| Author |
Thread: Car Audio Capacitor |
    
New member Username: Krafty1224
Post Number: 1
Registered: Jan-08
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 11:48 am: |
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Hi,
Just wondering if you could give me detailed directions on how to wire and charge a capacitor. I have a Kicker 750 watt amp running one 12 inch L5 and I have a 1999 honda accord. I would like to hook up either a 2 or 5 fared cap. I have been looking around on the net on how to hook it up and can not figure it out. Help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Dan |
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Bronze Member Username: Waresgaragestereo
Fort Valley,
GA
United States
Post Number: 71
Registered: Jan-08
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 11:59 am: |
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Why do you need a 5 farad capicator for a 750 watt amp? Don't het me wrong, its your car, you do what you want, but i would use one in the event of running 2 or more amps. IMO |
New member Username: Krafty1224
Post Number: 2
Registered: Jan-08
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 01:21 pm: |
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so you dont think i even need a cap? the headlights only dim when its up almost full volume. I just wanted to prevent damage to the alternator further down the road... it is my first system and i was told by a few people that it might be a good idea. |
Gold Member Username: Bnd_rulez
Phoenix,
AZ
USA
Post Number: 1280
Registered: Mar-05
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 03:37 pm: |
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Don't get a crapacitor. How bad is the dimming? Slight? Noticable? Very noticable?
Caps are a bandaid. If you you're going to do it right, get a HO Alt. |
Gold Member Username: Nd4spd18
Northwest PA
Post Number: 5781
Registered: Jul-06
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 03:38 pm: |
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" i would use one in the event of running 2 or more amps. "
What?????????
A capacitor is not going to help with dimming lights or anything else, no matter have many amps you have. If your voltage is dropping below 12 volts, you need an HO alternator. If it doesn't your fine. |
Bronze Member Username: Waresgaragestereo
Fort Valley,
GA
United States
Post Number: 73
Registered: Jan-08
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 09:31 pm: |
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Dan,
M.S is right, a cap won't help with dimming lights. "If your voltage is dropping below 12 volts, you need an HO alternator. If it doesn't your fine." This is true. A 750 Watt amp shouldn't make the lights dim. I have a nephue that has a 1200 Watt compatition amp and his lights dim a little. No cap. if the lights dim noticeably, get a ho alt like M.S was saying |
New member Username: Krafty1224
Post Number: 3
Registered: Jan-08
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 11:14 pm: |
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they dont dim noticeably, and whats at HO alternator?
and how do i find out the output of my alternator now its a 1999 honda accord 5 speed...
also how do i know if my voltage is dropping below 12 volts |
Gold Member Username: Nd4spd18
Northwest PA
Post Number: 5808
Registered: Jul-06
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| Posted on Sunday, January 27, 2008 - 01:05 am: |
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To find out you would have to put a DMM on the battery.
HO = high output alternator. Supplies more power than a stock one.
For a 750 amp though, the stock alt is probably fine. |
Bronze Member Username: Waresgaragestereo
Fort Valley,
GA
United States
Post Number: 77
Registered: Jan-08
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| Posted on Sunday, January 27, 2008 - 09:24 am: |
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use a voltmeter on the batt. pos from meter to pos on batt, neg on meter to neg on bat. set the meter to 12V abd run the car and the system. the reading on the meter will tell you your voltage. when you do thia, everything thats on when the lights dim should be on during this test. IMO |
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Silver Member Username: Shak180
Hayward,
California
Usa
Post Number: 142
Registered: Jul-07
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| Posted on Monday, January 28, 2008 - 10:42 am: |
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M.S what if your voltage is not dropping below 12 volts but you still have dimming lights, what should you do then?
my voltage while im driving peaks at around 14.2volts with the music off
when i have the sub up to the level i like it usually drops to the lowest i have seen 13.7volts |
Gold Member Username: Bnd_rulez
Phoenix,
AZ
USA
Post Number: 1308
Registered: Mar-05
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| Posted on Monday, January 28, 2008 - 10:49 am: |
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You're fine, that is well within reason. If you want more power, get a HO alt. |
Gold Member Username: Bnd_rulez
Phoenix,
AZ
USA
Post Number: 1309
Registered: Mar-05
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| Posted on Monday, January 28, 2008 - 10:50 am: |
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Sorry I'm not MS though. |
Gold Member Username: Nd4spd18
Northwest PA
Post Number: 5843
Registered: Jul-06
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| Posted on Monday, January 28, 2008 - 01:10 pm: |
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Haha but you said exactly what I would have......
If 13.x volts is the lowest drop you get, your electrical system is probably fine. There will always be some amount of voltage drop you can't eliminate, it happens b/c the voltage regulator doesn't respond to sudden current draw by the amp quickly enough. That's not an electrical problem, just the way it is sometimes. |
New member Username: Krafty1224
Post Number: 4
Registered: Jan-08
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| Posted on Monday, January 28, 2008 - 03:16 pm: |
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so overall... i dont even need a cap? because it would save me a couple hundred dollars... and even if in three years i need to replace the alternator isnt that only about 200 to replace? |
Gold Member Username: Bnd_rulez
Phoenix,
AZ
USA
Post Number: 1312
Registered: Mar-05
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| Posted on Monday, January 28, 2008 - 03:54 pm: |
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No. Maybe upgrade the battery but you are kosher. And if you want to get a bigger alt down the road, they're only like $200. |
New member Username: Krafty1224
Post Number: 5
Registered: Jan-08
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| Posted on Monday, January 28, 2008 - 06:14 pm: |
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i am kosher? |
Gold Member Username: Th3pwn3r
Post Number:...
Post Number: 6658
Registered: Jul-06
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| Posted on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 - 08:49 am: |
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It's a jewish thing. |
Gold Member Username: Bnd_rulez
Phoenix,
AZ
USA
Post Number: 1319
Registered: Mar-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 - 09:55 am: |
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It just mean "all good" in Lehmans terms. |
Silver Member Username: Durski
Post Number: 235
Registered: Nov-06
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| Posted on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 - 10:11 am: |
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the HO alt is way more expensive than a cap from what I've seen.
"There will always be some amount of voltage drop you can't eliminate, it happens b/c the voltage regulator doesn't respond to sudden current draw by the amp quickly enough. "
Would a cap not respond fast enough ? just wondering |
Gold Member Username: Th3pwn3r
Post Number:...
Post Number: 6672
Registered: Jul-06
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| Posted on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 - 10:38 am: |
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If that cap is storing enough power it MIGHT supply the current fast enough. Ask Polo about this, he gets no voltage drop at all. He is running a 16volt system though. |
