OK oK I know that everyone says NOT to run a cap but if i were, how should it be hooked up, step by step cause i have been told 4 or 5 different ways, does anyone know ?
there is nothing wrong with a cap if used for the right reason
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DIY Clear 03+ Headlights
Grimor wrote:there is nothing wrong with a cap if used for the right reason
ding ding ding....we have a winner...someone who sees through popular belief and knows his facts
You'll never touch God's hand
You'll never taste God's breath
Because you'll never see the second coming
Life's too short to be focused on insanity
I've seen the ways of God
I'll take the devil any day
Hail Satan
(slayer, skeleton christ, 2006)
I have mine set up like this connects to the battery + goes to the caps + then from the caps + to the amp. then ground is connected to the body to the cap then to the amp
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/827643
boost will be soon for me....
i was told to run power wire from battery to a distrobution block then from the block run one wire to the amp and other to the cap , ground cap to body and ground amp to a different spot on body
should be the same thing, as far as electricity is concerned
You'll never touch God's hand
You'll never taste God's breath
Because you'll never see the second coming
Life's too short to be focused on insanity
I've seen the ways of God
I'll take the devil any day
Hail Satan
(slayer, skeleton christ, 2006)
How many people here need it for the right reason though?
What is the wrong reason and why shouldn't a cap be used in a Cav?
If the average electrical load on your system exceeds the maximum output of your alternator then a cap will not help you (it doesn't make power). If you do not have a voltage dip during heavy bass hits then a cap will not help you (you don't have a problem)
If your voltage has short duration dips because your electrical system
momentarily exceeds the current output of your alternator and you don't have undersized wiring or bad connections, then a capacitor can help.
If you want one because you think they look cool and want to impress all your buddies that believe chrome tailpipe extensions add horsepower then get one (just make sure it says
APC on it)
Lanman31337 wrote:How many people here need it for the right reason though?
Less than the amount of people that have them, but their are some that benefit.
Labotomi wrote:If the average electrical load on your system exceeds the maximum output of your alternator then a cap will not help you (it doesn't make power). If you do not have a voltage dip during heavy bass hits then a cap will not help you (you don't have a problem)
If your voltage has short duration dips because your electrical system momentarily exceeds the current output of your alternator and you don't have undersized wiring or bad connections, then a capacitor can help.
If you want one because you think they look cool and want to impress all your buddies that believe chrome tailpipe extensions add horsepower then get one (just make sure it says APC on it)
Lanman31337 wrote:How many people here need it for the right reason though?
Less than the amount of people that have them, but their are some that benefit.
exactly right, thats exactly what a capacitor is for on any electrical system, when used like that. like my car for instance has slight dips, and after I get around to doing the big 3, if i still have a problem, im gonna look into a cap. but im saving it as a last resort because hey, lets be honest, if it still has a probelm enough to annoy me after that...well, i'll get rid of the system
You'll never touch God's hand
You'll never taste God's breath
Because you'll never see the second coming
Life's too short to be focused on insanity
I've seen the ways of God
I'll take the devil any day
Hail Satan
(slayer, skeleton christ, 2006)
Your Cap should as close as possible to the POL (Point of Load) generaly less than 6-8" is 'best'
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Causa latet vis est notissima
DIY Clear 03+ Headlights
Labotomi wrote:If you want one because you think they look cool and want to impress all your buddies that believe chrome tailpipe extensions add horsepower then get one (just make sure it says APC on it)
Mine is chrome and says audiobahn.
+ from battery terminal to the + on cap
+ on cap to your amplifier, or amplifiers (wire in parallel not series)
- on cap ground to car
- on amplifiers, ground to car.
I got mine because my headlights would dim when I had a heavy hit on the bass. Cap took care of the problem.
As said before if your exceeding the current your car can generate regularly a cap WILL NOT HELP. Its more of a medium point rather than adding a second battery.
-Chris
See here's the thing, if your electrical system is done right, you won't need your capacitor. There's a handful of us doing 4000+ watts rms with our systems, and not once have we needed caps. We have 0 gauge wire ( some of us multiple runs) and multiple batteries, as well as high output alternators. I'd much rather spend the 100 or whatever it is for a capacitor for something that's going to do the job right.
Lobatami - what you're saying is still wrong. If the system keeps drawing power from the electrical system that isn't there, you can't pull it from a capacitor. Your alternator is still going to cook over time.
