Caps and Farads explained

[Ignatowski 5,000+ posts]

I have a cap,I use it for a paper weight in my garage

 

[Intercooler 10+ year member]

If it is just a huge coil that stores energy I can see how they can be helpfull. In fact if you have a REALLY BIG ONE it seems like it would help even more but I don't know for sure. Got to be better than just running off the battery!

 

[bikejunkie223 10+ year member]

I have a cap,I use it for a paper weight in my garage

Then give it to me man.I'll use the hell out of it.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Wouldn't you have to measure pre and post to determine? I could have 13.5v going to the cap and on big bass it is measuring 11v on the downstream side but still have 13.5v on the upstream side. Where does the digital readout give it's reading from?

Sorry, caps don't work that way. The cap can not add voltage to the system.

If your electrical system drops to 11V, then the cap will likewise be at 11V for both input and output.

The "purpose" of a cap is to discharge relatively small amounts of current during brief transients where the battery may not be able to response fast enough to the current demand (we're talking milliseconds here). So, the cap is there to *aid* the electrical system during strong, brief musical peaks where it is supposed to be able to discharge current faster than the electrical system can respond.

However, if you have a weak electrical system, a cap is only going to make matters worse.

Long story short; A capacitor should compliment a strong electrical system, and is not a band-aid for a weak one. If you are having voltage problems, upgrade the alternator, battery, or both. Once that's done and you have a strong enough electrical system to handle your stereo, if you want to add a cap for shits and giggles, go for it.

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

Sorry, caps don't work that way. The cap can not add voltage to the system.
If your electrical system drops to 11V, then the cap will likewise be at 11V for both input and output.

The "purpose" of a cap is to discharge relatively small amounts of current during brief transients where the battery may not be able to response fast enough to the current demand (we're talking milliseconds here). So, the cap is there to *aid* the electrical system during strong, brief musical peaks where it is supposed to be able to discharge current faster than the electrical system can respond.

However, if you have a weak electrical system, a cap is only going to make matters worse.

Long story short; A capacitor should compliment a strong electrical system, and is not a band-aid for a weak one. If you are having voltage problems, upgrade the alternator, battery, or both. Once that's done and you have a strong enough electrical system to handle your stereo, if you want to add a cap for shits and giggles, go for it.

said it a lot better then i could //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif imo if you must have one for those big bass notes then i don't see why you need something over 1 farad.

 

[Intercooler 10+ year member]

This is pretty good info for me. I always thought of them as a reserve of power or like having extra batteries:

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/capacitor1.htm

http://www.bcae1.com/capacitr.htm

So in my case it is more the alternator then? I only get a flicker which I was told is just due to the alternator regulator not being able to react quickly enough rather than it not supplying enough output power.

Guess I need to research a kick-*** alternator to upgrade too.

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

This is pretty good info for me. I always thought of them as a reserve of power or like having extra batteries:
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/capacitor1.htm

http://www.bcae1.com/capacitr.htm

So in my case it is more the alternator then? I only get a flicker which I was told is just due to the alternator regulator not being able to react quickly enough rather than it not supplying enough output power.

Guess I need to research a kick-*** alternator to upgrade too.

do you know what the big 3 is?

 

[Goldenknob 10+ year member]

I have a cap,I use it for a paper weight in my garage

why don't you just sell it then?

 

[Intercooler 10+ year member]

do you know what the big 3 is?

I hear it mentioned but not too sure. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/up2something.gif.dd110ecf3ae4b76050d87598f2f8de7c.gif

 

[///M5 10+ year member]

Ya you need to do it ASAP, solves 90% of all problems. Basically your Alt can't get juice to your battery or it is pretty much a dead alt (doubtful)

As for CAPS, you can think of them like rechargeable batteries that discharge really fast and charge really fast with almost no storage. i.e. I would rather have another car battery, but your problem will be gone with the big 3 (and it is way cheaper than the cap).

 

[Intercooler 10+ year member]

Ya you need to do it ASAP, solves 90% of all problems. Basically your Alt can't get juice to your battery or it is pretty much a dead alt (doubtful)
As for CAPS, you can think of them like rechargeable batteries that discharge really fast and charge really fast with almost no storage. i.e. I would rather have another car battery, but your problem will be gone with the big 3 (and it is way cheaper than the cap).

So what is it? I probably already have it done.

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

I have a cap....currently placed above patio door should my neighbors cat feel like sneaking in...