For all you stereo guru guys i've got an issue, that I think i resolve w/ getting a capacitor but want to get ya'll's opinion.... <BR> <BR>I've noticed since i've been doing alot more coving/partying, that my stereo at certain volume levels (not everytime and usually higher levels) will just cut out. I've heard that the receiver/head unit as a built in fail safe/protection in it, that if for whatever reason, it doesn't receive a full 12v signal, that it goes into protect mode to recover. Would this issue be resolved by adding a capacitor to regulate the power to the HU better? where would be the best place for the capacitor to sit??? <BR> <BR>Below is a drawing/diagram of how i believe i have things wired up: <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/488301.jpg" alt="Upload">

Cap's not gonna help, it's in the wrong place in the lineup...caps are for supplementing the draw from battery to amp when the amp asks for too much. If your HU is indeed the problem, and your batteries are all charged up (and staying that way), you might just want to try recalibrating the HU so that you're not turning it up as far...are you running and speakers off the HU at all? If not, see if the HU has a way to disable the internal amplifier entirely, I don't run anything off mine, but there's no way to disable it and it still heats up like a mother, which i hate...My next one will have a way to send the 5v RCA signal to external power only. <BR>At any rate, how's the HU tuned? Do you have it to where you can turn it all the way up? Typically this is the best way, but if your HU is starting to go, it might not like it much anymore... <BR>Check your batteries first though, make sure they're still holding power. If not, replace them both, and make the 2 new ones identical. Hope that helps a bit.

what size wire are you using?

Could be a couple different things. A cap would ONLY be used within 12" of wire of the sub amp. A caps purpose is to absorb the quick current draw when subs hit and acts as a buffer to help out the battery and alternator extending both of their lifespans. Your cutout problem could be your amps overheating, over powering(ie pushing more than what they actually can), or they could be pulling so much power from your battery that they are temporarely shutting off due to low voltage.

I definitely know that it's the head unit cutting out and not the amp's. Maybe it is the batteries thats causing the issues. <BR> <BR>Are their any other things to consider that might be causing these issues??

I've seen quite a few systems wired from teh factory with 6-8 deck speakers wired directly into the HU, this will cause the HU to shut down once a certain volume is reached, but your problem stems from not enough battery capacity. The solution to your problem is to start adding batteries. You cna only play yrou stereo for so long on 1/2 batteries before everything starts shutting down.

There are only 2 speakers being ran off the HU. Those are the ones in the VIP area (aka..the bow), everything else is ran off amp's. <BR> <BR>I actually tried charging the batteries the other night w/ my buddies 6 Amp charger. I let it charge one of the 2 batteries over night and it maybe charged it less than half of where the battery charger indicator had started. <BR> <BR>I suppose a nice long day of riding will charge them back up, as long as the batteries themselves aren't bad. <BR> <BR>What size battery charger do you guys recommend?

Defintely haev yoru battery's checked first...any auto parts store can do this or you can test with a meter. <BR> <BR>I use a small 2 amp battery tender, as well as a larger 7 amp battery tender. both use a 4 stage charging process.