charging 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=36430
Printed Date: May 09, 2025 at 1:47 PM

Topic: charging a cap?

Posted By: shott8283
Subject: charging a cap?
Date Posted: July 29, 2004 at 8:12 PM

alright fellas.... the dumb question of the week.....CAPS....i know how they work but i dont know why they work......

why do you charge a cap?

when do you charg a cap during install procedure

how to charge a cap?

do you have to?

thanks fellas

Replies:

Posted By: shredder130
Date Posted: July 29, 2004 at 9:31 PM

just throw it in the trash and you will be fine

Posted By: xetmes
Date Posted: July 29, 2004 at 9:43 PM

lol @ shredder

why do you charge a cap?

Beacuse uncharged capacitors will draw an increadible current when first charged. This displacement current can draw as much (theoretically) as a dead short circuit for a short amount of time before charging. In other words, charging keeps the fuses intact and the wire from lighting on fire...

when do you charg a cap during install procedure

I always though it should be charged after mechanically installed and before any wiring is hooked to it...

how to charge a cap?

Usually caps come with devices for charging, its just a glorified resistor, you are tring to avoid that short amound of infinite (theoretically) current draw. So you put a resistor in series to charge it.

do you have to?

Its a good way to avoid blown fuses and broken caps, but its your call. It looks fine from my house posted_image

Posted By: Charles_R_H
Date Posted: July 30, 2004 at 9:56 AM

You can also use a small light bulb as a resistor to charge a cap.

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ELECTRONICS RUN OFF OF SMOKE, WHEN YOU LET THE SMOKE OUT THEY STOP WORKING