Cap

[The Big Chris]

What exactly is the importance of a capacitor...if you have sufficient batteries do you need one?

[HHR Ed]

What exactly is the importance of a capacitor...if you have sufficient batteries do you need one?

you should never have to use a CAP. they dont really do anything.

[ISO]

PLEASE READ THIS.

http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/ind...st&p=222761

[Fish Chris]

you should never have to use a CAP. they dont really do anything

Chuckles :-) Who am I to argue ?

I just find this subject kind of amusing. I remember I went to one car audio website where they had pinned a whole post, written by one of that's sites respected car audio gurus, explaining why, in scientific detail, caps were useless, and a complete waste of time and money.

So, shortly thereafter, I go to another website, where one of the gurus there (in fact, he happened to be one of the moderators) was like 100% pro capacitors, and he had posted and pinned, a big explanation about why capacitors were the shiznit, and why you would be stupid not to include one !

Not wanting to challenge him on his own forum, I sent him a PM with a link to guru from the other forum's post, about why caps were a complete waste of time.... "His reply" ? Please don't post that on our forum ! We would really like that guys post to stay dead and buried......

Which all leads dum-basses like myself to wonder, who TF is really correct ?

Tell you guys what, after I get my system all installed, and dialed in, anyone of you guys can buy me a big, fat cap. I'll put it in, and tell you all the results, and we can answer this question once and for all ;-)

Peace,

Fish

[HHR Ed]

that link looks like alot of theory and sales tactics. Too bad that has never matched any findings in the numerous tests my colleagues and I have done over the years.

Oh well, to each his own.

[rusty959]

Well I guess to put in my oppinion of caps... ive got a 1.5 farad one... got a good deal on it from a friend. Had it hooked up and all nicely.... due to switching stuff around often sometimes it was hooked up, sometimes it wasn't. I noticed no difference at all. It isn't in my current car... though I guess since ive got it I might as well find it and throw it in.

[HHR Ed]

Chuckles :-) Who am I to argue ?

I just find this subject kind of amusing. I remember I went to one car audio website where they had pinned a whole post, written by one of that's sites respected car audio gurus, explaining why, in scientific detail, caps were useless, and a complete waste of time and money.

So, shortly thereafter, I go to another website, where one of the gurus there (in fact, he happened to be one of the moderators) was like 100% pro capacitors, and he had posted and pinned, a big explanation about why capacitors were the shiznit, and why you would be stupid not to include one !

Not wanting to challenge him on his own forum, I sent him a PM with a link to guru from the other forum's post, about why caps were a complete waste of time.... "His reply" ? Please don't post that on our forum ! We would really like that guys post to stay dead and buried......

Which all leads dum-basses like myself to wonder, who TF is really correct ?

Tell you guys what, after I get my system all installed, and dialed in, anyone of you guys can buy me a big, fat cap. I'll put it in, and tell you all the results, and we can answer this question once and for all ;-)

Peace,

Fish

I have tested many times with varying sized systems and various sized CAPS. each time I found the same result, no benefit, no harm, nuetral. They simply did not do anything.

Nothing can beat a properly setup electrical system with a properly size alternator and batteries.

If your system is having issues, try not to add a bandaid, fix the source of the issue. thats what I say.

[ISO]

They have there place, but you have to understand how,when,and why to use one.

They are pretty much worthless for DB Drag and other related competions.

But hey what do I know, I have only been studieing car audio the majority of my life.

[HHR Ed]

I have only been studying car audio for 16 years out of my 28. I still have yet to see a benefit from a CAP in any setup, no matter how you use it, but I guess I need more experience as well. Although I have yet to see a car with severe ripple in the DC voltage line that warranted a CAP in the first place. Could happen (in theory)

Edited November 26, 2008 by HHR Ed

[Fish Chris]

Hey ISO, I did just read that whole thread you posted the link to. Very interesting. Thank you.

So, if you, or somebody would please, let me tell you my setup, and you tell me if you think a cap would benefit me {and also, if it could ever hurt anything}

I'll be running a single RF Power 1000 5 channel amp. The way I'll be running it, it might put out a peak power of 1400 watts, but more like 1000 watts continuous (lightweight for most of you guys, right ? :-)

Then, I had just planned to do the Big 3 upgrade, to my stock F150 alternator, which to the best of my knowledge, puts out about 140 to 150 amps.....

Oh, and upgrading to the biggest, fattest battery I can fit in the stock battery compartment (which will be the 4th one from the bottom, on this page: http://www.odysseyfactory.com/battspecs.html It will be labled differently for a BIG cost savings.... but that's a whole other thread)

But here's the thing, as much as I understand about caps, I always fall back to the thought of, "What about when I'm playing something with big, long, continuous bass notes, which a lot of my music has" ? Will the cap simply not give me any added benefit then ? .....or will it actually swing the other way, to where it is a negative to my system, under those circumstances ???

And if you think that a cap would benefit me, with my setup, what would be a good size, and the best value for such a capacitor ? Where to buy it ???

Thanks,

Fish