Capacitor problem?
 

I got a capacitor recently (basically given to me, I've read enough hating on them here to not buy one), 1.7 farad.

I'm running 2 JL 15w3v2s, and an Alpine Type R 12 off a Hifonics Brutus 1500d amp, ohm load is 3/4 an ohm, I believe.

Anyways, I tried to install this capacitor to help.

I charged it, like in the instructions, and when I'm just running current through it to a ground, the voltage meter on it read 14.4.

When I break the circuit to put the wire from a ground into the positive terminal of my amp, the capacitor slowly loses voltage, dropping to maybe 9 before I can actually get my system running.

At this point, it makes the Hifonics logo on my amp light up slightly, but not the power LED, and voltage stays around 9.

Anyone have any advice?

not sure what your doing but it sounds like your putting a ground to your positive terminal?

the cap should be wired parallel.

so your main power cable goes to the positive of the cap then another cable from the positive of the cap to the amp positive.

then run a ground line to the cap and a second ground line to the amp.

Wow, I feel like an idiot. I was under the impression the cap was just supposed to be in-line with your positive.

Attachment 19787

I should wire it like that?

yup, like that.


but i personally run 2 grounds, not 1.

it would be the same way if your running a second battery as well.

Yeah, I was going to ask that next. Think it will make a difference?

i've been told grounding is more important then most think. i had some free wire so i put in 2 grounds.

if you haven't done the Big 3 yet, that helped with my dimming issues as well as the cap i have.

I haven't done the big 3, but I intend to, at some point. Haha.

If I have the wiring, I'll do another ground. If not, I'll run it like the illustration.

I'll be back in 20 minutes with the results, haha. Thanks a lot!

That did the trick. I still get some pretty bad dimming, but it seems to have helped a little bit.

same was for me, just a cap wasn't enough. a cap plus the big stopped dimming while driving with my old setup. but with my new one i will drop down to 12v at idle.

i'm going to test what it's like with a second battery.