Nead Help whit a Capacitor

[T.Jacobson]

Hi there people

I have been working on a stereo in my sons car for some time now. I have all the wiring done but ther's one thing I'm just lost with. The Capacitor. I have never had a big system i any of my cars. I have never had a sub but my boy thinks it's a must so who am I to say no.

I've got a 3.5 farad which has to be plenty for a 1200w amp running a 1400w sub. There will also be another 400w amp for the speakers but that's just going to be wired straight to the battery.

Now having no experience with this sort of thing all I have are assumptions and things I've read on the internet.

Nr#1 I read somwhere that you have to charge this thing before you use it. I asume that using a standard battery recharger will do just fine for that but what do I know.

Nr#2 I'm planning on using the - on the capacitor fore the amp like this (metal)____(cap.)______(amp) Is that Ok or do I have to connect the amp to ground spesificly?

Nr#3 A 3.5F Capacitor is holding up a lot of power. If the system ever had to be removed is there any danger of recieving electricity from the capacitor?

Click to read more...

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

Take out the cap, place it behind the rear tire of your car, and repeatedly continue to run it over. Thoroughly.

 

[Toone 10+ year member]

If you can still return the capacitor return it. You would most likely be fine off of stock electrical with that small amount of power. if your are having voltage issues a small battery in he rear or a bigger battery upfront will be more beneficial than a capacitor.

 

[T.I.K. 10+ year member]

Take out the cap, place it behind the rear tire of your car, and repeatedly continue to run it over. Thoroughly.

It ould probably work better as a speed bump than it would a device to keep your voltage from dropping anyway.

 

[psychoacoustics 10+ year member]

best thing you can do is not use the cap

its just as much of a load to the battery and alternator as the amplifier is without

when the amp needs current it drains the cap then the battery has to supply the amp and cap at the same time putting a higher load on the alternator

but if you insist using it

you charge it by putting a small flashlight battery in series with the + terminal when the bulbs goes out its charged

or connect it quick dont mind the spark its doing what the light bulb did just a lot quicker

connect all the grounds together wherever you are grounding the amp at and connect all the positives together

the cap is run in parallel with the battery not series

 

[Phoenix Risen 10+ year member]

i have to ask, what "1200 watt" amp and "1400 watt" sub are your running?

 

[T.Jacobson]

i have to ask, what "1200 watt" amp and "1400 watt" sub are your running?

I have a Poweracustik 2 chanel 1200W and some old Pioneer 12" sub.

And what's wrong whit capacitors? They do yust the same job as another battery *** far as I know

 

[subzero 5,000+ posts]

just get a second battery and upgrade your power wires. look up the big 3 and then look up how to install a second battery. That should help you out. Capacitors are not used by many because they cause extra strain on your charging system when they deplete.

 

[retrojordans 10+ year member]

If you can still return the capacitor return it. You would most likely be fine off of stock electrical with that small amount of power. if your are having voltage issues a small battery in he rear or a bigger battery upfront will be more beneficial than a capacitor.

Dude for all intents and purposes a cap is a battery, hello...I've seen 1,200 watts RMS dim the lights in a car and drain the battery real bad, and what the guy needed was a bigger alternator not a "small battery"...

When a vehicle is running it draws power from it's alternator, if the alternator can't keep up with current draw, the system will draw power from whatever else is closest in line, whether it's a battery or a capacitor.

If you can afford it go for an upgraded alternator so your system doesn't have to grasp at inferior forms of voltage e.g. batteries and capacitors..

A capacitor stores a solid 12v charge to compensate for any voltage drop from peaks in the music...If a capacitor is noticeably helping, you need to upgrade your alternator and every single wire in your system's gauge to accommodate the current draw...Car audio needs short, thick runs of heavy gauge wire to keep up with the heavy DC - AC current draws.

They use capacitors to power hybrid cars in some cases..But for your application, an upgraded alternator would be best, an alternator is the stoutest and most reliable/permanent power source for a vehicle..While the car is running, alternator = power.

 

[retrojordans 10+ year member]

just get a second battery and upgrade your power wires. look up the big 3 and then look up how to install a second battery. That should help you out. Capacitors are not used by many because they cause extra strain on your charging system when they deplete.

ROfl please don't type.

 

[Chriszle 10+ year member]

I also vote to return the capacitor. While an alternator upgrade is the best way to go, a second battery would cost less and be sufficient in my opinion (depending on what the stock altnernator output is). Also upgrading the big 3 under the hood, if you do not know what that is you can google search or I am sure it is posted somwhere on here as well. I would also suggest grounding both amplifiers to directly to the battery to prevent possible ground loops.

 

[Imtjnotu 5,000+ posts]

ALSO for future reference do not refer to a sub or amp with what it says on the item...its not a 1200watt amp at all...its probably a 400 rms amp always and i mean always refer to RMS

 

[Chriszle 10+ year member]

True, I didn't read the equipment listed. Most likely you will be just fine with stock electrical and big3 upgrade, unless you have like a 60 amp alternator. Also, reason most people do not use capacitors is right here: http://glasswolf.net/papers/nocaplesson.html . I could explain, but no need to take credit for someone elses hard work.

 

[A-hole]

ROfl please don't type.

maybe you shouldnt be typing...

http://www.caraudio.com/forums/general-discussion/494901-capacitors-wheres-proof.html

http://www.caraudio.com/forums/wiring-electrical-installation-help/502122-capacitor-volts-dropped.html

http://www.caraudio.com/forums/wiring-electrical-installation-help/152355-official-caraudio-com-big-3-thread.html

 

[Phoenix Risen 10+ year member]

this thread is full of fail, the amp the op is running will be lucky to ever put out 400 watts, which can be ran on a factory electrical system with out a problem, just scrap the cap and put the rest of the stuff in.