Cardboardcat15 Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 mostly by shop nuthuggers, or people who don't know what the big 3 is, let alone how an alternator even comes into play with car audio...but for the longest time I couldn't tell these people why I wasn't getting a capacitor. Ever since I bought my alternator and my XS batt, I've been getting a flurry of "dude, just get a cap then you wouldn't have to spend all that money" or "man a cap would just cleared up all of that" and sometimes "man if you woulda got a (insert random # of farads) cap you could add more!". Now up until just a few hours ago, I couldn't remember why caps aren't helpful. Then I found this http://www.teamswift.net/viewtopic.php?p=54856 Just to make sure I understood everything correctly, capacitors are ONLY useful if your electrical system is more than capable of handling the current draw from your amp, correct? And even then, caps only help with small spikes in current? I normally blow off the people who tell me I need a cap because I know they don't know what they're talking about, but I wanted to find out just exactly why they wouldn't help me in my situation. It's been bugging me for a while now, and I feel it's something I should add to my knowledge. Hoping someone knowledgeable will chime in here and enlighten me. Quote My Channel on YouTube. Check it out for cinematic-style Car Audio videos. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcSMhtT-rpopJbdybubDgnQ New 2014 Scion TC 4th Wall Build https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/217173-2014-tc-4th-order-build-3-fi-sp4-15s/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supercharged DCs Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 IIRC, Capacitators are only useful when you have no voltage drop, but still have dimming headlights (or something of the sort) due to spikes in current as you mentioned. Quote Bassless once again. Can't seem to keep a system for more than a few weeks Saving for a '06 Nissan 350z, look for build around June 2012. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cardboardcat15 Posted July 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 Okay, that makes more sense. I knew they weren't completely useless, and I didn't want to tell someone that they were useless if I didn't know WHY lol. Quote My Channel on YouTube. Check it out for cinematic-style Car Audio videos. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcSMhtT-rpopJbdybubDgnQ New 2014 Scion TC 4th Wall Build https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/217173-2014-tc-4th-order-build-3-fi-sp4-15s/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skittlesRgood Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 you know your amps are filled with caps. they work pretty well for it lol. there are different types of caps and most people just assume the same standard for electrolytic caps goes for all of them. in general, they dont help us. they do help some people. but there are some bad ass caps that are better than batteries. if you got the coin. Quote If I answered you in a well mannered, informative way, you asked a good question or had a good attitude. If I was an asshole, you asked a stupid question or you had a fucktard attitude... or I was in a bad mood. Team BassickHU: Pioneer AVIC Z110Front: Peerless SLS 6.5", Peerless HDS 4", Rainbow tweeter - running activeAmp: JL HD600/4 and DC 4 channel (bridged to midbass)Processor: JBL MS-8Subs: 2x 12" AA MayhemsAmp: DC 3kElectrical: DC power 270xp alt. 1/0 big 4. XSpower D3400 and six D680s. http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/121795-29-update-the-buick-is-getting-a-rebuild/ Top career scores: DBdrag 151.7 MECA SQ 82.25My SOTM build Yeah. im pretty sure they dont warranty retarded people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEvil Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 Caps mostly just help with line ripple. They are good to help protect amplifiers from AC waveforms and to supplement internal capacitance of the amplifier, but as most here already know, they're pretty much useless. Dimming headlights and voltage or current drop/starvation are just signs of a poor or weak electrical system. Quote MickyMcD - "Capable of making some serious trouser flapping volumes at where's-my-testicles frequencies, the Servo-Drives used to be fairly jaw dropping..." Any time you have have a power wire next to your frame put some rubber hosing (or cut up an innertube) around it. The wire is bound to wiggle (due to driving or flex) and the casing will eventually wear through. Hammerdown... 1% no links to outside websites, business related FB/YT pages allowed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lbox88 Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 (edited) I experimented with a 2 Farad cap for a while and I feel like it was much more beneficial to run the big 3. And it was cheaper. Edited July 14, 2011 by Lbox88 Quote UBL | Build Log Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baydestrian Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 Well considering my starting battery is under the backseat doing the big 3 would be a pain in the ass for me. My stock alt is 140A (I can't go aftermarket but its water-cooled). I get dimming lights (to the bass notes) and my RPMs drop a bit. What do I do? LOL Soundquest wiring is what was used which I think made contribute to the problem, along with my ground not being too good. Not sure if these 2 things would cause this issue. Quote 2015 Mazda 6 JVF Customz 4.0 Proto 15>Wolfram W4500 @ .5ohm 2 Sundown Neo 6.5 + 2 CT Meso Tweeters (Front) x Kicker KS6.5 (Rear)>JL Audio VX400/4i NSB-AMG35 (front) / 40ah Lithium Headway (Rear) built by Erni Audio & Electrical Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michigancapri92 Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 i used caps in my system and i liked them until i got a second battery, from what i was told they are good for small systems but when you get to the big systems its recommended you get batteries Quote Teamcapri.comThe TeamCapri 1992 Mercury Capri XR22012 FORD EDGE SQ BUILDOld build logMy FeedBack1992 Mercury capri XR2 Hyper LED Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lbox88 Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 (edited) If you think you have a bad ground, I would take care of that first. Edited July 14, 2011 by Lbox88 Quote UBL | Build Log Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zfrerichs Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 The way I always think about it is lke this. A capacitor is just like a battery on dc voltage except it can discharge all of it's amperage in a matter of a second or two. Which is fantastic. Til you have to recharge that cap and still power your amps and everything. Then you're taking away power that could be used to feed your amp. Quote Roseville, CA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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