drop to it helping give a good signal from it

at the moment with out a second battery, and the sub on the engine can drop as low as about 400 RPM so how can i stop that? how do i connnect up the second battery, and i looked into a golf alternator and its tensoner is above not below.

powercaps dont work ever.

they are the devil.

1000wrms will be fine from a stock powersupply usually.. just use good quality powercables (4gauge minimum.. 0guage preferably!)

what about my system then? probably running 4500w.

If power caps don't work, anybody want to buy 2 RF 1farad power caps? lol.

RMS ? i doubt it :)

what amps are you running ?

Rockford Fosgate throughout!

T3000.1 Monoblock. (for powering 3 DVC 12s)

T400.4 4ch (Front speakers)

Another amp not purchased yet - probably 1000w for 2 DVC 8s.

To wire in a 2nd battery, you need a split charging system. Wiring one battery to another may cause a fire eventually!

Edited 20 November, 200718 yr by vwmk3jon

To wire in a 2nd battery, you need a split charging system. Wiring one battery to another may cause a fire eventually!

Why would it cause a fire?

you just split charge or run 2 identical batteries

there was something in the faq about running 90 amp alts on a mk3 polo

upgrade the big 3 as well

To wire in a 2nd battery, you need a split charging system. Wiring one battery to another may cause a fire eventually!

Why would it cause a fire?

I was going bak to my days at school where if you wired 2 batteries together, they'd smoke and melt the wires! Was afew years back now tho.

it's different in a car

To wire in a 2nd battery, you need a split charging system. Wiring one battery to another may cause a fire eventually!

Why would it cause a fire?

I was going bak to my days at school where if you wired 2 batteries together, they'd smoke and melt the wires! Was afew years back now tho.

If you short circuited them it would but if you wired two identical batteries in parallel (a wire from the + to + and one from - to-) then there should be no probs. An additional battery would power about an additional 4200W (350 Amperes X 12 Volts)

Edited 22 November, 200718 yr by danny6n

would replacing the normal battery with a leisure battery help? my system is struggling at the moment with an alpine 4x 60 headunit, a 100w 2 channel amp and a 700w alpine monoblock. i.e. the radio strats dimming when the bass kicks in and doesnt go above a certain volume after a while.

would replacing the normal battery with a leisure battery help? my system is struggling at the moment with an alpine 4x 60 headunit, a 100w 2 channel amp and a 700w alpine monoblock. i.e. the radio strats dimming when the bass kicks in and doesnt go above a certain volume after a while.

What cabling are you using? If its 8gauge(ish) to the amp from the battery, it maybe abit small so i'd suggest upgrading it for something abit beefier 1st. You wouldn't really need to upgrade the battery until you are running over 1000wrms so i've been told.

I usually fiddle with the settings abit to make it go louder too (bass down a notch, treble very slightly up).