Stereo Install...

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MatthewDavid

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Alright boys... I'm planning this summer to finally put a system in my 97' Mark Viii... I'm looking at getting a deck of course... probably something with a USB connection... I got some polk speakers... a Alpine amp for the front and rear speakers... and hopefully a sub with another amp... my ??'s are...

what wiring harness do I need to order?... I'm gettin the HU from Crutchfield... they're a little more expensive but I like their service... but they don't list our car on there so just incase they don't know I'd like to have the info... also will any double din bezel fit?

nother ??... do you think I'll have to upgrade the alternator?... I'm not goin for earth shattering bass... but don't know much about the stock one... might not be enough power

last ??... when is it gonna stop snowing here?!?!?!!?... it's gettin kinda crazy :)
 
I'm running a Pioneer Headunit with Pioneer Premiere Speakers all around and 2 12's powered by a Hifonics 1200w Amp and I didn't need to upgrade the alternator.
 
that's cool... I've just installed stereos in little honda's and a couple newer chevy's... their alternators always whine afterward... I figured it would be powerful enough since there's so much electronics in our cars... I'm planning on just running a single 10... hopefully a infinity perfect 10 and a 500W amp... and the alpine amp I got is I think 600 x 2/3/4 so I don't think it's gonna be that much of a draw
 
I don't think I'll need a cap... but I was thinking of upgrading the battery sometime to a better one... do you guys have any suggestions on that?... are the optima batteries really as good as they say?... I've always been an Interstate kinda guy
 
Caps are worthless, a waste of money. Improve the grounds of your car. Do the "big 3" upgrade. That will be all you need.

Just get a regular battery from advance auto (or whatever auto parts store you use). Optimas are only good for specific uses, and as the primary (or only) battery in a car is not one of those uses. Do NOT buy optima. I used them, and will never use them again.

The instances in which their design is a good mathc, there are much better brands out there then optima.
 
Thanks... yeah caps are pretty much worthless unless you're tryin to push a couple thousand watts... which I have no aspiration to do... do you have any good ideas for a battery?... I have no idea how old mine is... is there a way to test it? or revitalize it?... back home people drop aspirin and all kinds of wierd stuff into them... to get them a little stronger durring the winter...
 
Matthew

You might look into a Batcap, I've been running one for three years now and never had a problem.

A Batcap is essentially what it sounds like, it's the best of both worlds, it's a battery and a capacitor all in one. These are designed to hold a charge as well as re-charged and dump a charge quickly when it's needed.

Capacitors are good for short bursts of energy but drain quickly and don't have time to recharge under heavy loads.

Batteries can hold larger charges but once drained, take a long time to recharge. Which is why most people fry their alternators, the stock alternator is not intended to run extra accessories nor is it intended to recharge the battery. The alternator is there to maintain the charge on the battery and run the components when the engine is running.

I have the Batcap 400 Model, I once pulled the inline fuse from the main battery, when I took the car to the shop one day. I picked the car up but forgot to put the fuse back in, I ran my stereo for almost 9 hours off and on, before the Batcap couldn't power the amp any longer. I was quite impressed with it, I must say. I'm running a 500 Watt Mono Memphis Amp, powering a 12" DVC Diamond Audio Sub.

Check it out!

http://www.batcap.net/
 
MatthewDavid said:
Thanks... yeah caps are pretty much worthless unless you're tryin to push a couple thousand watts... which I have no aspiration to do... do you have any good ideas for a battery?... I have no idea how old mine is... is there a way to test it? or revitalize it?... back home people drop aspirin and all kinds of wierd stuff into them... to get them a little stronger durring the winter...
Click to expand...

I have an autocraft titanium from advance auto and have had no problems. My system is pushing around 700-800 watts continuous (so double that for max) and I have had no problems whatsoever. However, I replaced all my battery cables with car audio grade cable; the biggest I could fit (mostly 4 and 1 gauge. I also added an extra cable goin straight from the alternator to the positive on the battery (fused of course).

Here is a great thread on another message board on what to do:

http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp~TID~73496~PN~1

Capacitors, even when you are pushing thousands of watts, are worthless and a waste of money. Invest in a bigger alternator. There is much debate in the car audio world on this subject. I have yet to find someone advocating capacitors who didn't consistently talk well beyond their knowledge (talk out their @$$). All the experts (people who know what they are talking about) say it is a gimmic and a waste of money. Here is another great thread on this issue.

http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp~TID~92539~PN~1

Optima is way overrated.
 
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