stiffening capacitor

i want to install a capacitor in my car becaue someone told me that my system neded one because it would help the sound and the cars power supply........what do i need to install one?........and how do i install one?............im clueless on this so a little info is alot to me thanx

get a second opinion.... they are rarely a "cure-all" for the problems you may be having.....

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Kevin Gerry
Certified Electronics Technician
MECP First Class Installer

Owner/Installer
Classic Car Audio
since 1979

What problems are you having or what reasons are there that he might have suggested this to you?

I agree, get a second opinion.

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'85 Toy

I have another question about caps.  I have 2 kicker L7 12" subs and 2 Kicker sub amps.  Should I use a cap for each sub/amp combo?  So have a total of 2-caps???

Well do you have enough power in the first place?  If you already have an HO alternator, then a cap can be helpful.  Adding caps to an already burdened stock alternator can cause it to work harder and die faster.

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That's my opinion. Take it, leave it, or correct me.

No, a cap won't "help" in your situation, although it won't "hurt" as I have seen suggested.

Your only option, EVER, is an HO alternator. The power fram ANY system never comes from caps, batcaps or batteries. It will always come from the alternator. If the alternator is too small for the job, you can't add a "magic box" (a cap) and make the source of the power in ANY electrical system (a generator or alternator) make more power than it already can... Thus the name "generator"; it generates.

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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."

Caps are real cool to look at, but as it says above you don't need one. You need a ho alt .                                                                                                                                       I run a battcap. 400ampbatt 6 fared cap all in one, BUT I also run a 200amp alt. I also run 2 1000ca  Duralast batt under the hood. Do I need the battcap? No not really. Do I like the way it looks? Yes, and it ain't hurting anything. So if you want a cap, get one. Just make sure you have the ho alt and the big three first.

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Big Dave

thanks for the info...since I dont have a HO Alternator I will not get any caps...

You don't need an HO Alt to run caps, there just generalizing. Your alternator just has to put out enough power to supply the drain on the system. So if it can, by all means get one if you wish. They come with a resistor to charge it before you perminently attach it and it also allows you to discharge it in a controled matter, i.e not into your body.

Upgrade all the wires to and from your car battery with 0g... If that dosent work then get an H/O ALT.

A capacitor is essentially a quick discharging battery, if you think of a battery that stores energy. The ALTERNATOR creates energy from the engine and it is this that supplies your car with power. If it cant supply it with enough, then it will draw from the battery. The battery's only job is to start the car, and keep the clock going when the car is off.


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From my understanding of caps (i'm learning so it may not be really accurate) they can help by the bandaid effect but other things should be adressed before buying a cap.

With the cap right before the amp it allows extra current to be drawn from the cap before voltage drops so it does smooth out the voltage drops...HOWEVER the only way a cap can do that is if the ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance) is less than the resistance between the power source (alt) to the amp...if the resistance between the source and the amp is less than the resistance of the cap, the cap will be bypassed and be useless.

U should do everything u can first to eliminate voltage drops (due to poor connections, improper wire size, etc..) and maximize current flow to the amp. If a cap charges as quick as it discharges then there is no need for a cap as u should be able to keep up with demand. Different amps also lend a hand as to wether a cap will help or not, a good high end amp will have a bank of caps which will be able to keep up with the changing power demand a cheaper amp will not and will likely benifit from a cap...also the guy running 600W through 8guage will benifit more than the guy running 1/0guage. There are too many people saying caps are helping to pass caps off as completely useless...the thing to know is when to use one (when all other options are ruled out) and what to look for in a good one.

There are way too many arguments about caps and i'm trying to find middle ground, i dont think i can get there untill i have actually tested different setups, different ways and personally experienced the differences.