Big 3 vs. Capacitor

[IBmikexxx 10+ year member]

It seems like people usually just focus on the big three. What are pro's and/or con's to a capacitor?

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[MakeshiftAudio 10+ year member]

You need a flux capacitor or two.

 

[Annnarbor84 5,000+ posts]

Cons are a capacitor is garbage, do the big three

 

[kfx450r 10+ year member]

Id say do both..but im doing a cap until im not too lazy to do big 3

 

[thegreatestpenn 5,000+ posts]

no real need for a cap, especially since another battery costs u just as much as a cap does and works much MUCH better. Do the big 3

 

[k_schutte 10+ year member]

pros: the high school kids will think you are cool

cons: they are a complete waste of money and anyone who actualy knows a thing about car audio will laugh at you...

the "Big 3" isn't hard, costs like 1/4 as much and actualy helps!

 

[thegreatestpenn 5,000+ posts]

I've got some 1/0ga. pieces that would be good for doing the big3 as well as one long piece that you can cut up yourself. if u need the wire PM me

 

[midnightg35x 10+ year member]

Why do people say a good cap and good battery cost the same? You can get a 2 farad cap, 20VDC/24V surge with

The big 3 DEFINITELY should be done before a cap, but capacitors have their place. People generally do use them as band aids and this is really why they get a bad name. If they are so terrible, why do they stuff as many as they can into the amps along with being in virtually every single electronic component in existence?

 

[Enellz 10+ year member]

Why do people say a good cap and good battery cost the same? You can get a 2 farad cap, 20VDC/24V surge with
The big 3 DEFINITELY should be done before a cap, but capacitors have their place. People generally do use them as band aids and this is really why they get a bad name. If they are so terrible, why do they stuff as many as they can into the amps along with being in virtually every single electronic component in existence?

LOL, but most people dont sell them or get them for THAT cheap. I seen a 1 farad Rockford for like 120. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

 

[x2o 10+ year member]

Why do people say a good cap and good battery cost the same? You can get a 2 farad cap, 20VDC/24V surge with
The big 3 DEFINITELY should be done before a cap, but capacitors have their place. People generally do use them as band aids and this is really why they get a bad name. If they are so terrible, why do they stuff as many as they can into the amps along with being in virtually every single electronic component in existence?

A capacitor used internally on a circuit is quite different then the external capacitors from what I've read...

But, as with everything, caps do have their proper place as you said.

 

[Proximity 10+ year member]

I would expect that caps in some cases will help with dimming. It's just marketing has made people use them not in the right circumstances.

 

[midnightg35x 10+ year member]

LOL, but most people dont sell them or get them for THAT cheap. I seen a 1 farad Rockford for like 120. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

Fair enough. If you are going to spend 120, then yes, go buy a battery. 120 seems way high for a 1 farad cap. Sounds like Monster Cable 50x price hike marketing there. Just a quick google search gives:

http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/Lanzar-1.9-farad-Power-Capacitor/3519150/product.html

http://www.allaudioexpo.com/nav/details.asp?itemid=3029&catid=105&tran=fgle

I feel much better about buying used caps vs used batteries also //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

A capacitor used internally on a circuit is quite different then the external capacitors from what I've read...

It is true they are different, I was just trying to get the point across that capacitors are not "evil" and are not completely worthless.

 

[creeps228 10+ year member]

i read somewhere that caps basically should be out of existence in the car audio wiring world. but shouldnt a cap be kinda accepted since its basically a backup battery that constantly charges????

 

[91Chevy 10+ year member]

Capacitors are very useful when used under the right circumstances. Dimming, however, is NOT a proper reason to use a capacitor. Capacitors just deal short bursts of power when needed. If you're dimming, your system isn't charging properly. Increasing the charge rate (Big 3) is the proper fix.

 

[on1wheel01 10+ year member]

^ yeppers they hold voltage for a second until the bass hits and drains them and has to stop hitting to regain a charge. Why would you rather buy a used cap than a batt. you can check the voltage of a used batt.