How does my system sound so far?

[XcreatureX]

Pioneer DVH-P5000MP Head unit6.5 polk momo components in the front6.5 polk momo 2 ways in the rear2 12" kicker compVRsHifonics BX1500D for the subsHifonics ZX6400 for the speakersAlumapro 15 Farad Capacitor

thats what i got so far.... i am thinking of upgrading the Headunit to the eclipse double din touch screen. i am diffantly getting new subs, i want to get 2 12" titanum eclipses and i am thinking of upgrading the speaker amp to a lager one to power the speakers right

Seth

[Rex]

Sounds good overall, but I generally disagree with the idea of putting full range speakers behind the passengers.

As far as upgrading the HU, you'll never feel like you're done, so as long as it gove you the features you "must have" be happy with the Pioneer.

[PoorManQ45]

If you havn't bought the capacitor, I suggest not getting it. Save your money for something else.

Also, I don't know how your system sounds, you didn't post a recording of it

[XcreatureX]

Sounds good overall, but I generally disagree with the idea of putting full range speakers behind the passengers.

As far as upgrading the HU, you'll never feel like you're done, so as long as it gove you the features you "must have" be happy with the Pioneer.

Over all i like it the only thing i dont like about it is that it only has 2 pre-outs. that and i have to find a screen that is just a screen that fold out dosnt play anything since the HU takes care of that.

as for poormanQ45

Alumapro 15 Farad Capacitor

that would be my cap. trust me i need it my car dims even though i have it. i am going to get a batteray soon see if that helps

Seth

[XcreatureX]

thats everything before i put it in my car :-D

[PoorManQ45]

I think you may have an electrical problem. Probably your alternator is not powerful enough to support the added load

I say spend ~$300~$500 and get a 150~200 amp HO alternator

[audtatious]

I think you may have an electrical problem. Probably your alternator is not powerful enough to support the added load

I say spend ~$300~$500 and get a 150~200 amp HO alternator

+1

Upgrade the alty.

[XcreatureX]

yeah if i knew were to find one i would probably before i get the new subs and ****.

Seth

[ayjay]

ya i don't think there's anything necessarily wrong with your electrical... you're pulling a lot of current from those two amps. get a better battery and you should be ok.

[Rex]

yeah if i knew were to find one i would probably before i get the new subs and ****.

Seth

Not sure what you drive, but here's a site that sells High Output alts.

[Rex]

From a Q&A about dimming headlights

Q. I have a 02 maxima SE and just installed two JL amps, a 500/1 and a 300/4. I have noticed that my dashboard lights dim during heavy bass hits. I don't think the headlights are dimming but I'm not sure. Also, my battery keeps draining on me. Will a 1 farad cap help or do I need an upgraded alternator?

A. Your car's electrical system is not designed to handle insane amounts of bass or car audio that rivals a home theater system. Made primarily for your stock audio, if you upgrade your system, you will be drawing excess power from other electrical components in the car, dimming headlights or the dashboard lights or even affecting your car's performance. Adding a stiffening capacitor will react to the drop in voltage smoothing out the supplied voltage and increasing power output, possibly improving your sound quality. A capacitor consists of two electrically conductive plates separated by an insulator. The insulator thickness, distance between the plates, and total surface area of the plates determines its capacitance. Most audio experts recommend 1 farad of capacitance for every 1000 watts of power. The shorter the distance the cap is from the amp, the more effective it will be. A capacitor stores power, not creates power. Therefore, they need to be charged up when first installed. Otherwise they will draw a lot of initial current possibly shorting the circuit. If your alternator doesn't produce enough power for your system, a capacitor won't do much. As it discharges its power, it draws more current from the alternator to recharge. If its drawing too much current, the rest of your electrical system will suffer. The 4th gen Maximas have a very large 12V 110 amp alternators so you shouldn't need to upgrade to a larger one. But if your headlights dim, your only other choice is a higher output alternator.

[PoorManQ45]

ya i don't think there's anything necessarily wrong with your electrical... you're pulling a lot of current from those two amps. get a better battery and you should be ok.

A second battery won't do much. The electrical system is designed to run off the alternator when the engine is running. Adding or upgrading the battery would just prolong the problem a bit.

A capacitor will not help rectify the situation

[audtatious]

Actually, adding a larger or 2nd battery could make things worse as there would now be a larger drain on the alty to keep both batteries charged.

[PoorManQ45]

that applies at start up mostly. Where there is an instantaneous large current draw.

That's part of the reason why when giving someone a "jump" that you start your car first. So as not to reck the alternator

[audtatious]

Why are you arguing with me? I've worked on this stuff for around 25 years now?

Don't make me come over there!!!

[audtatious]

See: http://www.bcae1.com/charging.htm

"As long as the engine is running, all of the power for the accessories is delivered by the alternator. The battery is actually a load on the charging system. The only time that the battery would supply power with the engine running is when the current capacity of the alternator is exceeded or when engine is at a very low idle. "

Based on the above, the battery adds an additional load to the alternator. If the alternator cannot keep up with the demand of the audio system, it will pull from the battery. The only way to get the battery to a full charge is to run the car without the stereo. Adding a 2nd battery will add more stress to the system since it allows more drain. Eventually you get to a deep-cycle scenario where the battery cannot be recharged and requires replacement.

