wiring 2 amps and a cap

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=29768
Printed Date: July 14, 2025 at 6:52 PM

Topic: wiring 2 amps and a cap

Posted By: tpro2000
Subject: wiring 2 amps and a cap
Date Posted: April 05, 2004 at 10:44 PM

im new at installs, and know pretty much how to install 2 amps, running all the wires etc, but then my buddy said to be safe (he's an installer) to add a cap.

my question how exactly does it wire in? from the bat to the cap to the amp, or another way, i dont really have any idea and havent find a good answer to what im looking for

any help is greatly appreciated!!!

Replies:

Posted By: Durango9
Date Posted: April 05, 2004 at 10:53 PM

You would wire the cap in line with the power wire to the amps. If your using a distribution block then you would wire it in line with the main wire feeding the block.

Posted By: Clean Install
Date Posted: April 05, 2004 at 11:05 PM

? why do you feel you need a cap?

what size are the amps?

You place the cap inline (parrell) with the amps.....I think that the closer the better if you ask me.....

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If we learn from each success and
each failure, then we can improve ourselves

Posted By: tpro2000
Date Posted: April 05, 2004 at 11:23 PM

truth is i dont know much about them, but i know my car doesnt have the strongest alternator, and he has an older model, so i was just going along with what he said (and he gets no money out of it, so i didnt think he was telling me wrong)

one amp is a 60w x 4 (max power 960 watts), and the other is 150w x 2

so it would go from the dist to the cap to the amps (am i reading this right?)?

bare with me, lol, like i said, everything else is ok, thats the new thing for me

Posted By: Clean Install
Date Posted: April 05, 2004 at 11:38 PM

well thats not alot of power....demand if you ask me....my current amp I have 1500watt amp and its in a honda civic and well anyhow after having a cap on the amp and not....I did not notice a difference at all....like you will more than likely hear from others posting on your thread a cap is going to create a larger load for you alternator....but if you do get a cap make sure that its is about a 1.5farad cap....(1 farad for every 1k watts)

as far as placing the cap in before or after the dist. blk. I would see what the others think......

Mine cap was placed right before the amp I felt that was the best place...4me posted_image

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If we learn from each success and
each failure, then we can improve ourselves

Posted By: tpro2000
Date Posted: April 06, 2004 at 7:57 AM

thanks clean install for your info! yeah, im not sure if it's going to be worth it. maybe safer if i plan to upgrade subs in the future, who knows.

what does everyone else think?

Posted By: Ketel22
Date Posted: April 06, 2004 at 7:58 AM

imo if you know you have a weak alt. i wouldnt put a cap on until after i had upgraded the alt.

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