lights dim when subs hit

[tylerbe992]

Heyy I have a mercury mystique and every time my kenwood subwoofers hit the lights dim and almost looks like the lights turns off.

Does that mean I need a better battery or a alternator? or even both?!

[Alchemist]

voltage drop.

what are you running in your system? what gauge are your power and ground wires?

if they're too small, you should upgrade them. at the very least, your power and ground should be 4awg. 2awg is even better and isn't difficult to come by.

next would be a "big three" upgrade.
then a deep cycle battery.
then a higher output alternator.

[tylerbe992]

Thanks for helping me
just wondering isn't 1/0 Gauge Power / Ground Wire better than 2awg? I dont know this stuff thats why im asking because I just read about awg and it says the lower the number the better it is am i correct? And i don't know what gauge the wires are but i can find out ... and I'm running a amp also but i dont know how many watts it runs off of but I'm going to find the gauge size and the wattage of the amp but i'll find out now for you ..

Thanks!

[tylerbe992]

My amp is a Kenwood - 500W Class D Mono Amplifier .....and i looked at the ground wiring and power and it didn't show the gauge on it ... so i have no clue ..

[Alchemist]

Originally Posted by tylerbe992

Thanks for helping me
just wondering isn't 1/0 Gauge Power / Ground Wire better than 2awg?

yes, that would be better.

and i looked at the ground wiring and power and it didn't show the gauge on it ... so i have no clue ..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge

that should help.

be sure none of the connections are loose, and that the amp has a dedicated ground; to bare metal, not sharing a seat belt mount, etc.

[JayMack75]

I think maybe its just that you need to upgrade your alternator. I mean, you're not pushing out THAT much power, but over time that constant beating that your alternator will take will make it go bad. Get yourself a high output alternator. Do you have a dry cell battery? Kinetik is good, so is Optima. You're gonna pay for it...but it'll be worth it in the long run. Another thing, check your ground to make sure its not loose and its making clean contact with where you have it grounded. Weak grounding can cause the same problem.

[YourcarFTL]

Have your battery and alternator tested if your wiring is good. little 500w amp isn't gonna come close to loading a properly working alt or battery enough to cause what hes experiencing.

[Mat]

Originally Posted by YourcarFTL

Have your battery and alternator tested if your wiring is good. little 500w amp isn't gonna come close to loading a properly working alt or battery enough to cause what hes experiencing.

+1

[tylerbe992]

ok thanks guys!!

I will definitely get it tested!!

Should I get it tested then get the bigger gauge wire if necessary?

[Fanatic4Christ]

lol i'm going to have to disagree with that, my car running 400 watts rms had dimming lights same with my mom's car, dad's car... LOL mine doesn't do it anymore due to a H.O alt, 1/0 wiring and optima yellow top but it still did b4