Do i need a Cap?
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
From: Escondido (North San Diego) California
In due time...I'll need pics for insurance reasons, but am waiting on my Fishman grill for my sub. But, even with all the Elemental Designs advice/recommendations, I actually didn't get any ED stuff. I went with Infinity Kappa Perfects for the speakers, Knukonceptz for wiring, Frost king/Reflectix, and built my own box/panels.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
The corvette system is better than most .. but EVERYTHING in the whole damn car is pulling voltage for one reason or another .. its kinda crazy to me. I have my voltage up in my DIC most of the time and I stay pretty stable for the most part. If I push the system, have my piaa 1100's and headlights on the bass can hit hard enough to trigger the tc/ah (system gets a little crazy when it sees about 12 volts instead of the normal 13.6+)
I have always been in the bandaid camp myself (for caps) and have had a couple crazy systems and never run one. I will be doing the big 3 real soon as I need to ... I hate the headlight dim thing. I feel like a beater car with some POS amp and a flea market 15" trying to "bump"
I still think that you should install everything and drive it (while pushing the charging system) and see how it works out.
Fej
I have always been in the bandaid camp myself (for caps) and have had a couple crazy systems and never run one. I will be doing the big 3 real soon as I need to ... I hate the headlight dim thing. I feel like a beater car with some POS amp and a flea market 15" trying to "bump"
I still think that you should install everything and drive it (while pushing the charging system) and see how it works out.
Fej
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,718
Likes: 20
From: Dyer IN
Cruise-In IX Veteran
I agree 100% install it drive it and see how it reacts every setup will be different. I did my big3 with 4ga and now I need to rip it out and redo it with 0ga i guess when your system pulls in excess of 200amps you need charging system upgrades
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by MEXAKNPWR
i would have to add my 2 cents and state that most caps, 1 farad, 2 farads, are bandages on a cut that needs---i guess the other available simile would be stitching.
The hole's still there, you just can't see it
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,201
Likes: 0
From: DP(oh you know where) IL
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by fej
The corvette system is better than most .. but EVERYTHING in the whole damn car is pulling voltage for one reason or another .. its kinda crazy to me. I have my voltage up in my DIC most of the time and I stay pretty stable for the most part. If I push the system, have my piaa 1100's and headlights on the bass can hit hard enough to trigger the tc/ah (system gets a little crazy when it sees about 12 volts instead of the normal 13.6+)
I have always been in the bandaid camp myself (for caps) and have had a couple crazy systems and never run one. I will be doing the big 3 real soon as I need to ... I hate the headlight dim thing. I feel like a beater car with some POS amp and a flea market 15" trying to "bump"
I still think that you should install everything and drive it (while pushing the charging system) and see how it works out.
Fej
I have always been in the bandaid camp myself (for caps) and have had a couple crazy systems and never run one. I will be doing the big 3 real soon as I need to ... I hate the headlight dim thing. I feel like a beater car with some POS amp and a flea market 15" trying to "bump"
I still think that you should install everything and drive it (while pushing the charging system) and see how it works out.
Fej
get xenon lights, they draw less power and I dont think they dim
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 14,137
Likes: 2,985
From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Originally Posted by Arfboy
You don't seem to understand the purpose of a stiffening capacitor. They are MEANT to be discharged and charged quickly to smooth out voltage spikes and can be very useful if you use them for the right purpose. Some audio systems place such a strain on your electrical system already that the cap won't help much, if any.
To the thread starter,
Do the big three, it is the cheapest to do. If you still have dimming problems (which I'm guessing you won't) then get a cap.
The general rule of thumb is 1 Farad per 1000 watts rms. This is a case were more is better so look into bigger caps
In two of the four vehicles I have, two of them have the Alumipro C.A.P. 15 Farads for systems that have approx 2000 watts rms. The cap in the Talon WAS needed since the altenator sucks. It was rewound form a weak 75 amps to a weak 95 amps :o
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,196
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
You can pickup a small battery (forgot what the technical name is, they look like motercycle batteries or seadoo batteries) that are 1000x more powerful and cost the same...and are small enough to put anywhere.
I run a cap in mine only because after I put in my optima, it still dims some. It is probably due to my wires not being large enough though.
I run a cap in mine only because after I put in my optima, it still dims some. It is probably due to my wires not being large enough though.
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Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
i'm reviving this old thread because Ive made some modifications to the system plans. at RMS i'll be pulling 70ish amps and at the peak i'll be needing 140.
i've heard that capacitors also serve to "clean up" the dirty power signal from the alternator much like certain high end power strips clean up the power for home theatre systems.
an optima red top is on the list and possible an aftermarket HO alternator. For those of you that have caps, what do you reccomend for a 1000-1500W range?
i've heard that capacitors also serve to "clean up" the dirty power signal from the alternator much like certain high end power strips clean up the power for home theatre systems.
an optima red top is on the list and possible an aftermarket HO alternator. For those of you that have caps, what do you reccomend for a 1000-1500W range?
