Capacitors

[spoonraker 10+ year member]

Ok I know what a capacitor is. But what is it's role specifically in car audio, and what exactly does using a capacitor do to your system? Are lower or higher fahrad ratings better?

I'm just asking because I know somebody selling a 1 Fahrad capacitor.

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[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/search.php?searchid=1555824

 

[bibby 5,000+ posts]

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=152355&highlight=cap+capacitor

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

this question has been asked numerous times. a search with the keyword capacitor would've yielded more results then you could even read in 1 day, but i digress.

basically a stiffening capacitor is used to supply your amp with current. it stores up current to realese at a split-second and only for a split-second. it draws on your electrical system to store this power, and what makes it usefull, is on some heavy bass notes, the alternator maybe slow in delivering that extra current to the amp, when the amp needs that extra to produce that note. the cap however can reales that current rapidly and fill in that split second gap so your amp doesn't miss a beat. a cap should only be added to an adequate electrical system. meaning a big enough alternator, big 3 upgrade (read sticky in wire forum) and use proper wire size for your amps. most companies market these as a way to fix bad electrical systems wich is untrue and may actually harm your weak electrical system