Debate, Stiffening Capacitors

You see, nobody can give you a straight answer because there is no straight answer. It all depends on the situation, as I've ALWAYS said, to determine if a cap is useful.

A cap is only good so far as the audio system isn't trying to pull too much from the alternator.

A cap puts just about as much of a strain as a 5 watt bulb and that's only during it's initial charge. During normal operation, it consumes even less power. For comparison, your headlights consume 55 watts, each!

Hmmm...seems I'm right again.

It seems to me that sparky3489 spent some time practicing law.  sparky3489, just make sure that you understand that batteries do not create power forever.  That's the real world!

I agree that so long as the ESR rating is at the correct point, then the capacitor will prove useful when the alternator can keep up with the demand.  Other than that,  I wouldn't consider using a capacitor for anything more than engine noise and alternator whine reduction.  I think I might look into a group of capacitors for my SPL system, but not my daily driver.  The difference between the first hit and second hit from my subs will be covered up by the fact that the bass drummer couldn't make that same intensity hit everytime or that the bass guitar player couldn't strum the string with identical strength everytime.  That's the real world!

One other thing I failed to mention, I do believe that haemphyst is capable of presenting you with an answer if you would present him with a situation.  Actually, I think he and several others have already presented an answer to the capacitor issue.  In general, I do believe what they are getting at is that there are more important pieces of equipment to invest your money in and that in the long run, a capacitor is an expense that can be done without when the rest of the electrical system is up to par.

sparky3489 wrote: 'A cap is only good so far as the audio system isn't trying to pull too much from the alternator.'

So you agree that the Big3 and HO alt. should be done before adding a cap? Well, alright!

wormy wrote: 'there are more important pieces of equipment to invest your money in...'

Like i've told you before in previous discussions, sparky3489; if you want to tell people to spend money on something that should be considered being done AFTER the Big3 and HO alt., then fine. -I have noticed recently on Yahoo!Answers is that you've been telling people of the importance of the Big3 and HO before recommending a cap. Hmm...

Since you don't know the whole debate, I'll let you in on it.

It was proposed that a battery DOESN'T create power by chemical reaction, AT ALL, by Jmelton86. That somehow electricity was magically being created with no explanation. He and I went round and round about this on another forum until he finally posted that question here - and got totally schooled on it.

[QUOATE=wormy]In general, I do believe what they are getting at is that there are more important pieces of equipment to invest your money in ...[/QUOTE]

Where to begin...this could be said about anything, wheels on a car, fuzzy dice from the mirror, etc.

A. It's not about an investment as it's NOT an investment.  Where do people get this?!?!?

B. There are those rare and special occasions where a cap is actually useful.

Hmm indeed. I've been stating this LOOOOONG before you ever hit the scene. It all depends on the situation whether I recommend the ALT. and Big 3 or a CAP.

If it's very clear an asker has a high powered system, I recommend the ALT and Big 3.

If it's very clear an asker has a system that doesn't require an ALT upgrade and they would like a bit better stability on the power side of things, I'll recommend a CAP.