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How do I hook up a capacitor?

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=15889
Printed Date: May 29, 2024 at 2:57 AM


Topic: How do I hook up a capacitor?

Posted By: TheMadScientist
Subject: How do I hook up a capacitor?
Date Posted: July 05, 2003 at 10:21 AM

I have an Audiobahn Digital Capacitor CTCAP1.OD. I have two amps; one is 480 watts and the other is a 2,000 watt. I need to know how to hook up the capacitor. I am thinking about getting a bigger capacitor, but they hook up the same. Don't they?.Well, if anyone out there can help me out. I would really appreciate it.



Replies:

Posted By: esmith69
Date Posted: July 05, 2003 at 12:01 PM

do you have a single power cable coming from the battery and then to a distribution block?  Or does each amp have its own separate power wire that runs directly to the positive battery terminal?

Usually you just put the capacitor inline on the power cable, close to where the amps are mounted.  you'll take the end of the power cable and hook it up to the cap's positive terminal, then the negative terminal goes to the ground (vehicle chassis).  Then assuming you're placing the cap inline before the distro block, you'll hook up the rest of the power cable also to the positive terminal on the cap, and then run it to the distro. block's power input.



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Ethan
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"Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success"
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Posted By: Sebastian018
Date Posted: July 05, 2003 at 12:19 PM
Hi, To install a cap do it this way Select a good spot, no more than 18" from the amplifier on the + power wire. Cut the power wire on the amp at the location where the cap is to go, and connect the wire to the positive terminal. If you are using ring terminals, install the first one flat on the base of the terminal. Then, run the second half of the spliced power wire from the same positive terminal (set the second ring right on top of the first one) and run it to the fuse block. The cap should be grounded close by, preferably in the same spot the amp is grounded. Using the same gauge wire, run the ground cable to the negative terminal.


Hope this helps




Posted By: kidtransam
Date Posted: July 05, 2003 at 4:15 PM
Dont forget that you have to `charge` the cap before installation.

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With a torch and a big enough hammer...it WILL friggin fit!!




Posted By: Sebastian018
Date Posted: July 05, 2003 at 5:18 PM
Only If iS not DIGITAL?




Posted By: TheMadScientist
Date Posted: July 05, 2003 at 5:26 PM
What do you mean that I have to charge it before installation? Do you think that I need a distribution block? I don't know if this is going to be enough power to run both my amps.Any suggestions?




Posted By: Sebastian018
Date Posted: July 05, 2003 at 5:58 PM
Is your Capacitor Digital or Non-digital?




Posted By: TheMadScientist
Date Posted: July 05, 2003 at 6:02 PM
It's Digital.




Posted By: Sebastian018
Date Posted: July 05, 2003 at 6:06 PM
What Brand and Model Number?




Posted By: TheMadScientist
Date Posted: July 05, 2003 at 6:07 PM
But I'm thinking about swapping it for a 3.5 Farad Capacitor because I don't think the that I have will be enough to power my two amps without taking juice from other stuff.But still if I do go with the Digital no charge up correct,but if I go with a non-digital how do I charge it.Also, if you think that 1Farad Digital Capacitor will be enough then I won't switch to a 3.5 Farad non-Digital. I don't know much about amps. I'm just good with head units and speakers, so any advice will be appreciated.




Posted By: Sebastian018
Date Posted: July 05, 2003 at 6:10 PM
Some capacitors require you to pre-charge them to attain usability mode. To do this, you will need the charging board that comes with the unit. It is usually a simple PC board card with a positive and negative 16 gauge wires. Simply follow the included instructions, administering the power wire from a 12V source to your cap's positive terminal. Don't forget to ground it too. Now connect the card, positive-to-positive and negative-to-negative (or ground). When the indicator on the card comes on, the capacitor is fully pre-charged.

Yours Digital so you dont need to pre-charged


HOw many Watts (RMS) are you going to be running?





Posted By: TheMadScientist
Date Posted: July 05, 2003 at 6:25 PM
I'm really for sure if I understand what you mean about watts running.




Posted By: TheMadScientist
Date Posted: July 05, 2003 at 6:45 PM
I was thinking of using my 480 watt amp to run my door and back speakers and my 2,000 watt amp to run my subs, but I think that I have come up with a new solution. I am doing away with my old plan of my subs and my 2,000 watt because I'm thinking about buying 2 12" kicker solo-baric L5 DVC. So now I need to know a good amp for those,but thanks about the capacitor because I really needed to know how to hook one of them up.I just need to now to find an amp to run both my subs.Then I will decide on my capacitor. Sorry, if I'm wasting your time.thanks for your help




Posted By: Sebastian018
Date Posted: July 05, 2003 at 7:21 PM
Its ok, YOu I think Before the Cap YOu should get a high Output Alternator and a Deep Cycle Battery, YOu are really going to need it you have a 2000 w amp....... If you are planning to buy a capacitor, get a high output alternator and a deep cycle.

Hope this helps





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