substained alternator abuse

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boulderguy

Silver - Posts: 510

Joined: April 17, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: August 07, 2005 at 8:05 PM / IP Logged

Blowntweeters wrote:

boulderguy let me ask you this do you have a cap in your car and how can a cap magicly charge faster than a battery

Yup, I've got a cap - keeps my headlights from going into seizures. Probably doesn't help the sound. Lots of people think they will & are ultimately disappointed. Here's what they can do -

The difference between a capacitor and a battery is that a capacitor can dump its entire charge in a tiny fraction of a second, where a battery would take minutes to completely discharge itself. That's why the electronic flash on a camera uses a capacitor -- the battery charges up the flash's capacitor over several seconds, and then the capacitor dumps the full charge into the flash tube almost instantly. This can make a large, charged capacitor extremely dangerous -- flash units and TVs have warnings about opening them up for this reason. They contain big capacitors that can, potentially, kill you with the charge they contain.

Capacitors are used in several different ways in electronic circuits:

Sometimes, capacitors are used to store charge for high-speed use. That's what a flash does. Big lasers use this technique as well to get very bright, instantaneous flashes.
Capacitors can also eliminate ripples. If a line carrying DC voltage has ripples or spikes in it, a big capacitor can even out the voltage by absorbing the peaks and filling in the valleys.

So no magic involved, just physics.

Blowntweeters wrote:

then i installed it and they were pissed they go some extra lights for $100 plus bucks

This makes less sense than a fat kid playing dodgeball. Are you familiar with punctuation?

Blowntweeters wrote:

caps are a waste of money alternaters and kinetik batterys are the way to go

Upgrading your elec system is sound advice when warranted, but how many of your customers have spent $600 to upgrade when they could have solved their problem with a $60 cap? That's what I'm driving at here - you're handing out strong opinions & advice about how worthless something is based on a .3db loss at an SPL contest, which more likely came from 100 other possible problems - hot amps, cool batteries, lower operating voltage, a loose screw in a speaker panel, temp changes - - any of these could easily cause a drop in SPL, but you're blaming it on a cap. This just makes no sense & the physics don't support you. That's like saying "I had engine trouble after using Amoco gas, hence gas is really bad for your engine." I think you need to re-evaluate some things.

evanc

Copper - Posts: 148

Joined: June 20, 2004

Location: Virginia, United States

Posted: August 07, 2005 at 9:28 PM / IP Logged

In my opinion, which may not be correct, a capacitor in a car audio system would be used to fix minor dimming of the headlights, and thats about it. It will not help the audio/electrical system enough to make a difference, nor will it solve any major headlight issues.

If you are looking to do it right, of course the alternator would be the way to go. However, if you have 2 Lightning Audio 10's and a Pyle amp in your mothers old civic, chances are you are not going to be willing to drop the $300+ on an upgraded alternator and wiring.

NicP

Member - Posts: 29

Joined: March 26, 2005

Location: Australia

Posted: August 08, 2005 at 12:51 AM / IP Logged

if you think that caps add more resistance and cant understand why they have a cap can charge faster than a battery then obviously you dont have a very firm grasp of electronics

Caps arent the solution to every problem and i guess people expect them to be which is why there are so many people that hate them after they dont work

In this case a cap may be a perfect solution (depending on how much your lights are dimming) if you dont want to upgrade your alt/battery. Remember to upgrade those important 3 wires first tho!

6061dyson

Member - Posts: 33

Joined: August 05, 2005

Location: United Kingdom

Posted: August 08, 2005 at 8:50 PM / IP Logged

Im sorry, everyone was so close close to nearly falling out...

Which 3 important wires? Im thinking re wiring my alternator is gonna cost some shillings (yeah its all ghetto ol' skool down town here in blighty) BUT it may be the option for the problem to dissolve. Im hoping to add a another amp and new HU by Oct. 4 channel amp pushing out 100 watts per channel and new HU. I may add a screen or three with a DVD player in the back too but that'll be for later next yr. I DON'T believe in doing things in halves though so ill go for a 1.0 FARAD? CAP and a BETTER BATTERY for now for its ease in upgrading? or ?? ?

I WANT TO upgrade my power suply NOW though 100% for my *completed* install of 1 600RMS AMP A/B class btw, 1 4x50?60 HU, 1 4x100 Amp, ah yeh an pre amp of course, DVD player, and 2 screens of approx 7" +

Thanks guys all ya advice has been conflicting, amusing and insiting!

6061dyson

Member - Posts: 33

Joined: August 05, 2005

Location: United Kingdom

Posted: August 08, 2005 at 9:03 PM / IP Logged

Capcitors blow up eh? Good i can imagine....

hehehe,

Well im feeling you lot are gonna go for the alternator n battery now in my moment of clarity.

Pyle? Lightning Audio.... substained alternator abuse - Page 2 -- posted image.

u really shouldn't use such bad language lol

NicP

Member - Posts: 29

Joined: March 26, 2005

Location: Australia

Posted: August 09, 2005 at 1:34 AM / IP Logged

http://forum.sounddomain.com/forum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=007801;p=

if you are thinking of upgrading your battery and alternator i wouldnt bother with a cap

Paradigm

Silver - Posts: 284

Joined: November 25, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: August 09, 2005 at 12:41 PM / IP Logged

dyson,

Since it sounds like you are planning on upgrading your system sometime down the road, buying a capacitor to "solve" your problem now will be wasted money once you upgrade, in all liklihood.

A capacitor does not solve any problem - it masks it. Sure, it "stops" the headlights from dimming, but guess what? Your vehicle's electrical system is still being overtaxed by the audio system! So your battery and/or alternator is sure to die sooner than ever expected or intended because of the original problem that was never really addressed to begin with. Everyone following along?

Since you say that an alternator is out of the question, your next best bet would be to upgrade the battery in some way. It will still not "solve" the problem, but it will help you more now AND in the future than the capacitor will.

VEHICLE: 2002 GMC Sonoma ZR2

Alpine CDA-7940

AudioControl EQT x2

JL Audio 1000/1

JL Audio 10W6 (originals) x3

Kicker ZR120

Kicker ZR460

Polk GXR-6 x4

Polk GXR-4 x2

Paradigm

Silver - Posts: 284

Joined: November 25, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: August 09, 2005 at 12:45 PM / IP Logged

And also upgrade the Big 3 - that alone will help you immensely substained alternator abuse - Page 2 -- posted image.

VEHICLE: 2002 GMC Sonoma ZR2

Alpine CDA-7940

AudioControl EQT x2

JL Audio 1000/1

JL Audio 10W6 (originals) x3

Kicker ZR120

Kicker ZR460

Polk GXR-6 x4

Polk GXR-4 x2

6061dyson

Member - Posts: 33

Joined: August 05, 2005

Location: United Kingdom

Posted: August 09, 2005 at 10:11 PM / IP Logged

Thanks Paradigm, fine words of advice.

new alternator and battery its seems should be done in conjuction with each other for it to be as good as "solved" and a propper job done.

THanks to all for there experience n wisdom.

adrian12

Member - Posts: 4

Joined: July 14, 2005

Location: South Africa

Posted: August 12, 2005 at 3:33 AM / IP Logged

Hi there.Remember that their is no substitute for a good alternator.A capacitor is like a patch up job for a bigger problem.ie.the alternator.If you are planning to add an extra battery you must take note that it will only help when your vehicle is off.(parking lot listening)....So in my opinion there is no other choice but to upgrade your alternator

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