Just picked up a mint 91 Civic sedan, just wondering if the battery will hold up if I power two amps one (small) for mids and the other (medium power range) for subs.

I was told that the car has a low output (super small) alternator and this setup would cause a heavy load and low life on the battery...

Anyone out there have any experience/expertise that they can advise me with?

 

the battery has nothin to do with it whne the car is started. you should have any problems. what do you consider medium power range? 500 watts?

 

I noticed dimming on my car when I had a 500w w/o cap. I'd definately suggest getting a 1 farhad cap. they're relatively cheap ($80 bucks or so for a rockford fosgate) and it'll save your alternator from having to work so hard.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again cuz it was my project for the month : "Upgrade your factory grounds to 4AWG"!

It helps. I am pushing ~750WRMS and I get barely noticeable dimming at a volume much higher than my ears could ever take.

500W is not much. The alternator should be able to handle it. Whiterabbit on 7thgencivic.com is pushing ~1700WRMS (with D class amps so higher effeciency, but still a lot of wattage) on his stock alternator and a optima red top. No cap. Upgraded grounds and alternator +.

 

a cap is less of a headache, at least I'd think so

 

Check out this test by Richard Clark and see if you still feel the same way about caps. http://www.welcometotheden.8k....t.pdf

 

Good article!

 

Quick note: Caps don't do ****, don't waste your time. Well they do what they say but they won't save your electrical system.

 

cap will only work in some area, but not all.

 

Do grounds first then cap. PM evol he had the same problem before doing his grounds.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by acuradriva &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Check out this test by Richard Clark and see if you still feel the same way about caps. http://www.welcometotheden.8k....t.pdf </TD></TR></TABLE>

That article is about the 15 Farad caps. That is not a blanket statement about all capacitors. Please re-read. Don't try to read between the lines because they are entirely different lines. If you are exceeding the limits of your alternator a cap will do no good. If you are exceeding your limits of the alternators response time for current changes then a cap will help.