is a cap useless?

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ricetech

Copper - Posts: 64

Joined: December 10, 2002

Location: United States

Posted: April 04, 2005 at 4:27 AM / IP Logged

ok i read this on a mustang website and wanted to get the oppinion of some true car audio guys http://3.8mustang.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26227

Mad Scientists

Silver - Posts: 380

Joined: February 07, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: April 04, 2005 at 5:58 AM / IP Logged

There's enough incorrect statements from the individual who started the thread that it shows me he's not really understanding what caps do..

I'm not an audio guy, but it appears to me that the purpose of the cap is for transients.. something that other thread seems to be having trouble understanding.

one of the later statements from the individual who started that thread..

"wtf?! ac to dc? alternator to battery? NO! alternators are fully DC! there is NO conversion of DC to or from anything until you get inside the amplifier!

everything starts out DC in a vehicle, don't forget that."

That, for me, is all I need to hear to determine his knowledge of electronics.

Another respondent came back with

"Charge and Discharge times in a cap are inversely porportional to each other, and are dependent on type/material, and size. (Farads). Charging one of those caps takes a good 30 secs to a minute, right off the battery. So if it discharges just as fast, how is that slow trickle of miniscule power going to aid the amp? "

Someone want to charge a 1 farad and toss it to him?..

Jim

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Ultimate Bass

Member - Posts: 5

Joined: March 26, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: April 04, 2005 at 6:31 AM / IP Logged

I think capacitors are no substitute for power. You have to have the power to operate your system. What they can do is help you with those really hard bass notes that peek your electrical systems capabilities. They do this by discharging on those peek notes and charging when the demand goes back down or vallies. Capacitors charge/discharge really really fast unlike a battery. Kind of short and sweet but I hope it helps.

supradude

Silver - Posts: 915

Joined: September 21, 2004

Location: South Carolina, United States

Posted: April 04, 2005 at 6:37 AM / IP Logged

They are a "band-aid" for lots of people that are having problems getting enough power to their amps. Start off with a high output alternator and leave the caps in the store. If you don't upgrade the alternator and use a cap, you are only wasting your money.

'85 Toy

soundmasta

Silver - Posts: 246

Joined: November 17, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: April 04, 2005 at 7:30 AM / IP Logged

i would say, for the reason most people buy caps, and what they expect them to do, yes. whoever thought of marketing this simple, common, electronic component this way is genius. but in certian instances it is the right answer.

sedate

Silver - Posts: 1,173

Joined: July 03, 2004

Location: Colorado, United States

Posted: April 04, 2005 at 9:38 AM / IP Logged

Couldn't agree more Soundmasta... I found a 1.2F cap invaluable after I installed a HO alt, but absolutely useless before... I think these things are drastically misapplied in most cases leading to thier nasty rep...

"I'm finished!" - Daniel Plainview

DYohn

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Joined: April 22, 2003

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: April 04, 2005 at 9:52 AM / IP Logged

Those are very good comments.

No, stiffening caps are not useless when used properly. The problem is that too many people think they (and adding extra batteries) will solve power capacity issues when the real problem is the alternator is overloaded. Caps are sold as bandaids when a system really has a weak heart. But in a properly designed system, a cap can help maintain peak amplifier output in certain situtations. The number of correctly designed and installed power systems with caps I have seen over the years could probably be counted on one hand.

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Francious70

Silver - Posts: 629

Joined: July 26, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: April 04, 2005 at 10:05 AM / IP Logged

Caps work great.

When used as a crossover. is a cap useless? -- posted image.

Paul

Alpine Guy

Platinum - Posts: 2,478

Joined: October 18, 2003

Location: Canada

Posted: April 04, 2005 at 10:44 AM / IP Logged

Caps are essentially useless unless you have a powerful electrical system in the first place. Me for instance, i have a 240 amp alternator and have no light dimming problems what so ever, but i may add a cap or 2 for (1) Looks, and (2) to smooth out the bass beats a little, ,its not going to be an audable difference, but hey, ,they fit just perfectly in that flat spot in my fiberglass box.

2003 Chevy Avalanche,Eclipse CD7000,Morel Elate 5,Adire Extremis,Alpine PDX-4.150, 15" TC-3000, 2 Alpine PDX-1.1000, 470Amp HO Alt.

ricetech

Copper - Posts: 64

Joined: December 10, 2002

Location: United States

Posted: April 06, 2005 at 6:47 PM / IP Logged

Mad Scientists wrote:

Someone want to charge a 1 farad and toss it to him?..

lmao

so basically the prob people have with caps is not using them correctly?

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