[PoorManQ45]

not arguing, just stating a fact .

It does not hurt the alternator to have two batteries connected to it while the car is running. The car shoould be running off the alternator, not the batteries, thus very little current should be coming from the batteries, thus the alternator does not have to keep them charged.

Now, again, the increased "Strain" on the alternator applies at start up.

[audtatious]

See my above "edit". You are stating the exact oposite of what every car audio "professional" preaches.

[PoorManQ45]

you arn't understanding. The battery should be used extremely little when the car is running. If it's being used quite alot, the battery I mean, then there is a problem with your alternator.

[audtatious]

I fully understand what you are saying, but I believe you are not following my point....

If there are no issues with power from the alternator supplying the sound system, you are 100% correct. A 2nd battery would not cause any problems. In the case where you are already having a problem with lights dimming via the stereo, then having a 2nd battery would allow the stereo to pull from two batteries instead of one (if it can't get it from the alternator, it will pull it from the battery reserve). The alternator then has to recharge two batteries instead of one. Thus, you have a larger drain/strain on the charging system.

[PoorManQ45]

Ok, now I understand. I was thinking like you said, alternator should apply all current.

Of course then. Yes a second battery will create more stress on the alter if you are drawing from it when the engine is running.

Now, the only time I ever recommend the addition of a second battery is when the person is going to be using vehicle electronics(stereo) for more then ~1hours with the car off. ~1 hour seems like a good maximum time to use the stereo, if you have a high current amplifier.

[Rex]

not arguing, just stating a fact .

It does not hurt the alternator to have two batteries connected to it while the car is running. The car shoould be running off the alternator, not the batteries, thus very little current should be coming from the batteries, thus the alternator does not have to keep them charged.

Now, again, the increased "Strain" on the alternator applies at start up.

In the above you're insinuating that charging 2 batteries is no more strain to an alternator, than 1 battery?? This would only be true if a car never needed battery power for anything beyond start up, and that's unrealistic to expect.

[PoorManQ45]

In the above you're insinuating that charging 2 batteries is no more strain to an alternator, than 1 battery?? This would only be true if a car never needed battery power for anything beyond start up, and that's unrealistic to expect.

under normal situations, very little current should be drawn from the battery when the engine is running.

Hey, what would be the difference even if you had 2 batteries and current was being drawn from them while the engine is running? WHy would it put more strain on the alternator then only using one battery and drawing from it? It would seem that either way the alternator would have to "replenish" the same voltage to the battery(ies), right?

[audtatious]

Not necessarily. Batteries are slower to supply direct voltage than an alternator. That is the primary reason behind capacitors as they are a "quick discharge" device. With the stereo booming, greater power would be drawn from two batteries than with only one. This would require more alternator work to bring both batteries to a "charged" state.

[PoorManQ45]

yeah, but the total current draw should be the same either way, with one or tweo batteries.

[audtatious]

Correct, because the alternator can only supply so much power to recharge the batteries. BUT, there will be more current required, totally, to recharge both batteries. It they only "boom" for short term, and listen at normal levels the remainder of the time, they will still have problems getting both batteries to a full charge before they "boom" again. If they are running any other accessories (headlights, A/C, etc.) it will be even worse and you end up with a snowball effect.

Eventually, this will lead to deep cycling the batteries due to not having enough time to consistantly replinish the charge levels. The alternator will be constantly running at 110% charge which is additional load and will eventually burn it up. That's been my experience with them.

[PoorManQ45]

I'm understanding what you're saying, but if you have two batteries, THEORETICALLY they should discharge at 1/2 the rate as a single battery under the same current draw. Correct?

[audtatious]

It depends on the demand. In "normal" situations, any draw would be potentially split between the two (1/2 rate). During high demand situations, each could give the full rate which would be twice the amount of a single battery. Thus, the alternator would have to make up for twice the drain of a single battery.

[PoorManQ45]

It depends on the demand. In "normal" situations, any draw would be potentially split between the two (1/2 rate). During high demand situations, each could give the full rate which would be twice the amount of a single battery. Thus, the alternator would have to make up for twice the drain of a single battery.

Hmm.. So I guess your refering to a really high current draw? One that exceeds the discharge rate of a single battery. Is that correct?

[audtatious]

Correct. If you have a 95amp alternator, yet you are wanting to pull 125 amps, the power has to come from somewhere. Since the battery cannot discharge it fast enough for the music transients, the car goes into an "overdraw" scenario where the lights are dimming and such. Adding the 2nd battery relieves the situation somewhat by giving another source to pull from. This is only a temporary fix as the batteries need to be charged back up, so the alternator is now trying to provide current to the stereo AND recharge the two batteries at the same time. Again, snowball effect.