OK to ground system at 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=58694
Printed Date: May 20, 2025 at 8:14 PM

Topic: OK to ground system at Capacitor?

Posted By: boulderguy
Subject: OK to ground system at Capacitor?
Date Posted: July 01, 2005 at 5:32 PM

Is it OK to use the ground on a capacitor (1F) as the comman ground point for everything else, or does the cap need to be isolated?

It'd be easiest to use the B+ and ground on the cap as the distro block. I'm sure the B+ is fine that way, not so sure about the ground. I guess this is kind of a physics question about how caps work.

Replies:

Posted By: dwarren
Date Posted: July 01, 2005 at 5:35 PM

Umm, I wouldn't.

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Posted By: boulderguy
Date Posted: July 01, 2005 at 5:49 PM

Why or why not - what's the problem?

Posted By: Blowntweeters
Date Posted: July 01, 2005 at 6:42 PM

I would not do that your just asking for trouble there is a reason for everything as far as the cap sell it on ebay and buy an alternater

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1974 ford pinto 4 15" punch Z power punch bd 1001 pioneer DEH-6700

Posted By: dwarren
Date Posted: July 01, 2005 at 6:56 PM

I would think that you would run into high resistance at the contact point. And if the cap should fail, you may have other issues.

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Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: July 01, 2005 at 6:58 PM

Actually there is no problem using the terminals on top a cap as a convenient connection point for power or ground... IF the cable going from the cap to ground is properly installed AND capable of handling all the current from any amps in the system.

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Posted By: boulderguy
Date Posted: July 01, 2005 at 7:05 PM

DYohn, thanks for the straight answer - starting to think it would never come.

Ground (will be) clean, cap is quality, 4awg cables for an 800w system. I was concerned about some abstract physics of the + travelling back thru the ground cables enroute to the battery & affecting the cap ground reserves.

sell my stuff & get an alternator - what's that about? My alternator's fine...

Posted By: Blowntweeters
Date Posted: July 02, 2005 at 9:51 AM

caps are junk your much better off with a H.O. alternater thats what that was about

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1974 ford pinto 4 15" punch Z power punch bd 1001 pioneer DEH-6700

Posted By: boulderguy
Date Posted: July 02, 2005 at 10:50 AM

So my cap is junk, huh. Maybe I should sell my whole setup & pickup a 31 yr old domestic hatchback and install nothing but subs. Would that be quality? Maybe change my screen name to "I_Screwed_up_my_speakers?"