What Does a Car Audio Capacitor Do Exactly?
You can install a power cap into your car audio system to help maintain the cars electrical system. If you are running more than a 1000 watts rms, you are going to run into voltage drop issues when the bass hits at really high volume levels. This is because the cars battery and alternator can't keep up with the amount of amps the amplifier is wanting. Installing a car audio power capacitor can help boost up the voltage and help keep it stable. This is because they are designed to hold charge and provide it out in short bursts when it needs to. Some say these work, however a few minority claim that they are nothing more than an fancy volt meter to decorate your trunk.
In my own personal opinion adding a power capacitor will be benefical in some way. It won't be as good as doing the big three upgrade, adding a bigger amp alternator or a yellow top optima deep cycle battery, but its still something worth considering in the car audio world. When making your purchase you need to be aware that they come in different farad ratings sizes. The higher this number is the more charge it can hold. Generally, a 1 farad = for a 1000 watt system and 2 farad = for a 2000 watt system etc... As for the best recommended power caps to buy rockford fosgate and JL audio make some good quality products that are not overpriced and dont come with overated specs. You want to avoid cheap brands like Boss as they are all show and no go if you know what i mean.
Here is a brilliant installation guide to help you install a car audio power capacitor to your amplifier effortlessly in no time. Before you install it you will need to charge it up to stop a fuse from blowing out when connecting it for the very first ime
You can use this diagram to help you plan out the setup and how it connects to your car audio system
1) Remove the fuse from the red power wire cable and replace it will a electrical resistor rated around 500 ohms. Connect the volt meter probes to the terminals on the power cap to measure the voltage.
2) Attach a minimum 4 gauge thick black ground wire to the negative terminal on the power cap and mount it directly onto the chassis.
3) Remove the positive wire from the amplifier and connect it onto the positive terminal on the power cap.
4) You will notice that the volts will rise up to 12 volts. This means the capactior is charged to its full potential and is ready to be further installed into your car.
5) Turn off the cars ignition and allow the resistor to cool down for a couple of seconds as it will be hot from the current that was passing through it in the test performed earlier on. Then remove it and replace the fuse back into the power wire holder.
6) Connect a positive lead that is the same size as the ground wire used before directly to the positive terminal on the power cap feeding the other end into the car amp.
Here is a brilliant installation guide to help you install a car audio power capacitor to your amplifier effortlessly in no time. Before you install it you will need to charge it up to stop a fuse from blowing out when connecting it for the very first ime
You can use this diagram to help you plan out the setup and how it connects to your car audio system
1) Remove the fuse from the red power wire cable and replace it will a electrical resistor rated around 500 ohms. Connect the volt meter probes to the terminals on the power cap to measure the voltage.
2) Attach a minimum 4 gauge thick black ground wire to the negative terminal on the power cap and mount it directly onto the chassis.
3) Remove the positive wire from the amplifier and connect it onto the positive terminal on the power cap.
4) You will notice that the volts will rise up to 12 volts. This means the capactior is charged to its full potential and is ready to be further installed into your car.
5) Turn off the cars ignition and allow the resistor to cool down for a couple of seconds as it will be hot from the current that was passing through it in the test performed earlier on. Then remove it and replace the fuse back into the power wire holder.
6) Connect a positive lead that is the same size as the ground wire used before directly to the positive terminal on the power cap feeding the other end into the car amp.
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