Exactly what does a capacitor do

[Foote 10+ year member]

anybody?

Click to read more...

 

[SSS 18734 5,000+ posts]

search!

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Think of someone pouring in buckets of water in a pool at varying intervals, and a drain plug on the bottom letting the water flow out at a constant rate. That's a really simple example, but it's the basic theory that's involved...there are a huge variety out there, from electrolytic (the kind you see being peddled as "power stiffening caps") to ceramic discs to tantalums to many others.

http://class.phys.psu.edu/212Labs/05_Capacitance/How_Capacitors_Work.pdf

Have fun!

and the first idiot to come on here and say that "but caps dont work!!1" is getting e-slapped.

 

[Foote 10+ year member]

i read the "debates" threads on capacitors being worthless or not. From what I can gather they are good to add if ur having battery problems, bad to add if its Altenator problems. I guess cuz it adds tug on the altenator.

PS: What is the "big 3 Upgrade"?

 

[SSS 18734 5,000+ posts]

search again! basically it is upgrading the factory wiring between your battery, alternator, and chassis so that your electrical system runs more efficiently

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

i read the "debates" threads on capacitors being worthless or not. From what I can gather they are good to add if ur having battery problems, bad to add if its Altenator problems.

Don't really know what you mean by that, and I wouldn't say it's correct at all. All these sort of questions come up because of one fundamental problem - insufficient current being supplied by the charging system, and the voltage drop inherent in that.

PS: What is the "big 3 Upgrade"?

Now for that, you're going to have to search.

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

and the first idiot to come on here and say that "but caps dont work!!!" is getting e-slapped.

*raises e-slapping shield*

I won't say they don't work. That argument simply isn't worth having. I will say that the purchase price one might spend on acquiring a capacitor would be much better spent upgrading the 'Big 3' underhood and possibly investing in an alternator upgrade/rebuild or buying an HO replacement. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Foote 10+ year member]

ya all i got was it had something to do with changign wiring, and im not messin with that crap. How does it not make sense? Cap. discharges when battery cant supply power, giving it time to charge up without goin through deep cycle....but to power the cap puts more tug on the altenator.....how is that..not....obvious?

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

but if you DONT have an adequate electrical system, a cap eill be pointless rite? cuz its an xtra load on the alt/battery.

 

[Foote 10+ year member]

i dont see it as in extra load on the battery, i see it as help for the battery, but a little tug for the altenator...

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

How does it not make sense? Cap. discharges when battery cant supply power, giving it time to charge up without goin through deep cycle....but to power the cap puts more tug on the altenator.....how is that..not....obvious?

"Giving it time to charge up"...ever discharge an electrolytic cap before? Do you have any idea how fast they discharge to a zero voltage state //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Electrolytic capacitors used for "power stiffening" in a 12VDC electrical system is pointless. Capacitors themselves, as an electrical component, are used in pretty much every electrical circuit out there. So they work //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[Moe Lester 10+ year member]

pshhhh it capacitates, thats what it does.

 

[Foote 10+ year member]

1/10th of a second? Any idea how long a bass hit last?

 

[SSS 18734 5,000+ posts]

pshhhh it capacitates, thats what it does.

capacitate

v 1: make legally capable or qualify in law 2: cause (spermatozoa) to undergo the physical changes necessary to fertilize an egg 3: make capable; "This instruction capacitates us to understand the problem"

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

oh yea your rite about that batt thing foote.