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Edicius

Copper - Posts: 90

Joined: March 11, 2003

Location: Georgia, United States

Posted: February 15, 2005 at 12:52 PM / IP Logged

I want to buy a capacitor and I wanted to make sure that I could add another capacitor later. So, if I buy a 1 farad capacitornow can I add another 1 farad capacitor later, or should I buy a multiple farad capacitor now? Is there a limit on how many capacitors I can add?

oonikfraleyoo

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Joined: January 04, 2005

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Posted: February 15, 2005 at 1:09 PM / IP Logged

You don't need to add any caps. If you need power upgrade your alternator a cap WILL NOT HELP!

Nik

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Edicius

Copper - Posts: 90

Joined: March 11, 2003

Location: Georgia, United States

Posted: February 15, 2005 at 1:10 PM / IP Logged

then why do they make capacitors?

Francious70

Silver - Posts: 629

Joined: July 26, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: February 15, 2005 at 1:12 PM / IP Logged

To make money. Why does Mosteer Cable make $3,200 speaker wire??

Paul

oonikfraleyoo

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Posted: February 15, 2005 at 1:15 PM / IP Logged

Thats a good question but I will explain one more time why they don't work. You don't have the power to run your amp(s) and you add a cap. One bass note will drain the cap and then the next bass note you alternator is tring to power your amp and recharge your cap so, your putting way more strain on your alternator. It is a fact that a capacitor cannot add power. The only source of power is the alternator.

Nik

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oonikfraleyoo

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Posted: February 15, 2005 at 1:17 PM / IP Logged

there are many posts here where people have ranted about the uselessness of caps for 5+ pages.

Nik

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Edicius

Copper - Posts: 90

Joined: March 11, 2003

Location: Georgia, United States

Posted: February 15, 2005 at 1:21 PM / IP Logged

well, I have always heard that you should have a 1 farad capacitor for every 1000 watts of power regardless of your alternator output. Because, a capacitor can react faster than your alternator can, and can recharge between bass hits, so that if a little extra power is needed then it wont get that power from your battery it will just get it from the capacitor.

oonikfraleyoo

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Posted: February 15, 2005 at 1:25 PM / IP Logged

You can add as many caps as you want but its a simple fact that they will do nothing. A cap takes 3-4 times longer to charge than to discharge. And will increase strain on your alternator. I too have heard of adding 1 farad per 1000 watts but that comes the makers of caps. If you add a cap now chances are you will end up adding an alternator anyway.

Nik

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stevdart

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Joined: January 24, 2004

Location: Pennsylvania, United States

Posted: February 15, 2005 at 1:43 PM / IP Logged

Because, a capacitor can react faster than your alternator can, and can recharge between bass hits, so that if a little extra power is needed then it wont get that power from your battery it will just get it from the capacitor.
That is the jist of it. Problem is, a lot of guys are trying to fix a power problem by using a cap....or are rookies in this car audio world and buy what their friends or salesmen tell them they should. If you are not having any problems, and would like to add a cap, go for it. But if there is an issue with your system that needs fixed, let's look at that and fix it.
BTW, it was a salesman who came up with the 1 farad per 1000 watts rule. Who else? Gotta have some guidelines, don'tcha?
Oh yeah, your question. You can park another one right next door to the original if you want to, but don't go nuts and keep adding caps. Don't even add the second one, in fact, until you find out why you think you need a second one.
Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.

oonikfraleyoo

Gold - Posts: 1,069

Joined: January 04, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: February 15, 2005 at 1:47 PM / IP Logged

Basicaly if you don't have a problem, no need for a cap. And if you do have a problem, a cap won't fix it. Sorry for my ranting but I just hate the fact that these multi million dollar companies make up bold faced lies to steal some 16 years old birthday money.

Nik

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