Scary Sparks From Capacitor!

Hello. I just attempted to install a capacitor today,  but was unsuccessful and a bit nervous too. it is a 1 Farad Lightning Audio. I charged it as per instructions until light dimmed and then went out. I then attached both the fused B+ wire from battery and B+ to amps at the + terminal on the cap. No problem. I then tried to attach an already "grounded" ground wire to the - terminal on the cap and got a large spark and quit. What am I doing wrong???Please help. I'm quite apprehensive now, as i've heard that a charged cap can be very dangerous.Thanks!!

Sounds to me like it didnt get a full charge. When you touch the grounded wire to the cap there is a inrush of current to the cap causing the big arc. without looking at it thats what I can tell. Good luck with it.

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Brian
owner/installer
Sight & Sound Car Stereo

"all electronic equipment runs off of smoke, once you let it out, it stops working"

You're ok, when you connected the ground you just completed the currents path since you already had the positive side hooked up. Its common for the wires to create a spark.

Thanks

haha I bought the exact capacitor and had the exact thing happen.  mine was not fully charged so i left it charging even a little while after the light went out and it ended up being fine... just be sure that ground is really strong and always connect ground 2nd