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Bump4life's SuperCapacitor Overview and Testing


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I've been testing and testing Supercaps all year and so far the best results are Batts+ Caps together.

Criteria for "Good" is avg. power over time, consistent power curve over time, reliability, charge efficiency, peak power, and duration of play.

maybe you can bring some points to the table then so i can add to the intro!

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BMW M340 xDrive

Stock, for now. Corner Load 10" maybe soon. But does 10s in the 1/4...
Best Scores out of a trunk
153.0 sealed legal full tilt clamped 5524 @ 42 hz
154+ windows down, 155+ kick

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I've been testing and testing Supercaps all year and so far the best results are Batts+ Caps together.

Criteria for "Good" is avg. power over time, consistent power curve over time, reliability, charge efficiency, peak power, and duration of play.

maybe you can bring some points to the table then so i can add to the intro!

Can't release any of my test notes or too much info until the products release Jan 14.

But

In a standard vehicle charging system. (12V batt and alternator), Caps can be used to reduce stress and duty cycle posed on the battery during times of charge/ discharge.

This extends the life of the battery and maintains a higher voltage over time.

Different ratios of cap size to battery size can be used for different goals for the electrical system.

Large batts with small caps are useful as a buffer which extends battery life by reducing strain on the battery. This will also level the power curve over time to a small amount over what a battery alone can deliver. Very useful for low-mid level power audio systems that play music daily only.

Small Batts with Large Caps or many banks of Caps are useful for peak power in short bursts with the ability to play long periods at a lower power level but still a higher power level than when using batteries alone. This is more of the high powered cars that compete in SPL and also play daily music.

A More equal ratio gives a much more flat power curve over time at a substantially higher level than when using batteries alone. Since the caps charge faster than batts and drain on the batts is limited, re-charge times are decreased, making voltage available on demand during high powered music sessions. This is useful for any power level demo system or daily play ground pounder types.

Ed Lester

ShowtimeSPL Host

Showtime Electronics Video Marketing

My old Build Log
http://www.stevemead...08/#entry511451

http://www.youtube.com/showtimespl



TeamDeadlyHertz-HHREd.png


5 time dB Drag Finalist
Last ride 2007 HHR, current dB 153.5 and bass race 149.4 dB. 153.0 dB on music

New Ride, 2008 HHR SS. Build under way.
Loudest score ever = 171dB
2009 dB Drag Racing, North American Points Champion

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I've been testing and testing Supercaps all year and so far the best results are Batts+ Caps together.

Criteria for "Good" is avg. power over time, consistent power curve over time, reliability, charge efficiency, peak power, and duration of play.

maybe you can bring some points to the table then so i can add to the intro!

Can't release any of my test notes or too much info until the products release Jan 14.

But

In a standard vehicle charging system. (12V batt and alternator), Caps can be used to reduce stress and duty cycle posed on the battery during times of charge/ discharge.

This extends the life of the battery and maintains a higher voltage over time.

Different ratios of cap size to battery size can be used for different goals for the electrical system.

Large batts with small caps are useful as a buffer which extends battery life by reducing strain on the battery. This will also level the power curve over time to a small amount over what a battery alone can deliver. Very useful for low-mid level power audio systems that play music daily only.

Small Batts with Large Caps or many banks of Caps are useful for peak power in short bursts with the ability to play long periods at a lower power level but still a higher power level than when using batteries alone. This is more of the high powered cars that compete in SPL and also play daily music.

A More equal ratio gives a much more flat power curve over time at a substantially higher level than when using batteries alone. Since the caps charge faster than batts and drain on the batts is limited, re-charge times are decreased, making voltage available on demand during high powered music sessions. This is useful for any power level demo system or daily play ground pounder types.

when you say equal ratio, do you mean equal in joules/stored energy? or how are you comparing batteries to capacitors? in what units are you comparing to say x capacitors equals x batteries?

Buyer/Seller Feedback Thread: http://www.stevemead...5015-bump4life/
MB C220 153 Trunk Car Build Log: http://www.stevemead...d/#entry1840136
MB C280 Ipad Dash SQ Build Log: http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/194484-bump4lifes-new-benz-tony-c-relay-kit-pictures-ce-electric-audison-front-stage-installed/
My SPL Log: http://www.stevemead...__fromsearch__1

BMW M340 xDrive

Stock, for now. Corner Load 10" maybe soon. But does 10s in the 1/4...
Best Scores out of a trunk
153.0 sealed legal full tilt clamped 5524 @ 42 hz
154+ windows down, 155+ kick

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Soooo. I have 2 banks of the 2.5, 2500F. If I wanted to add on and can only find the newer, higher voltage ones, can I run them together since I will be charging at the same voltage anyways? if not I will have to scrap 12 perfectly good caps....

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I've been testing and testing Supercaps all year and so far the best results are Batts+ Caps together.

Criteria for "Good" is avg. power over time, consistent power curve over time, reliability, charge efficiency, peak power, and duration of play.

maybe you can bring some points to the table then so i can add to the intro!

Can't release any of my test notes or too much info until the products release Jan 14.

But

In a standard vehicle charging system. (12V batt and alternator), Caps can be used to reduce stress and duty cycle posed on the battery during times of charge/ discharge.

This extends the life of the battery and maintains a higher voltage over time.

Different ratios of cap size to battery size can be used for different goals for the electrical system.

