All SHO's with systems

[SHOtime93]

Let me start off by saying that I have a 400 watt PPI amp and a single fosgate HX2 12".Ok I got a new battery along with my starter the other day, and I also have a 1 farad capacitor. My alternator was checked and it was fine. My lights have always dimmed even with the capacitor at idle when the system hits. I figured it was either the original battery or the alternator. Well now with a new battery and a working alternator, my lights dim just like they did before. All of my friends with capacitors and bigger systems than me have non-dimming lights...is there something wrong with my capacitor??? Does anyone else have problems with dimming lights, and if you dont, tell me the secret! Thanks in advance.

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1993 White SHO ATX
Stock under the hood so far...
K&N Air Filter
1/4 mile 15.5 @ 92.4 MPH
400watt PPI amp and a single Fosgate HX2 12"
Powered by YAMAHA

 

[RickieFrat]

Turn the gain on the amp down a bit and see how that works. What always works for me is never go past the half way make on the amp unless your running 15"s or bigger. If that fails try a different cap. Maybe one of your friends might let you borrow theirs just to try it out.

Another factor could be the size of the wire running from the battery to the amp is too small. What size are you running ?? I have 1200 watts and when it hits, my lights don't dim. I'm running 4 AWG with no cap.

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1992 TAURUS SHO
Sig Pic By SHOTIME (THX)
MORE INFO AND PICS

1988 T-bird Turbo Coupe
Needs lil' work. Soon-to-be drag car.
AIM ... fst92sho
FRAT'S PERFORMANCE.COM
Your One Stop Source For ALL Your Audio Needs

 

[SHOtime93]

Yeah I am using 4 AWG also...Your idea just might work because my amp's gain is basically cranked and my deck's setting is at neutral. The only question I have is if i turn the gain down on the amp and turn it up on my deck to even it out so it sounds the same or simillar, won't it be drawing the same amount of power off of the battery?? I want the dimming to stop, but I don't wanna sacrifice sound, it sounds perfect to me right now...Thanks a lot for your help!

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1993 White SHO ATX
Stock under the hood so far...
K&N Air Filter
1/4 mile 15.5 @ 92.4 MPH
400watt PPI amp and a single Fosgate HX2 12"
Powered by YAMAHA

 

[blu95sho]

How about relocating the battery to the trunk and running a dual battery setup?

 

[RickieFrat]

If you turn down the amp you can bring back the sound quaility by boosting it from the head unit. With your amp turned down, its asking for less power to operate but still enough to sound good. Thus ending in no more dimming lights.

The more power you ask from the amp --- The more its gonna ask from your car.

Seeing you also have a cap. Make shur its loaded right. You shouldn't have a problem with dimming lights and a cap. Unless the cap is shot. Hope this helps !!

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1992 TAURUS SHO
Sig Pic By SHOTIME (THX)
MORE INFO AND PICS

1988 T-bird Turbo Coupe
Needs lil' work. Soon-to-be drag car.
AIM ... fst92sho
FRAT'S PERFORMANCE.COM
Your One Stop Source For ALL Your Audio Needs

 

[fredhurderjr]

I have 2x 400watt Profile amps (rears & sub box)+ 1 40watt Alpine for the fronts. I get no dimming.

Like Rickie said - check how much each is cranked - my installer told me never go over 2/3 capacity on the deck & amps, otherwise you're basically taxing the system. I'm also running UDP's.

 

[yhardy1273]

I have about 1800 true watts in my SHO and I am running1 cap and two batteries. If I was you I would try 1 my cap in the rear and if that don't work add another battery to the rear if the lights won't quit dimming you will loove the way your stereo will sound. Your PPI will not be starving for power. I am running 0 gauge in mine. That is some thick wire. But once again I am running some seriuos power. If you have questions email me and I will help out. When it comes to stereo's I am the man no one has a better SHO setup than this SHO. Just added tv's to the Headrest tonight.

