I have a 2003 Sedan 5AT with a JL500.1 running a 12W6 in a JL HO box. The high end is ran by a JL JX360 (Alpine 6.5 w/ tweets up front and 5.25 coaxials rear). Pretty much since I installed the setup last year when I realy turn it up my tranny surges. I do not get dash or headlight dimming but my tach drops several hundred rpms at idle. I upgraded the battery to an Optima red top and installed a sentientbydesign 9 wire grounding kit (includes a tranny ground) and I still get the surging. I know that JL amps are pretty power hungry but this is ridiculous.

I feel that capacitors are essentially useless for fixing this kind of problem as they are very quick to discharge. So my question is what is next? HO Alternator? Second battery? Sell the system and start acting my age? (lol, thats my wife's suggestion).

Edit: 4 gauge power to the trunk, spits into a 4 gauge to the 500.1 and an 8 gauge to the JX360. 50A inline fuse under the hood that I have not blown once since the install.

Thanks!

 

Probably a higher amp alternator.

 

4 gauge isn't enough for ~900w at that distance.

I've run 1/0 gauge which splits into 4 gauge at the trunk on both my 6MT and 5AT and have had no issues with shift feel, RPM drop or dimming. Optima Red Top in the 5AT and yellow top in the 6MT. Both cars are running a 500w amp for a sub and 300w for the components up front. I've done no ground wire or the "Big 3" yet either.

 

OK. That's a cheaper fix than an alternator or second battery. I'll give it a shot. Thanks for your input!