No power after 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=71034
Printed Date: May 14, 2024 at 6:04 AM
Topic: No power after cap!
Posted By: eaks
Subject: No power after cap!
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 10:21 AM
Hey guys.. i just installed a cap into my previously working system and now the amp recieves no power as well as the cap lights or digital display are not on! I split my ground and ran one to the amp and one to the cap, i then ran the power directly to the cap and then ran another power cable from the cap to the amp.. i then reconnected the battery power cable to the battery.. and now my cap, amp and sub arent working!!
Any ideas?
PS: its a 1.2 farred cap with lcd and leds.. none of which are working..
Please help me out!!
Thanks
Replies:
Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 10:40 AM
If you did not charge the cap CORRECTLY, you blew your fuses... Check 'em. Also to confirm this, check for voltage at the amplifier terminals.
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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."
Posted By: eaks
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 11:09 AM
im not sure how to do this.. i thought the cap was charged cuz it made a lil spark when connected to the amp.. i bought it from a pawn shop and it came with all packaging (not sure if brand new).. so what fuses do i check and how to i charge the cap?
Thanks
Posted By: eaks
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 11:10 AM
also can u give me step by step on what fuses and how to chrage it along with that tell me when to connect dissconect the battery wire from teh battery and when to return it!
Thanks a lot! i just dont wnana mess anything up
Posted By: eaks
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 11:36 AM
just checked the volts and there were a few settings (wasn't sure what one to use so i tried all) i got readins of like .001-.002 or 0.2.. so ur saying my fuses are blown and i need to charge? if u reread my first reply can u please let me know how to do this..
PS: i didn't get a resistor with my cap but i heard i can use a lightblub? what kind?
Thanks
Posted By: Bigsingh
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 2:17 PM
now firstly, you have to ground the 2 objects in different places. secondly you cant run a wire from your cap and then to your amp, u need to buy a distribution block for the postive. what u do is send the wire into the dist. block and then run 2 seperate wires from the dist block to the 1. amp and 2. the cap. remember ground them in different places and all wire sizes shud be the same, and this shud solve ur problem.
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6* Rockford T2's
6* POWER AMPs
BLACK CORRADO
BAANNGGIINN
Posted By: eaks
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 2:39 PM
ok.. what about charging that amp? i shouldn't need to do it?
Posted By: Bigsingh
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 3:05 PM
what do you mean charging the amp, just try the steps i have layed out and hopefully everything will be cool
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6* Rockford T2's
6* POWER AMPs
BLACK CORRADO
BAANNGGIINN
Posted By: eaks
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 3:15 PM
i am going to.. im just having trouble finding another ground in my trunk (2001 neon).. after i get that done i will wire it up and see how it goes.. rite now im just testing with a bit smaller gauge wire (10) just to make sure it works and then ill go out and buy sum more 6 gauge and do it again!
Posted By: eaks
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 3:16 PM
ALSO.. i meant to say do i need to charge the cap.. And if so ive heard it can be done with a lightbulb? what kind and how many watts?
thanks
Posted By: Mad Scientists
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 4:24 PM
Yes, you should still charge the capacitor. Use a regular taillight bulb.. like an 1157. It's not really important what kind of bulb you use; if you try to charge the cap without using something to slow down the current going into the cap it'll look like a dead short to the wiring. This is not a good thing. Try a google search on cap charging.. I'd think you'd find something there. Jim
Posted By: eaks
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 4:49 PM
ok.. but i tried just running my amp and it wudn't work so i checked out my battery fuse and it was blown.. anyone know where i can find one in canada? I tried canadian tire, source and wal-mart.. none had them..
Posted By: eaks
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 5:05 PM
need to find a 100A 32V fuse!1
Posted By: placid warrior
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 5:29 PM
U might have to change the fuse type. I havent had luck with 100A fuses but if u are using 4gauge wire then u can go to future shop or something and pick up a 150A fuse, costs like 14 bucks, you'll have to make a little mounting block for the fuse though...i made one out of a 2x2 block of wood and some bolts. Just make sure u countersink the bolts so they dont touch the metal of the vehicle.
Another idea would be to spend a little extra and get a resetable cuircit breaker...i've seen em at beam riders for like 80-90 bucks(we got a new store by us so i had to take a look...overpriced and the service sucked)
Posted By: eaks
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 5:58 PM
https://cgi.ebay.ca/CAR-AUDIO-STEREO-12-VOLT-CIRCUIT-BREAKER-FUSE-140-AMP_W0QQitemZ5854528125QQcategoryZ32813QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
What about that? i just bought one and am going to try it out.. do i need to mount it or can it just sit under the hood?
Thanks
Posted By: eaks
Date Posted: January 27, 2006 at 11:43 AM
Hey guys.. i had an older post that i thought i wudn't reserect so i decided to ask in a new one.. ok.. i have a voodoo cap that i bought from a pawn shop in original packaging but not possitive if it was brand new.. i tried to install it without charging and blew my main fuse.. replaced it with a breaker.. then i threw a charger together by soldering wires to a tailite bulb and connect it in seris b4 the cap
Batt----Breaker----Taillight----Cap----Ground
like that.. and the lightbulb stayed on for over 5 mins.. so im not sure if its charging correctly.. i thought that it was sopose to turn off when the cap is charged.. but it didn't.. so i just shut it down and reconnected my amp and sub and dont have the cap installed yet..
Can sumone help me to get it installed?
Thanks
Posted By: sk8ingsmurf
Date Posted: January 27, 2006 at 12:12 PM
Well first off why are you installing a cap, I mean you have surely read all of hte cap user flames on this board, its like suicide to come on here and ask any questions about a cap. With that aside you should be able to just put the cap in line with your amp(s) and it will charge when you turn the car on (you should turn the car on immediately after you do this, as it has been known to drain a battery or two in the past). Shouldnt have to charge it off a seperate circuit, and you definitely should not disconnect or handle it while it retains its charge, you are always supposed to discharge before removing caps.
Posted By: geepherder
Date Posted: January 27, 2006 at 7:24 PM
Yes, using a light bulb will charge a cap. It's not uncommon to take 5 min or more to do. It really depends on the wattage of the bulb you use, and the capacitance value of the cap. A higher wattage bulb will charge a cap quicker, but a higher value cap will also take longer to charge. Did you notice the light dimming at all? If the light did not dim, the cap may be shorted internally (no good). You can test this with a multimeter. First test the cap for any voltage at all- if it has none, it's safe to try and "ohm" it. If it does have voltage across it, then that means it was taking a charge. A fully discharged cap will read like a direct short initially, but as it will change, and as it charges it will theoretically reach infinity (open). ------------- My ex once told me I have a perfect face for radio.
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