check capacitor working?

[kicker10L7mark]

G'day guys, just installed a 1F cap and was wondering how to check if its actually working. I dont have any LED lights or LCD display screen.

cheers

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[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

caps don't work period

 

[cjjackson85 5,000+ posts]

Lick both +/- terminals with your tongue... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

 

[cjjackson85 5,000+ posts]

caps don't work period

Not necessarily...

 

[hoss 5,000+ posts]

Not necessarily...

x2...

however, they do not work for solving voltage issues. but they are handy in crossovers, amps, as well as other electronics in which they were designed to //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

but as i said, with voltage issues, they are pretty useless.

 

[cjjackson85 5,000+ posts]

they do not work for solving voltage issues... but as i said, with voltage issues, they are pretty useless.

That's also inaccurate... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/thumbsdown.gif.d22f25895e9b40f2300c953691dacfa2.gif

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

x2...
however, they do not work for solving voltage issues. but they are handy in crossovers, amps, as well as other electronics in which they were designed to //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

but as i said, with voltage issues, they are pretty useless.

i was going by the numbers. about 98% of the car audio population uses them to solve a weak electrical system. even if used correctly are they really worth $60-100?

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

That's also inaccurate... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/thumbsdown.gif.d22f25895e9b40f2300c953691dacfa2.gif

how as that innaccurate? don't you ever open an amp and see tiny capacitors inside?

 

[cjjackson85 5,000+ posts]

I meant the other part of his post... Fixed the quote, just for you!

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

I meant the other part of his post... Fixed the quote, just for you!

do explain how they solve voltage issues.

 

[creater 10+ year member]

i was going by the numbers. about 98% of the car audio population uses them to solve a weak electrical system. even if used correctly are they really worth $60-100?

oh really //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/uhoh.gif.c07307dd22ee7e63e22fc8e9c614d1fd.gif

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

oh really //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/uhoh.gif.c07307dd22ee7e63e22fc8e9c614d1fd.gif

what the hell does that statement mean?

 

[mason_msw 10+ year member]

Ah boy a see a *****fest arising...

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

Ah boy a see a *****fest arising...

i'm just trying to get explanations. people say oh yea, not really but then no explanantion. how will a cap solve voltage issues when it is adding another strain on your electrical system by storing up current that can be discharged at a split second but then has too recharge again so how can that help a bad electrical system?

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

i'm just trying to get explanations. people say oh yea, not really but then no explanantion. how will a cap solve voltage issues when it is adding another strain on your electrical system by storing up current that can be discharged at a split second but then has too recharge again so how can that help a bad electrical system?

How 'bout this, iceteebone...

I won a Stinger 1 farad monitor-top capacitor in a local raffle. I reckon it's a pretty nice one as far as caps go (though I'm certainly no expert on capacitors) Monitor-top, self-charging (no charging card or bulb needed) blue LED voltage readout, more blue LEDs on each side that cycle flash in one direction or the other dependant on whether current is being drawn out of the cap or being sucked into it as it recharges, and a blue neon ring encircling the entire monitor top. To be honest that probably has absolutely zero to do with its level of quality ~ just makes it more flashy than a plain jane version. I installed it (A) 'cause it looks pretty cool and (B) I wanted to see for myself if there was any real-world advantage to their usage.

Making an A/B comparo testing voltage with my DMM at the battery and at the power terminals on my monoblock with the stereo at a moderate volume level and then again somewhere approaching wide-open I noticed a variance of less than .02vdc comparing amp voltage at the power terminals without the cap inline and then again with it. I ended up uninstalling it to reclaim some trunk space in what was an already overly crowded trunk to begin with. It didn't look that cool!

Average retail price on this particular cap (model # SC201MNC) ran somewhere around $150, retailer dependant.

With such a minimal (read that as inaudible) voltage difference I can't justify suggesting to anyone that they should purchase one. Especially if that purchase is intended to stave off under-voltage problems. That $$$, IMO, would be better off spent upgrading the Big 3 with enough scratch left for dinner and a few DVD rentals.

Just my $0.02 based on personal experience.