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1993 SHO
5 SPD.
EIBACH SPRINGS
SUPERCHIP
FLOWMATERS
K&N CONE FILTER
18X 7.5 ALBA BLADES
225/40/18
AND A WHOLE LOTS MORE

 

[SHOtime93]

ok thanks everyone for your help, I'll give this a shot!

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1993 White SHO ATX
K&N Air Filter
1/4 mile 15.5 @ 92.4 MPH
400watt PPI amp and a single Fosgate HX2 12"
Powered by YAMAHA

 

[RI-SHO]

Possibe of 2000watts with no dimming/cap but run less than half with my amps and 12" JL's. Hope you fix the problem.

 

[SHOFF]

SHOs are know to blow altenators like crazy both my friend and i have replaced over 4 a piece, but were all running big systems. I have two 0 gauges running back to two optima yellow tops with a aluma pro 15 farad cap. Hooked up to 2 mtx 81000d's and two mtx 6304's at low rpm i can just about stall my car if i turn my radio up too high. I really dont think my headlight and on no more when i do that. Oh ya one more thing i have best system yhardy you cant even compete(j/k) have fun

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Sho shop cams
80mm mass air
big bore butterflys
underdrive pullys
strut bars, front and rear
cold air intake
high flow y pipe and cads
18 inch quatem tek wheels
eibach springs
2 tvs
dvd
playstation
5000 watt system
www.shoracing.com/pix/g2/donnyc_93sho.jpg

 

[MrSho]

Just so everyone knows the truth: "GAIN" is NOT a volume control. If you treat it as one your probably gonna damage SOMETHING in your audio system. Anyone who has fried an amp knows what I'm talking about. Gain should never be set at more than three-quarters up...if that. If it's not loud enough you probably need a bigger amp.

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'93 Opal Frost ATX
"Many New Parts"
S.h!t H.appens O.ften

 

[RickieFrat]

Originally posted by MrSho:
Just so everyone knows the truth: "GAIN" is NOT a volume control. If you treat it as one your probably gonna damage SOMETHING in your audio system. Anyone who has fried an amp knows what I'm talking about. Gain should never be set at more than three-quarters up...if that. If it's not loud enough you probably need a bigger amp.

Sing it my SHO brother !!!

Couldn't of said it (or typed it) better myself.



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1992 TAURUS SHO
Sig Pic By SHOTIME (THX)
MORE INFO AND PICS

1988 T-bird Turbo Coupe
Needs lil' work. Soon-to-be drag car.
AIM ... fst92sho
FRAT'S PERFORMANCE.COM
Your One Stop Source For ALL Your Audio Needs

 

[185K89SHO]

Originally posted by RickieFrat:

Sing it my SHO brother !!!

Couldn't of said it (or typed it) better myself.

What is the purpose of gain anyway then?

 

[RickieFrat]

Speakers are like snowflakes. The "Gain" is for "fine tuning" of the speakers. You see .... some speakers handle different watts of power makeing the need for a gain. The system in a SHO is "tuned" from factory. Thats why there is no setting of the amps. It has been done for you already.

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1992 TAURUS SHO
Sig Pic By SHOTIME (THX)
MORE INFO AND PICS

1988 T-bird Turbo Coupe
Needs lil' work. Soon-to-be drag car.
AIM ... fst92sho
FRAT'S PERFORMANCE.COM
Your One Stop Source For ALL Your Audio Needs

 

[93SHOCOOL]

SHOtime93 if you do end up turning down the amp and you lose "loudness" make sure that you dont turn the head unit up too much b/c the signal that you think you are sending to make your subs sound better is also going to the factory speakers. If it happens in the end you do end up turning down your amp to compensate for the "headlight dimming" you should consider a remote bass control.

 

[LOUDSHO92]

You might also need to get a battery tap. For your amp you are probably running much better wire then the FOrd stuff. The tap will allow a better distributation of the power. I have 2 amps and a cap and my lights barely dim, it only dims when the gain is up.

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92 White SHO
HiRevs Stage Competion Clutch
SHOSHOP Engine Mounts
Koni Shocks
StrutTower Braces
UD Pullies
Awesome Sound System