Capacitor install enquiry

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=52348
Printed Date: July 13, 2025 at 5:18 AM

Topic: Capacitor install enquiry

Posted By: N34L
Subject: Capacitor install enquiry
Date Posted: March 22, 2005 at 7:03 AM

Hi, over the weekend I've installed a American Accessories 1,2 Farad Capacitor. Everything in my system operates and sounds fine. Now, the only question I have is , is a Capacitor suppose to stay on (LED Display on) after the car and everything else is switched off ?

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"when it's too loud, you're too old..."

Replies:

Posted By: wheelerdr
Date Posted: March 22, 2005 at 7:16 AM

Yes, it will store a charge until discharged

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Posted By: N34L
Date Posted: March 22, 2005 at 7:21 AM

For how long will a Capacitor remain charged and when will it eventually discharge ?

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"when it's too loud, you're too old..."

Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: March 22, 2005 at 8:54 AM

Number one: If the display is staying on, then I would guess the cap's display electronics are defective. Usually, digital caps have a remote terminal that turns the display on or off with the HU.

Number two: How long a cap stays charged depends ENTIRELY on the quality of the cap, including the materials used to build it. Higher quality materials will hold a charge longer than poor quality ones. The capacity of the cap will also affect how long you can get a spark out of it...

Car audio caps are usually of the electrolytic type, and usually built with better quality components than typical electrolytic caps.

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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."