Just wondering when should you start wondering about getting a cap for the system? Like i said before ive installed a few stereos but in my new car im going a little bit bigger than im used to.
Have a 700wrms 12" sub with a 900wrms mono amp. Using my deck to power 4 speakers in the car also.
Im also planning on getting a matching sub in the future and using 2x 12"...

Any suggestions on a cap?

a bit off topic but..Make sure you have an alternator with high Amps ! I am upgrading my 60 amp alt, to a 140 amp.
Also look at getting a nice Optima Yellow top ! Made a world of difference in my system.

Every bit helps, when doing car audio. If you ignore 1 thing, your whole system will suffer.

[ April 09, 2004, 05:23 PM: Message edited by: Rob ]

So would you say alternator upgrade would help more than a cap?

Oh ya.. it all starts at the alternator ! Without an upgraded alt/battery, you wil not get the full potential of your components ! The lightning cap just puts a lil less strain on the battery, just like a backup.

Thx for the info! I will look into that.

Caps do not and are not meant to reduce strain on your battery. What they are intended to do is keep the voltage going into your amp constant. When your amp hits a bass note I draws alot of current instantly, since batteries derive electricity from a chemical reaction they do not provide the current instantly causing a momentary drop in voltage. The cap provides that milisecond of current and voltage until the battery can catch up. Adding a cap to a system will tighten up your bass, reduce strain on your amp, and reduce strain on your alt. It should not be considered a replacement for upgrading your amp or battery.

The reason Optima batteries are so good for car audio is because they can produce current much faster than a conventional battery. You should buy an optima red top or a yellow top first. Then figure out if your alt can hack it and then a cap. As for which brands to get...a cap is a cap...buy the cheapest one you can find. Get a 1 farad. I garauntee you will notice tighter bass after getting an optima and a cap.

[ April 09, 2004, 06:15 PM: Message edited by: JayDawg Supafly ]

Alternator...................do it right............

How much do the better alternators cost anyways and keep in mind im not going to compete or anything, I just want 2x 12" subs and 4 speakers inside...

$250-$300 Canadian

You may find that your stock alternator is sufficient for what you are looking for, what type of car is this in? Many SUVs and north american cars have 100+ amp alternators stock, and do quite well in this regard.

Also, what model of amplifier do you have?

It won't hurt to try it out with your stock electical system first. Ensure that you have a healthy battery installed, as that type of power will certainly put a lot of strain on it. Although alternators are not that expensive, labour costs can be expensive [img]graemlins/deal4u.gif[/img]