Will I need a cap...or ANYTHING else?!?!

[echomakr]

OK, here's my goods...

Not much, but will serve the purpose.

1 MTX tri 10" sub enclosure.
1 Phoenix Gold xs 2500 amp...will supply 500 watts @4 ohms bridged to the box.
1 stinger wiring kit

I'm keeping the factory deck b/c I like the double din 6 disc changer at my fingertips.


Do i need a .5 farad cap...or anything else...I don't want lights dimming or any other impedance to the electrical system, so if I need something I'm willing to buy it.

I'm in an 02 X w/ v-8 (don't know if this matters)

 

[id92]

i got the same amp pushin 2 jl 12's and at night all the lights dim every time the bass hits..also my battery/alternator gauge flickers to the bass..so i would assume you need a cap..i haven't got one yet

 

[leenjen]

why buy a .5 farad cap? for just a few bucks more, you can get a 1 farad cap. more is better

 

[echomakr]

Just seeing if anyone on the board here really knows about car audio...

A cap will do nothing...

.5 farad or 1 farad, they are absolutely useless.

Dead Link Removed

If you really want to get down to the nitty gritty of car audio and electrical engineering, spend a little time on the latter thread.

 

[Jefe]

Originally posted by echomakr
Just seeing if anyone on the board here really knows about car audio...

A cap will do nothing...

.5 farad or 1 farad, they are absolutely useless.

Dead Link Removed

If you really want to get down to the nitty gritty of car audio and electrical engineering, spend a little time on the latter thread.

Now hold on. They aren't useless. Go back and read that thread a few times (afterall, I spend 3 hours of my night reading it). Note that they are talking about/testing a large (15 Farad) capacitor with a high ESR (0.017 ohms). A Lightning Audio 1 Farad cap, as an example has an ESR of less than 0.0015 ohms, which would perform much better. (but obviously not in that same high-current situation)

To make an extremely long story short: A cap is useful until the electrical system drops to 12.8, at which time the battery will dominate. The point at which that happens depends on the ESR (lower the better) of the cap, and the max current of the alternator.

 

[echomakr]

Jefe,

Your car's stock system is OK to 2k watts, then if you add the cap it's pointless.

Lights dimming is not a cap issue for example, it's a speed issue between the alternator...

Tell me under what circumstances you'd find a cap useful?

Better yet, test a system with or without a cap and let me know when you can meter a voltage difference?


I have a feeling you'll be testing a long time!

 

[brent239]

Oh Know, Lets not bring that argument over here! Remember Echomaker, This is just a bunch of guys with explorers and nice stereos. I dont think anyone here (besides leenjen!!) really can get that technical to the degree that richard clark can. He is a very smart guy, and we are just a bunch of X freaks trying to hook a brother up!!!

 

[leenjen]

i do know some stuff, but not everything.

now capacitors aren't useless. they work best on an amp with a non regulated power supply. i run high current amps in most of my vehicles, and there is a big difference if you take out the caps. this debate has been argued on many forums and the end result is always: While most people dont need a capacitor, they are useful in many high power systems"
a capacitor doesnt have so much to do with storage of power, as it does with the DC Rails.

my point is:

don't come here saying people dont know what they are talking about, and saying "caps are worthless" that is one of the more ignorant statements i have heard. i am not calling you ignorant. i'm sure you know quite a bit about car audio. i'm just saying that you could've worded your statement differently. also, while your source is reliable, dont believe everything you read and post a thread about it. and dont skim through a technical article (you might just miss some important facts) and post that you know all the answers...
no disrespect is intended, i just want to let you know that your statement is false and there was no reason to post this thread in the first place.

 

[brent239]

couldn't have said it any better than that