How Much Capacitance Do I Need?

[ugmoe2000 10+ year member]

I know I know a cap. is only a temp. fix and also a drain on the system however I want to have this in place until I can afford a new HO alternator. How many farads do I need, is it based on the amp's RMS output or Max Power I know it's 1 farad for every 1000watts but i don't know the kind of wattage they were refereing to.

I have a total of 2000 watts RMS and 3000 watts Max if that helps

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[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Are you getting significant dimming in your lights?

 

[Savstyle 10+ year member]

do the big 3 save the money u would spend and a cap and get an HO alt sooner. what kinda amp are you running?

 

[SSS 18734 5,000+ posts]

I honestly wouldn't even bother... A 2 farad cap is gonna cost you, so just save up till you get a HO alternator and don't stress your electrical system for the time being.

 

[ugmoe2000 10+ year member]

I want to run RE's new 12.1 and power acoustik has a 3 farad cap available on ebay shipped for $83...

Refresh me on how the big 3 will help.. if overall my alt. can't handle it?

 

[AznRevlAzn 10+ year member]

what kind of stock alt do you have? what battery?

 

[ugmoe2000 10+ year member]

Stock Battery... Not sure the CCA and all that... I'll have to check it when I get home in a bit and add an edit... As far as the alt. a 136 amp stock nippen-denso alt. came stock on my 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

 

[zachzchw 5,000+ posts]

So you dont even have anything installed yet? Dont waste your money on a cap until you find out if you even need it.... And where did you get the 2000 rms, 3000 peak at?

 

[DrtySthV6SE 10+ year member]

dude if you have a ~140 amp alt just upgrade your battery to optima, stinger, rockford and do the big three and you should be fine

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

i might be able to get you hooked up on a battery

 

[djman37 5,000+ posts]

x2 on the big 3 AFTER install first.

don't wanna hijack, but what kind of batt?

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

kinetik

 

[00GREENMACHINE 10+ year member]

why does every one and there mother think they NEED a HO alternator?? Are you going to be running comps or filling the back of your Jeep with a wall? They are starting to be as popular as caps are? ( shakes his head ) I just dont understand.

My last setup was a 2000 honda accord sedan with factory battary, who know the amps on the alternator probably 80-100 amps, a rf bd 1000.1 and power 750x, rf hx 2 15 and dual 4 gauge powers and grounds, and never had a dimming problem or electrical drain. I think you will be fine with just 1 re amp.

Do the big three, get a red or a yellow top and be done!

 

[ugmoe2000 10+ year member]

Well got the CCA on the stock battery 625.... lower than I thought

I'm also upgrading the amp I have powering my components from a Rockford Fosgate Punch 501x to a new Power Acoustik Plasma Series that puts out 100watts rms X 4 @4 ohms. So over all I will be drawing the 1200-1500 watts for the RE amp, and another 400-500 watts for the Power Acoustik amp bringing the RMS total to approx. 2000... taking into account the max outputs on each the total max is approx 3000 watts.

I'm beginning to lean toward waiting on the HO alt. and a cap, I won't have the money for a new alt. initially anyway... I'll upgrade the Big 3 first from the stock (what looks to be about) 6 gauge to 1/0 gauge and see how that flies. I've already got that Rockford Fosgate amp installed /w a .5 farad cap from monster and the lights dim a bit as it is.... that amp puts out 65 watts rms X4 @4 ohm. Hence my concern already.

I've done a ton of reading up on the Big 3 recently to see if there's much merit in the upgrade and I must say a lot of it makes sense... for those of you who may not know what they are like I didn't I'm posting the most informative link for me: http://forum.sounddomain.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=007801

I'm also interested in that battery, drop me a pm /w more info.

Also if anybody is interested in a used Rockford Fosgate Punch 501x drop me a pm.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

id keep the rf over the pa amp rf amps are underated and alot of pa amps are overated