Capacitor or no?

[1BadHawk 10+ year member]

At what point do you know if you need to install a capacitor or not. Im upgrading my system (slowly) and am not sure if I'll need a capacitor or not.

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[Wonderbread 5,000+ posts]

really, they dont do a whole heack of a lot in most apps...

caps provide smalla mounts of power for VERY short periods of time..

many people will tell you to buy a cap if your lights dim, or if your electrical system is havinga rough time..

They're Wrong.

The only time a cap *MAY* be beneficial is if you ahve a properly functioning electrical system (IE - no major light dimming, no voltage drop etc) but your alternator cant quite keep up with the sudden demand for current taht your amps want for big bass hits...

you will see this when your ilights will dim slightly at the beginning of a note only, but brighten back up again after that intial burst...

a cap can help the alt. match the requirements of the amp, but should only be used in a properly functioning electrical system.

The single best way to upgrade your elec. system is a new or rewound alternator..

but again, only if you need it...

 

[excelonperu 10+ year member]

I agree with wonderbread, sometimes you have no option but rewind your alt, but If you still want to use a capacitor, Dor every 1000 watts RMS installed you have to use a 1 farad capacitor, and if you still have a small system and have about 500 RMS you will only need a 0.5 farad capacitor

 

[drkodin 10+ year member]

kinda on the same subject...

when i crank my system, louder than i ever listen to it, the interior lights start to dim. i never have problems at normal volumes. plus, i can turn all lights and all things on and the only thing that dims is interior, headlights never even fade.

so, does this even mean anything? like i said it only happens at volumes i never listen to, so i dont really car about it. it is just a question, i am curious if i am even straining my electrical system.

 

[Wonderbread 5,000+ posts]

youa re always going to stress your elec system as soon as you add a foreign current draw //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

but all that is, is when your map begins to push itself, it is drawing more current...

nota big issue, a Cap in your case, MAY help...

 

[mav2002 10+ year member]

Will a capacitor help me? I am getting the following 2 amps:

Phoenix Gold Tantrum 1200.1 (rated at 1400 watts)

Phoenix Gold Tantrum 600.4 (rated at 700 watts)

I was told I may need a 2 farad capacitor. With that much power, will it save my alternator and battery?

 

[Wonderbread 5,000+ posts]

noe, it will probably hurt your battery.

get your alternator reqound, thas your best bet.

 

[mav2002 10+ year member]

Originally posted by Wonderbread noe, it will probably hurt your battery.

get your alternator reqound, thas your best bet.

I'm sorry, I am totally new to all this....what does it mean to "get my alternator reqound?"

 

[chris229 10+ year member]

guys----- caps always help though the ways in which they help are misunderstood

A cap lowers the source impedance on the amps terminals

A cap acts as a buffer between the amp an the eletricial system

1--- smoothing the current demand to the alternator

2 --- filling demand to the amp during peaks

 

[bigbassman Premium Member]

if you have 20-50 farads of capacitence... may help.... anything less.. I'll let proof do the talking .. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

save your money..

Loyd L.

 

[chris229 10+ year member]

Originally posted by bigbassman if you have 20-50 farads of capacitence... may help.... anything less.. I'll let proof do the talking .. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

 

save your money..

 

Loyd L.

ummmmm if you knew anything about amps you'd know they aren't dummy loads------------------ the test is invalid
though the chart does show :

1------- the person who owns the charting scope doesn't understand caps and car amps

2-------- you don't either

3-------- if you are the one who owns the charting scope than it even worse because you blew alot of money on somehthing you don't know how to use

 

[chris229 10+ year member]

Or did someone just show you a link to that graph and tell you it was a valid test?//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif

hey---------- don't take it personal ---- we all learn something

 

[denim 5,000+ posts]

the general rule of thumb, is that you should have about 1 farad or capacitor per 1000 watts, I am a believer of capicators, they reduce strain on your cars electrical system during wattage peaks

 

[bigbassman Premium Member]

funny... richard clark always seemed pretty knowledgable to me..

that is his graph, taken directly from his site... Courses he's just a nobody right?

until you can show proof otherwise... I'll listen to him, and go by what I've learned, since they match..

and you're a prick.. major prick..

show me data that anything under the farad level I suggested does anything worthwhile.. I'm not talking about 1 farad on a 50 watt amp either... prove me wrong... And try not to come across so assholeish.. I may ponder what you say if you're somewhat mature..

Loyd L.

 

[bigbassman Premium Member]

while an long period timed test isn't exactly relevant, the FIRST SECOND is very relevant... see much of a help by the cap? Many many installs will have a 200 amp draw on hard bass passages... like I said.. the first second of this test tells all...

tell these guys to blow hard earned money on something worthless.... I sure as hell won't... There's much easier, and cheaper ways to help sustain voltage...

Loyd L.