Do i really need a Capacitator?

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

ok, from what you guys told me, the majority says i really dont need a capacitor for my system. so ill be just fine without one, as long as i dont turn on my system when the engine is off correct?

you can do a big 3 upgrade for $30 which is better then any cap.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Also Don't play your system with you car off, not good to just drain the power from the battery.

That's where a deep cycle comes in handy //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

so ill be just fine without one, as long as i dont turn on my system when the engine is off correct?

Not exactly...when you play your system with the engine off, you're draining power from the battery. If it's a regular lead acid cell, you could kill it. If it's a deep cycle, no problem.

 

[B_Master_Flash 10+ year member]

Wow! I can't believe what I'm hearing...... A cap is totally necessary. A cap opposes negative voltage swings in your car. Example.... Your driving and you flip on your A/C or your headlights. That causes a change in the car's voltage right? Yes, a cap compensates for those voltage changes so your amp doesn't suffer and performs at what it's capable of despite these dips in voltage..That's the short answer. Your friend is wrong on why but you should get one.

Please tell me that's a joke. He's right about the cap not helping when the car is off, that's not what it's supposed to do. They're supposed to keep the voltage higher going to your amp, and they fail miserably

 

[deaf tones 10+ year member]

GEL CELL BATTERIES: (ex: optima yellow top)

that's so very true...and a regular battery dies for a reason though!!! (at about 9.5amps) gel/dry cell batteries keep going...and going...and going way past the threshold. What do you think will happen to your electrical system if you play it to saaayyyy 8 volts?!

It broke my heart to get rid of my yellow tops...but it did me good.

Don't even bother buying a gel cell...if you incist on listening to the system with the car parked, just start the car!!!

That's where a deep cycle comes in handy //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif


Not exactly...when you play your system with the engine off, you're draining power from the battery. If it's a regular lead acid cell, you could kill it. If it's a deep cycle, no problem.

caps CAN do more damage than good. If you empty the cap's reserve (which happens after a fraction of a second) then all you have is another drain on your hands...then not only will your amp starve for power your cap is starving for power too...and which is gonna get the power? The cap because it's first in line before the amp.

the only real good a cap can do for you is quick bursts...like at a comp when a fraction of a second burp is necessary. Also for snappier bass...it will get the power to the amp a fraction of a second faster than a battery will just from being closer.

Now if you already get a cap...1/4 farad or something...you CAN run it from your alt to your battery to eliminate ac ripple //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

bottom line...don't waste the money on the cap when it can be spent elsewhere (like a beefed up alt //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif )

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

the only real good a cap can do for you is quick bursts...like at a comp when a fraction of a second burp is necessary. Also for snappier bass...it will get the power to the amp a fraction of a second faster than a battery will just from being closer.

tell that one to the competitors. They hate them. Caps can eat up precious voltage that is needed to gain those tenths of a dB.

 

[deaf tones 10+ year member]

tell that one to the competitors. They hate them. Caps can eat up precious voltage that is needed to gain those tenths of a dB.

exactly...that's why I truly believe they are a waste of money. Richard Clark seems to love them for some odd reason though

hehehe I don't think this person who started this post realizes the can of worms they just opened //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

Richard Clark seems to love them for some odd reason though

Last I checked, he has a challenge out there for someone to prove that they actually do anything in a 12v enviorment.

 

[deaf tones 10+ year member]

Last I checked, he has a challenge out there for someone to prove that they actually do anything in a 12v enviorment.

*shrug* he's got all sorts of challenges...i don't keep track of trash talk anymore. Either way, we're on the same page of caps being basically worthless. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[outroku 10+ year member]

Pineapple - I've got a JL system. Last system I was running a 450/4 & ONE 1000/1. I tried a 5 farad cap & my lights & voltage still dimmed badly. I upgraded to a 15 farad Alumapro cap (about $400 new/$180 used) & I STILL had the same problems.

My new system consists of the same 450/4 & now TWO 1000/1s. An authorized Batcap dealer on eBay (ricktw) HIGHLY recommended ONE Batcap 800 per JL 1000/1. I found a sweet deal on 3 Batcap 800s. With 2450 watts (2000 of it for bass), the Batcap 800s work beautifully.

FYI - A Batcap 800 is about $175 new & is well worth it. A Batcap 800 is described as 70% battery & 30% capacitor. One should be all you need. Hook the Batcap 800 right before your 500/1's fuse. Search the want ads on this forum & carsound.com. Every now & then, you can find one that a sound competitor used for a show or two...usually for about $100-$140 plus shipping.

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

Pineapple - I've got a JL system. Last system I was running a 450/4 & ONE 1000/1. I tried a 5 farad cap & my lights & voltage still dimmed badly. I upgraded to a 15 farad Alumapro cap (about $400 new/$180 used) & I STILL had the same problems.
My new system consists of the same 450/4 & now TWO 1000/1s. An authorized Batcap dealer on eBay (ricktw) HIGHLY recommended ONE Batcap 800 per JL 1000/1. I found a sweet deal on 3 Batcap 800s. With 2450 watts (2000 of it for bass), the Batcap 800s work beautifully.

FYI - A Batcap 800 is about $175 new & is well worth it. A Batcap 800 is described as 70% battery & 30% capacitor. One should be all you need. Hook the Batcap 800 right before your 500/1's fuse. Search the want ads on this forum & carsound.com. Every now & then, you can find one that a sound competitor used for a show or two...usually for about $100-$140 plus shipping.

dude for the price of the batcap you can just buy a new HO alternator.

 

[rippinitup7 10+ year member]

i used to have a 1 farad cap wired up into my system just to the sub amp, but i honestly noticed no difference whats so ever. i sold it a couple weeks later. don't waste your time or money on one. a good battery, alternator, and wiring will get the job done right.