[[email protected]]

I have two amps -- 400 watts each -- can I just add a cap before the
distribution block or do I need a separate cap for each amp?

Thanks very much for your help. I appreciate it.

[flak_monkey[_12_]]

deus;678700 Wrote:
On 15 May 2007 08:03:02 -0700, wrote:

I have two amps -- 400 watts each -- can I just add a cap before the
distribution block or do I need a separate cap for each amp?

Thanks very much for your help. I appreciate it.

Do you really even need a cap in the first place?

--
deus


No he does not.


--
flak_monkey

[Matt[_2_]]

Ok, so I don't need a cap. Allow me to rephrase the question:

Can you install multiple amplifiers on one capacitor?

[flak_monkey[_13_]]

Matt;678712 Wrote:
Ok, so I don't need a cap. Allow me to rephrase the question:

Can you install multiple amplifiers on one capacitor?Yes. If it's big enough. I think it's supposed to be 1000w per farad.


--
flak_monkey

[Member02[_15_]]

no, it's less, and dependent on the alternator's abilities as well.


--
Member02

[PhattyMo]

wrote:
I have two amps -- 400 watts each -- can I just add a cap before the
distribution block or do I need a separate cap for each amp?

Thanks very much for your help. I appreciate it.



Yes,you can.

[flak_monkey[_16_]]

Okay, it's AT LEAST one farad to every 1000w. Every mfg I've looked at
says that. But caps are snake oil and they really don't do anything.


--
flak_monkey

[s3sqguy[_9_]]

They are just a tiny battery that can dump all of its current fast. From
what I read they only help your alternator live and maybe dimming lights
to a point. They only do something when your voltage drops momentarily,
then only last a fraction of a second. Any amp that is not a junk pile
should have sufficient cap storage inside for its needs. My bright idea
is to get a cheap jumper (auto jump start box) and hock the battery out
of that if you don't want to go full size. They are cheaper than a
cap($30?), pretty small/light, and actually hold power. Or leave it
together and have a light/power plug/jumper/portable power in your
trunk...most even have a voltage gauge of some sort and some an air
compressor or inverter.

It will not hurt anything to have a cap, mount it close to your amp
that runs subs and has the most draw/spikes. If to small it will just
do less as far as smoothing the current flow. The best thing to do is
put more battery capacity in if you have a power supply problem, and/or
bigger alternator. The cap may help a bit more if your amp wiring is too
small, but hardly enough to notice. I got a 1f for $15 I am going to use
with my stock alternator. If I need more I have an old jumper than I
will mount up.


--
s3sqguy

[GregS]

In article , PhattyMo wrote:
wrote:
I have two amps -- 400 watts each -- can I just add a cap before the
distribution block or do I need a separate cap for each amp?

Thanks very much for your help. I appreciate it.



Yes,you can.

At last an answer. But, technically, it would be best done at the distribution block.

greg

[D.Kreft]

On May 18, 10:55 am, s3sqguy s3sqguy.2qs...@no-
mx.forum.carstereos.org wrote:

They are just a tiny battery that can dump all of its current fast.

pick type="nit"
This is technically incorrect. A battery turns chemical energy into
electrical (and thermal) energy. A capacitor can only store a charge
applied to it--it creates no electricity.
/pick

They only do something when your voltage drops momentarily,
then only last a fraction of a second.

Correct. But the amount of time they "last" is dependent upon the size
of the cap and the resistance in series with the cap.

My bright idea is to get a cheap jumper (auto jump start box) and
hock the battery out
of that if you don't want to go full size. They are cheaper than a
cap($30?), pretty small/light, and actually hold power. Or leave it
together and have a light/power plug/jumper/portable power in your
trunk...most even have a voltage gauge of some sort and some an air
compressor or inverter.

I'm not sure this sounds like a sane idea. This sounds like a shade-
tree installer's version of adding a second battery--which is going to
add an additional load to the vehicle's (already strained?)
alternator.

It will not hurt anything to have a cap, mount it close to your amp
that runs subs and has the most draw/spikes. If to small it will just
do less as far as smoothing the current flow.

Capacitors do not smooth out current flow--they smooth-out voltage
fluctuations.
Capacitors respond instantaneously to current changes, but are slow to
respond to voltage fluctuations; inductors ("coils") respond
instantaneously to voltage changes but are slow to respond to current
spikes:

CLI - current lag inductor
VLC - voltage lag capactior

The best thing to do is
put more battery capacity in if you have a power supply problem, and/or
bigger alternator.

It's not really an "and/or" thing. If you add more batteries, you're
likely going to need to upgrade the alternator. When the engine is
running, the entire electrical system of the vehicle is powered by the
alternator, *not* the battery--the battery simply becomes another load
on the alternator. Upgrading the battery will give you greater reserve
power (for those times when the alternator can't keep up) and will
allow you to play louder and longer with the engine is off, but what
is normally needed is greater on-demand power when the engine is
running.

If you want to do the cheap thing, add a battery and maybe a cap. If
you want to do the right thing, a high-performance alternator is
prescribed.

This topic has been beaten to death on this newsgroup. Please do a
Google Groups search if you want to dig deeper.

-dan