So i check just for fun other forums and i'm surprized to see so many badmouthing capacitors ,why i ask ?,every piece of electronics relays heavy on capacitors properties,even digital watches have tiny caps inside to aid the quartz with it's precise electrical impulses ...right,so therefore they do help a lot in car stereo aplications,can you guys explain it better as in why there are so many non believers,to me it's like this,they are expensive in special that now there are companies that make 15 Farads caps that will complement any high power system,right ?!!
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Dan M C
i dont know i here that too and want to know why they do what they were made for/
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Jon
Installer/Help Technician
---coral springs florida---
mecp certification is not always needed. I have it and it has not helped me out at all. my experience out shines it.
I'm not sure why people do not believe in the capacitors, but I for one am a firm believer that capacitors do supplement the vehicles electrical system when under current load by the car audio system. If you can help the electrical system maintain a 14.4 voltage reading on the electrical system... why not have a capacitor ? It will make your system sound better, the bass is higher and less strain on the whole system. Generally speaking when capacitors are expensive but worth the money in the end especially when you have flashing headlights and poor performance from your audio system.
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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
People don't really "badmouth" capacitors. They just aren't the miracle that people make then out to be. A capacitor is just a temporary reservoir of energy. When current is drawn from it, it draws current from the battery. Then the battery draws it from the alternator. People think that they can use capacitors to make up for their lack of energy production but the fact of the matter is, a capacitor is only useful until the alternator cannot keep the capacitor with the charge it needs. Then the capacitor is EXTRA load on the electrical system and becomes more of a hinderance than an asset.
I see what your talking about.... people want a cure for the common cold but don't want to pay for it !! If you buy a capacitor that isn't rated for more than your system draw, it's not going to do you any good. You can't use a 1 farad capacitor on a 1500 watt system. You will still need additional capacitance on this system. If you buy a 5 farad cap for a 1500 watt system you will not have any problems that you listed above about . If the alternator can not keep up with the charge of the audio system, the car's electrical draw + other electrical draws on the system with a 5 farad cap inline , then you have a problem not with having a large enough cap but with having an alternator that is too small and a battery that is not rated high enough.
People have to realize that you have to match power to the components they choose. You can't buy a 1000 watt sub and expect it to sound good with a 500 watt amp. I'm not saying that it won't produce sound... just not to it's full potential. More is better and when it comes to power to the speakers.... all the help is needed. Whether a capacitor is used, a larger alternator or a bigger battery. Everything helps but you still have to match the power required to the power needed in any system to avoid costly repairs to over worked alternators and electrical systems.
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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
Exactly guys,there are no miracles (at least none of them in the car stereo world !) but it's so funny when some guys just call 's them a waiste of money,that's just stu%^& so i'm glad of this postings because i will print them and shove them in someone's face.
Thank you guys !
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Dan M C
Hey Dan... just remember that everyone is entitled to their own opinion so becareful not to start a cyberfight you can't win. Knowledge is powerful but it can also be weak if used wrong.
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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
I've always used the rule of thumb 1 farad for every 100watts... that is if your alternator can keep up with them.. when people come in and have 1000 or so watts for bass and they want a cap.. I just kind of laugh and tell them to buy a 220amp alternator and a couple of Optimas.. they usually forget about the $100 cap.. I've done 100watt systems.. 50 hi, 50 sub and put three 1 farad caps and I couldn't really tell a difference.. of course, we had 220 dual out alt. with two optima yellow tops..
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George
David's Car Stereo
Baton Rouge, LA