Lanman31337 wrote:See here's the thing, if your electrical system is done right, you won't need your capacitor. There's a handful of us doing 4000+ watts rms with our systems, and not once have we needed caps. We have 0 gauge wire ( some of us multiple runs) and multiple batteries, as well as high output alternators. I'd much rather spend the 100 or whatever it is for a capacitor for something that's going to do the job right.
extra batteries, multiple runs of cable and high output alternators cost way more than a capacitor. And what defines "done right"? A capacitor can be a part of a correctly designed distribution system.
Lanman31337 wrote:Lobatami - what you're saying is still wrong. If the system keeps drawing power from the electrical system that isn't there, you can't pull it from a capacitor. Your alternator is still going to cook over time.
You'll have to be more specific about what I said that you think is wrong. I've re-read my comments and nothing that I stated is incorrect.
This type of system is identical to what we run at my job with the exception of the ratings. We have transformers rated at 130k amps (300v) and our load typically runs at 100k amps but can get as high as 150k amps for short bursts. We have huge capacitor banks to provide the buffer. I couldn't even tell you the capacitor bank ratings as it's not in farads, their rated in MVAR (mega volt amps reactive). We've been running like that 24 hours a day 7 days a week for over 10 years and haven't had any transformer problems because the system is designed to do exactly this.
I just love when people talk about caps that have no clue wtf they are talking about.
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Causa latet vis est notissima
DIY Clear 03+ Headlights
Oh Boy.... This one's getting messy. Well letme try and clear a little up. I don't claim to be an expert at this but I do have a fair bit of knowledge considering I've been doing car instals professionally for about 7 years now. A capacitor is used to HELP your electrical system. The long and short of it is this. You know those people running apparently 4000 Watts on a stock electrical system? Well when they blast thier tunes thier headlights probably dim (unless they have an outrageous battery and alternator set-up but for us folks using a stock system the cap is necessetated), that's because thier sysetm is putting a strain on thier electrical system and eating up too much power.
This is where a capacitor comes in. The capacitor acts like an electrical storage unit.
Energy is stored in the capacitor so that when you pump your tunes rather than draining your system and dimming your headlights, it draws power from the capacitor. Thus you can save putting some strain on your alternator and battery. As for hook up, check out the link below:
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/scripts/rightnow.cfg/php.exe/enduser/std_adp.php?p_sid=&p_lva=&p_faqid=50&p_created=952039877
When in doubt going to the experts who make the equipment is always a good idea. That link shows you how to hook up a single capacitor properly. You will have to read it a little bit rather than just look at the diagram but all the info is there.
I'm very curious as to why someone would say don't use a capacitor... What possible reason could there be to advise against one?...
Well hope this helps you out some.
^ Agreed ^ whoever says a cap is @!#$, is a total noob. A cap is great at delivering tons of current on demand, a battery... pfft, please. and to the guys doing 4000+ RMS
get real. those sony amps are trickin you. 4000 RMS when put together proporly would rip your head off in a daily driver. if you are doing multiple runs, remember, you're only as good as your weakest link, so CONNECTORS! they are always overlooked, get compression type ends, they are kinda expensive but why use the outer edges of your cable and not the whole thing, fuse holder too, compression type. you all switch your connections and see the difference, you'll thank me.
Firehazzard: Couldn't have said it better myself.
Yeah I know guys in competition who aren't running 4000 Watts.
I will tell ya 300 ALPINE watts are equivilent ot about 4000 SONY watts.
Or 1500 PPI Watts in my experience.
On another note: YES WIRE YOUR CAR PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME! spend the extra time and money and get it all done from the get go so your not ripping out wire.
Those of you using 8 or smaller gauge wire need to get with it. A good distribution system starts at least at 4 gauge. I'm running 300Watts RMS @ 2 Ohms with an alpine amp and subwoofer and when cranked it's enough to slightly dim my headlights. Caps are a god send!
lol, I wouldn't call lanman a noob and I'll bet there isn't any sony equipment in his setup.
Sorry anyone got teh wrong impression. Just making a generalized statement not trying to bash anyone or thier equipment. I know there are people out there with stereos much larger and more expensive than mine.
i need a capacitor because every light on my car nearly shuts off with my system. not sure what size cap. to get yet.
the general rule of thumb is 1 farad per 1000 watts but its different with every setup, if you have a really nice system doing 1500 watts or so, 2 or 3 farads can cut it most of the time, but if you want to get really dynamic bass and you are running it hard for long periods of time.... get the rockford 25 farad, I know this number seems ridiculous but its really not. you need the battery and alt to back it up but man, the thing is f*ckin amazing. and i know ppl will say this is excessive but in a SQ setup, you need power fast and lots of it.
