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when is capacitors used?
On 21 Dec 2003 00:47:27 -0800, (Stevo)
wrote:
"Mark Zarella" wrote in message ...
I heard that the car battery cannot supply current at a fast enough rate
(because of chemical reaction neccesary)
You heard wrong. Current due to electron flow moves at the speed of light.
for subwoofers and that a cap is
needed.
At what power ratings should one start to worry about this?
You should start to address whether or not a capacitor will help you if your
headlights are dimming such that it's become an annoyance to you. When that
happens, consider installing capacitors as close to the headlights as
possible. Oftentimes it won't be much more money to buy a high output
alternator or have yours modified by a shop. This is a much more effective
tool to reduce dimming.
WHAT?!?!?!?!....ok if ur headlights dim.... that means that its not
only the headlights that have the shortage issue its everything
sitting on this electric circuit...installing a cap near the
headlights will only take care of the headlights....not everything
else...the car will still be affected by this lov voltage
Well, as Mark said, installing the cap near the headlamps
gives the headlamps preference when it comes to using the capacitors
output, but the rest of the car's electrical system still sees the
benefits of the capacitor.
Mark and I cordially disagree on this point, though. I think
that if there's enough of a voltage drop between the battery and the
headlamps such that you need to put the cap near the headlamps, then
the headlamp wiring probably needs some attention. This is based on
my installs, where the connection between the battery and the cap (if
a cap is even needed) is never less than a 4-gauge wire. This means
that there's essentially no voltage drop between the cap and the
battery, so if there's a voltage drop between my cap in the trunk and
the headlamps under the hood, it's a deficiency with the headlamp
wiring. Other people's installs may have different results.
Also, Mark makes the point that just because you're seeing
flickering of your headlamps and/or dash lighting, the rest of your
car , including your stereo, may be perfectly happy. Lights will
noticeably flicker with as little as a 1-volt drop, but things like
ignition systems, computers, and most stereo components are regulated
to work just fine with anything from 11V or lower up to 16V. Even if
you have an unregulated power supply in your amplifier, the
short-duration voltage drop probably isn't going to be noticeable to
your ears, even if it causes your lights to flicker.
Scott Gardner
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