Large batts with small caps are useful as a buffer which extends battery life by reducing strain on the battery. This will also level the power curve over time to a small amount over what a battery alone can deliver. Very useful for low-mid level power audio systems that play music daily only.

Small Batts with Large Caps or many banks of Caps are useful for peak power in short bursts with the ability to play long periods at a lower power level but still a higher power level than when using batteries alone. This is more of the high powered cars that compete in SPL and also play daily music.

A More equal ratio gives a much more flat power curve over time at a substantially higher level than when using batteries alone. Since the caps charge faster than batts and drain on the batts is limited, re-charge times are decreased, making voltage available on demand during high powered music sessions. This is useful for any power level demo system or daily play ground pounder types.

when you say equal ratio, do you mean equal in joules/stored energy? or how are you comparing batteries to capacitors? in what units are you comparing to say x capacitors equals x batteries?

F to aH

50F is balanced to a 20aH Batt.

200F to a 80aH Batt

500F to a 200aH Batt.

Small Batt to large Cap ratio would be 500F to 20aH

Large Batt to small Cap ratio would be 50F to 200aH

Or any figures similar to those.

Ed Lester

ShowtimeSPL Host

Showtime Electronics Video Marketing

My old Build Log
http://www.stevemead...08/#entry511451

http://www.youtube.com/showtimespl



TeamDeadlyHertz-HHREd.png


5 time dB Drag Finalist
Last ride 2007 HHR, current dB 153.5 and bass race 149.4 dB. 153.0 dB on music

New Ride, 2008 HHR SS. Build under way.
Loudest score ever = 171dB
2009 dB Drag Racing, North American Points Champion

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Soooo. I have 2 banks of the 2.5, 2500F. If I wanted to add on and can only find the newer, higher voltage ones, can I run them together since I will be charging at the same voltage anyways? if not I will have to scrap 12 perfectly good caps....

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I've been testing and testing Supercaps all year and so far the best results are Batts+ Caps together.

Criteria for "Good" is avg. power over time, consistent power curve over time, reliability, charge efficiency, peak power, and duration of play.

maybe you can bring some points to the table then so i can add to the intro!

Can't release any of my test notes or too much info until the products release Jan 14.

But

In a standard vehicle charging system. (12V batt and alternator), Caps can be used to reduce stress and duty cycle posed on the battery during times of charge/ discharge.

This extends the life of the battery and maintains a higher voltage over time.

Different ratios of cap size to battery size can be used for different goals for the electrical system.

Large batts with small caps are useful as a buffer which extends battery life by reducing strain on the battery. This will also level the power curve over time to a small amount over what a battery alone can deliver. Very useful for low-mid level power audio systems that play music daily only.

Small Batts with Large Caps or many banks of Caps are useful for peak power in short bursts with the ability to play long periods at a lower power level but still a higher power level than when using batteries alone. This is more of the high powered cars that compete in SPL and also play daily music.

A More equal ratio gives a much more flat power curve over time at a substantially higher level than when using batteries alone. Since the caps charge faster than batts and drain on the batts is limited, re-charge times are decreased, making voltage available on demand during high powered music sessions. This is useful for any power level demo system or daily play ground pounder types.

when you say equal ratio, do you mean equal in joules/stored energy? or how are you comparing batteries to capacitors? in what units are you comparing to say x capacitors equals x batteries?

F to aH

50F is balanced to a 20aH Batt.

200F to a 80aH Batt

500F to a 200aH Batt.

Small Batt to large Cap ratio would be 500F to 20aH

Large Batt to small Cap ratio would be 50F to 200aH

Or any figures similar to those.

awesome. thanks for that insight!!

Soooo. I have 2 banks of the 2.5, 2500F. If I wanted to add on and can only find the newer, higher voltage ones, can I run them together since I will be charging at the same voltage anyways? if not I will have to scrap 12 perfectly good caps....

you can add on. no issues. you just cant charge over 15 volts.

Buyer/Seller Feedback Thread: http://www.stevemead...5015-bump4life/
MB C220 153 Trunk Car Build Log: http://www.stevemead...d/#entry1840136
MB C280 Ipad Dash SQ Build Log: http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/194484-bump4lifes-new-benz-tony-c-relay-kit-pictures-ce-electric-audison-front-stage-installed/
My SPL Log: http://www.stevemead...__fromsearch__1

BMW M340 xDrive

Stock, for now. Corner Load 10" maybe soon. But does 10s in the 1/4...
Best Scores out of a trunk
153.0 sealed legal full tilt clamped 5524 @ 42 hz
154+ windows down, 155+ kick

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Share on other sites

The downside of using batteries and caps is the potential difference. Caps stay at the charging voltage even when not being charged. Batteries drop back down to resting voltage. So what you get running both is the alt charging the caps which charge the batts and essentially render them useless because batteries love being charged and will take quite a bit of power. Now that being said using caps without batteries means you need more charging to keep the voltage in a safe range, but this is in turn a good thing because let's be honest running 10k on a couple batteries and an upgraded alt is not proper electrical. Caps are better than batteries given you have the ability to properly run the power you have. They do fine for daily as long as you can charge them correctly and have enough reserve for your power.

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I'm in on the Group buy if the price comes down enough, I made a thread about this awhile ago and wanted to do this, I want about 6 cells of the 3000 farad caps, but really depends on what it would cost if I did this,

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