what does a capacitor do for you

[drowndindreams]

i'm thinking of buying one.

i hear since it stores energy the subs hit cleaner and what not,

what are the advatages?

also plan on going ahead with the big 3

 

[TahoeJim]

i'm thinking of buying one.

i hear since it stores energy the subs hit cleaner and what not,

what are the advatages?

also plan on going ahead with the big 3

It does just that....it charges up and dumps energy to the amps quicker (typically) than just a battery. It can "react" quicker than your battery in a sense.

Now if your system drains the capacitor too quickly and it can't recover before the next big drain is placed upon it, you're in the same boat as not having one.

Do you need one, depends on a lot of other factors including amperage draw of your amplifiers, wiring, battery and alternator capacity.

When we first started playing with them in 1988 it was out of necessity, we used commercial grade capacitors in banks. Without them, alternators/batteries of the day would simply....fail. Driving at night on the freeway, put in something like Pink Floyd "Run Like Hell" and you'd watch your headlights dim, dim, dim, and then effectively go out..and warning lights come on everywhere.

 

[titanium02]

Caps are a must for anything over 500 watts total. 1-5 Farad (that's both your sub amp and your mids and highs amp if you have one)

If you're over 1000 watts.. you need over 5 farad

Over 2000 watts... get a BattCap.. it's like a spare battery meant just for your system. These are like 20+ farad

 

[Rollin Thunder]

I have a batt cap and my lights still dim. I think a more powerful alternator is better.

 

[tast101]

** Alt and dual batt IMO

 

[drowndindreams]

ive got about a 600 rms amp, probably pushing about 500 and up,

the subs are 350 rms each,

im thinking i need it

 

[Rollin Thunder]

ive got about a 600 rms amp, probably pushing about 500 and up,

the subs are 350 rms each,

im thinking i need it

IMO its just more stress on your current electrical system since it has to charge that as well as power your system. I mean I like mine, But its really just a band aid, its not a permanant fix. When I still have dimming headlights with the cap. Im not running a really HUGE system. The dudes that installed it called it thier mid model packedge (but the JL sub was extra included sub was a rockford fosgate).And I dont listen to overly base heavy music (country lol)

 

[titanium02]

** Alt and dual batt IMO

+1.. meant to say that

 

[Nickleahy23]

I used to run a optima and a cap, and it did jack shit..i was runnin 2700 watts..now with 2 optimas, i get no light dimming, unless im idling and the bass is hitting super low for more then 10 seconds..and im runnin stock alt...

 

[drowndindreams]

I used to run a optima and a cap, and it did jack shit..i was runnin 2700 watts..now with 2 optimas, i get no light dimming, unless im idling and the bass is hitting super low for more then 10 seconds..and im runnin stock alt...

please continue

---------- Post added at 07:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:44 PM ----------

IMO its just more stress on your current electrical system since it has to charge that as well as power your system. I mean I like mine, But its really just a band aid, its not a permanant fix. When I still have dimming headlights with the cap. Im not running a really HUGE system. The dudes that installed it called it thier mid model packedge (but the JL sub was extra included sub was a rockford fosgate).And I dont listen to overly base heavy music (country lol)

lol im into rap n metal but i always have my bass super high. i dont listen to music my subs are so loud they basically drownd the music.... thats what i want

 

[Rollin Thunder]

please continue

---------- Post added at 07:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:44 PM ----------



lol im into rap n metal but i always have my bass super high. i dont listen to music my subs are so loud they basically drownd the music.... thats what i want

my bass is cranked to max, Amp is max, sub knob is max. Also im running an infinity amp for the speakers. So That may be why I have more dimming than you.

 

[Nickleahy23]

please continue

---------- Post added at 07:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:44 PM ----------



lol im into rap n metal but i always have my bass super high. i dont listen to music my subs are so loud they basically drownd the music.... thats what i want

get an optima at least. how many watts are you running? i think i said 600 some..honestly just the deep cycle battery should be enough for you along with the upgraded grounds. upgrade all of your grounds..ground from battery to motor, battery to frame, battery to body, run a 2nd wire from the battery straight to the Alternator. This will help immensely.

 

[drowndindreams]

my bass is cranked to max, Amp is max, sub knob is max. Also im running an infinity amp for the speakers. So That may be why I have more dimming than you.

when you say dim do you mean as in hardcore dimming where you can clearly see your headlights and interior lights DIMMING,

or just like "oh its dimming a bit"

 

[syndicatesteve]

Check out SVR Batteries!! they are very quick charging batteries, and they drain slower, supposidly slower then Kinetik...we will see. I have a few coming this week

 

[yooformula]

get an optima at least. how many watts are you running? i think i said 600 some..honestly just the deep cycle battery should be enough for you along with the upgraded grounds. upgrade all of your grounds..ground from battery to motor, battery to frame, battery to body, run a 2nd wire from the battery straight to the Alternator. This will help immensely.

Exactly what he said! I ran 2 gauge for my big 3, 160amp alt, red top optima, 0/1 gauge for my amp runs with a breaker and I never have a dip below 11v at idle with my sub cranked. I never ended up installing my 1 farad cap after I upgraded all of the wiring.

 

[Rollin Thunder]

when you say dim do you mean as in hardcore dimming where you can clearly see your headlights and interior lights DIMMING,

or just like "oh its dimming a bit"

Like where I can actually see the dash and head lights dimming. And more than just moving the window up when its up.

Also When this happenes I can clearly watch my batt gauge dip to 12 then back to 14. then for a deep hit 11 then 14, then for a major base run watch it go 12-11-12-11-10-9-0-14. lol

 

[nytahoe]

with caps just go by 1 farad per 1000 watts. and always upgread your ground. your power is only as good as your grounds are.

 

[drowndindreams]

so what would be the smarter choice, a cap, or big 3 and etc.

 

[Nickleahy23]

first thing should be the big 3..upgrade every ground you can find with at least 4 gauge wire..i have 0 gauge on mine. Then run a bigger wire, at least 4 gauge, from the ALT to the + battery. Remember not to remove any stock grounds, just double them up.

From there, upgrade your stock battery to an Optima, kenitik or other deep cycle battery.

If that is not enough, you SHOULD probably upgrade the ALT to at least a 200 amp, but you could just get a 2nd battery, like I did, and have no issues, other then working the ALT a little harder, but it will cure your dimming.

 

[blueflamed03]

my bass is cranked to max, Amp is max, sub knob is max. Also im running an infinity amp for the speakers. So That may be why I have more dimming than you.

and this is typical consumers that don't know......you'll have a short lived system with settings like this.