Adding a battery vs buying a new alternator...

Since both subs are working at almost full potential, I am worried about the strain on my electrical system.

I am debating on weather or not to put a second battery in my trunk or buying a high performance alternator, what do you all think?

I'm not sure how strong our alterantors are...


1998 SL2
2x12" 500 watt RMS Alphasoniks
1800 watt max, 900 RMS, kenwood amp

Do your lights dim when the bass hits? Do you have a capacitor?

the lights only dim if i turn the stereo up too loud.

No I do not have a cap, everyone I've talked to that knows anything about car audio has told me they're worthless.

did you replace your big 3?

I'm afraid I don't knw what that is

the only purpose to putting a second battery in really is if you plan on using your ride as THE system at the usual overnight parties at the campground, and will put a WORSE strain on your alternator cuz it has to charge 2 batteries instead of one. An optima is all you will need in the battert dept.

i have never heard anything bad about caps, assuming the proper size is used and the rest of the electrical system is healthy

the big 3 are a think are the 3 main wires under the hood. look in the audio part in here. they say something about them

i am also confused about the "big 3" idea, can you explan moreso or provide a referance?

they make it so that if your headlight's dim then if you put in bigger wire inplace of them then usally it goes away/ people replace them if they have a overlyloud system. somewhere in the audio section they talk about replacing them but i forget where in there.

The big 3 is your under hood wiring. The positive cables on the battery, your grounding cables, your alternator cables. I think that's the right three anyway. All of those will help. As someone said, a second battery is just for using your system when the car is off for long periods of time. Capacitors are just a bigger strain on your electrical system, as they can only store electricity not create it. If you really want a cap, you need to do it after you have a bigger alternator and you electrical system is beefed up enough to handle it. But you don't want a capacitor. ;)