Killed Battery, need help with capacitor selection

[KevinG 10+ year member]

So I had purchased a new Interstate battery in November 2008 for my Acura RSX. I've only had my system in my car for 8 months. Here is my setup:

-nine.4,

-nine.1

-JL 10" W6.

-0 guage power wire

-distribution block with digital readout

-0 guage battery ground wire

-0 guage alternator power wire

-0 guage engine grounds

I never ran the stereo with the car's engine off. So I came out of work and just see dash lights flickering and no starter sound at all. Got a jump start and got it to the shop I bought the battery. Turns out the battery was done for and alternator was good on their tester.

Now with my old Buick that had a 2300x MTX amp pushing (2) 12" JL W3s, I would go through an alternator every year, after the 2nd or 3rd one, I installed a capacitor and my troubles were fixed.

I am going to install a capacitor and would like recommendations for digital vs. non digital. What are decent brands? Rockford Fosgate, Phoenix Gold, etc?

Click to read more...

 

[disturbed471985 5,000+ posts]

Get a bigger batt or add a second one. Caps are good for boat anchors and paper weights only.

 

[wickedwitt 10+ year member]

Get a bigger batt or add a second one. Caps are good for boat anchors and paper weights only.

Couldn't agree more. If the cap fixed your old setup, you were having resonance in your electrical. That's about all a cap will ever fix.

 

[Phoenix Risen 10+ year member]

a solid batt in back and upfront, then if things still dont keep up a H/O alt would be your next step

 

[CRXBMPN 5,000+ posts]

I've never had a problem with a battery or alt in my 02 RSX and I've been banging on it for the past 3+ years, curious what the problem may be.... and its a problem that follows you, not the car, first it happened in another car, now this one, that is odd being its the same symptoms.

 

[lionfamlee Premium Member]

I installed caps, but always recommend a 2nd battery or bigger battery. You can find several threads on why caps are not worth the money. If you think you saw/heard a difference when you added the cap; wait to see if you get a bigger battery or 2nd battery (deep cycle).

If you geet a deep cycle battery it will help (stinger, Deka, XS, etc). That interstate battery is not for rapid disharge and recharge like a deep cycle is. A car that has all stock equipment (including the stereo) has a steady flow of current that the stock battey and alternator can keep up with. When you add a system that pulls extra amps it causes the battery to be charged and disharged more and with greater variance.

 

[Cabin_Pressure 10+ year member]

A capacitor will not fix your problem. You have to have enough amperage to keep the battery charged or have a bigger reserve capacity..................a cap does neither.

 

[mast240 10+ year member]

i have to agree with everyone else here... caps arent worth anything... you could easily get a nice smaller sized battery for the back (kinetik hc800 for example), and that would help with the strain on your electrical.... as far as your other battery... i doubt it was your system that ultimately killed it, since your not really running insane power... prolly just a defective battery... it happens