Farad cap

[Mopard]

Is a Farad cap nessasary? Does it help out the sound of the bass. Is it really needed at all?

[volare360]

nope should not be needed unless.....

when your bass hits do your headlights dim exessivly-easy way to tell
will one help the sound of bass-well if your amp isnt getting a full 13 volts plus when the bass hits,then it may help
if your amp is drawing more that your charging system can give it then it COULD help-altho a better fix is to get a stronger alternator
a cap can help if you dont have enuf charging to keep up to the amps draw-a crutch as I read in a mag
comp vehicles will have them-every little bit helps
if you are running more than 1000 watts to subs and you listen to it LOUD-then sure get one


I have a 96 cavalier
running a 4 guage power wire splitting to 2 8 guage in the trunk
the subs are getting about 300 watts peak each
and 500 watts to the rest of the speakers
the bass can hit the threshold of pain-some songs I have I can feel my eardrums start hurting-I turn it down quickly at that time
the deck will go to 35 without clipping
depending on the song and the copy of it-27 is about the max I can stand it
stock charging system-original alternator-2 year old battery original size
with everything on as high as it will go-just a slight flickering of the lights-I think that is from the filiments bouncing

now that said-it is something that may not be needed,but may not hurt-as long as you have enuf juice to power the cap
I do plan on putting in a cap--I have a phoenix gold 1 farad cap-have yet to install it,dont need it but it will look good
I am planning on adding another amp sometimes
when I am done I will have about 700 watts RMS

[Mopard]

Yes I do like it LOUD just about all the time. I have a total of 1000 watts in the system. 600 watts to the subs and 400 to the rest of the speakers. I would like to have a little more to the rest of the speakers. What is a good brand of cap or are they all the same?


Oh,........ by the way,.............would you be willing
to sell that cap you have?

[volare360]

with 600 watts to subs then a cap wouldnt hurt
make sure you get a good brand name-goes without saying



Oh...BTW.....not really
I got it off of ebay
not really expencive

[Mopard]

I will definately add a cap to the system. Do you know of a good brand name?

[volare360]

where do you get your equipment
if at stores go to stereo shops and see what they carry
if online-well anything
phoenix gold/lightning audio/rockford fosgate are sold in my area-depends on preference

[Mopard]

I shop at Ebay and at Crutchfield. Thats about it.

[rockabilly_kid]

there should be only one deciding factor when deciding wether or not to install a capacitor for your sound sysytem.....do you have an amplifier? buying a larger alternator is like putting mudders on your truck without droppin your gears...doesn't make much sense...you alternator is designed to charge the battery, not supply current to your stereo. a battery with a better aH rating would be your best bet.
the capacitor is the accelerator pump of your system.....when you push on the gas (when the bass hits) you want the reserve of current there...

i've been installing car audio professionaly for 16 years.
if you have questions please email me at the_rockabilly_kid@yahoo.com

i could suggest a few brands to you

[volare360]

see
I was waiting for someone to get more comments
I have accually heard just about every opinion on caps
most car audio mags I have gotten even dont agree

rockabilly hear me out before you start blasting me-I am directly contradicting you-I will be expecting a blasting but listen first

charging system basics---
the alt supplies electrical power to your whole car,not just to charge the battery
the battery supplies power only to start the car,and when electrical output exceeds the alt--also to charge a discharged battery from starting ect
putting in a bigger battery would help,but if your alt cant support the power draw,then you will drain the battery,putting even more draw on the alternator

if you have a dead alternator,the car will run directly off the battery till it is drained enuf not to run
if you have a dead battery,the car will need a boost,then will run indefidently with a good alternator,you could even disconnect the battery and it will be fine,not suggested,could cause feedback on the alternator and regulator


as I said-turn on all power equipment
if you lights are dimming when the bass hits,then you should upgrade something
(means you are exceeding the alt power output)
if they are only dimming a bit,then cap it and try again
if they are dimming alot with hardly any equipment on,then a battery will only help so long,then get drained,while an alternator may keep up with the draw,or at least charge the battery faster
a stock alternator will handle some equipment,how much depends on the condition of your charging system

the alternator is NOT like the tires on your truck
the battery is the starter
the alternator would be the engine
your power cables would be the drive train
amp the rear gears
speakers the tires

upgrade the speakers alot,you need better gears(amp)
do too much in the gear/tire department,you need more power
more power should have an upgrade in the tranny ect

I dont mean to contradict a professonal installer
I have only been doing stereos for 10 years,only gotten really into it for 5
BUT-I have taken alot of automotive courses,read stereo mags and books,did alot of research lately,talked with alot of stereo "experts"

[desktopsilver]

get a monster cable 1 farrad cap..............................WARNING ....................WARNING.......... the caps come with two different length bolts use the shorter ones and very very carfuly thread the cap ....evryone out there has stripped a cap...(very eaisy to do/do not over tighten) also when charging use the supplied diode do not do an intial charge without it.............if buying on ebay take measures to insure you dont buy a privieously stripped cap.

[Mopard]

Thanks for all the info, desktopsilver, volare360, rockabilly_kid.
That was very nicely put, volare360 and rockabilly_kid. When you put it all in car terms I understand better. What do you mean by a bigger battery? I have a new Die Hard gold version with 1000 cranking amps. I might get the monster cable 1 farrad cap if I can find one.

[volare360]

no problem
bigger battery is exactly that,one with more amps like you have
alternators have more output in amps

[Mopard]

Well, I'm glad to see that I did something right with the choice of battery.

I might use a Lightning Audio cap. It is cheaper in price. I hope it is not cheap in quality. Well they always say;

"You get what you pay for".

[volare360]

that has to be the best quote in existance

there are alot of good products out there
as was said
make sure you fire it up correctly when you do hook it up

if you are into car audio,just pick up a mag someday
browse
that is what i did,and I have gotten alot of info sometimes out of them
which ones,what ever they have where you shop
go online and check them out
Lightning Audio--good equipment that I know of,they started out by making wiring,caps,blocks ect
just recently they started into speakers,subs and amps

dont just buy something cause it is cheap
check online,in stores,ask
its the same as when you rebuild your car,you can never have too much info