Capacitor Insall

[GoVrtcL]

I am working on my system and I bought a Rockford Digital 1 Farad Capacitor the other day and wanted to just check on hwo it installs so I don't mess it up. Now to get power to it I got a Rockford Distribution block, one to the Cap. and one to the AMP. Thats normally how it is done, right? Then I just grounded it and ran teh remote wire into the remote wire for the AMP. Now when I am hooking some power to it, I just put the Resistor that it came with on the pos. and neg. with my hands and then when it charges up I just take it off correct? Or exactly how does that work? Thanks.


-diL

[mnchvgs79]

http://www.caraudiohelp.com/car_audio_capacitor_installation/car_audio_capacitor_installation.htm

[incudose]

what does a capactor do, ive always wondered but never new, from what i read, its just more power to the amps??

[mnchvgs79]

what does a capactor do, ive always wondered but never new, from what i read, its just more power to the amps??

It really doesnt do much for car audio to be honest, the capacitors inside your amplifier do a lot though. An external capacitor basically just smooths out the power to your amplifier and provides an instant power source for when the bass hits, instead of relying on the battery.


IMO spend your money on buying better speakers and amplifiers

[BigTomCallahan]

wouldnt it also help the alternator b/c of the surges in power from the bass?

[phigity]

caps are for big bass hits. it stores energy and when the bass requires a lot then it puts it out. really no need for them unless your into competing (bass offs, burps). but still a nice assocessory to have. i'll pick one up sometime i'm sure.

[BiG B7184]

wouldnt it also help the alternator b/c of the surges in power from the bass?


not really cuz its just an extra load on the alternator

[Slamd_S_Dyme]

Caps are nice but not really neccissary unless youve got a pretty beefy system IMO. Ive had a few systems with and without and to be honest, unless youre competing it wont make much difference.

[c85jl]

i thought they kept the headlights and stuff from dimming during a big hit?

[GoVrtcL]

i thought they kept the headlights and stuff from dimming during a big hit?

Yea they are supposed to, that is why I got it. My headlights were dimming like crazy when I had jsut oen sub hooked up, now that I am getting two, I know they will dim even more now.

[c85jl]

yeah i know when i have my bass turned all the way up, the headlights dim and my battery guage moves to the music....kinda cool...haha...well not really...good investment...

[oapy123]

capacitors are like band-aids, they attempt to cover up the problem of not enough power. They help somewhat with dimming because they provide extra power for big bass hits. They smooth out the voltage going to the amp giving it a constant voltage level as opposed to not having it, the amp wouldnt be getting a constant voltage, it would be going up and down with every hit. Now the problem with the cap is that it is just one more thing that the alternator has to charge up. So basically, spend the money on a higher output alternator and then if you have more cash, get a capacitor.