Caps draining battery?
09-07-2007, 04:59 PM
#11
50 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 50
Originally Posted by JohnVroom
I simply said you were being imprecise, capacitors do not turn on or off like a lit display, if I am wrong then prove it electrically (I have been wrong before and will be again). Also if wired correctly a fully functional cap will not drain the battery in a way you would notice. 2 caps might set up a little RC network though and consume power.
Anyway I believe you are talking about the capacitor display turning on and staying on or is it other accessories too (neon?). A capacitor display will only draw milliamps which should be nothing to a healthy battery
Are you having trouble starting your car (why do you say the cap is draining the battery).
If you see my post as arrogant you are wrong this thread is not my arrogance, I simply 'dont get' the problem.
Anyway I believe you are talking about the capacitor display turning on and staying on or is it other accessories too (neon?). A capacitor display will only draw milliamps which should be nothing to a healthy battery
Are you having trouble starting your car (why do you say the cap is draining the battery).
If you see my post as arrogant you are wrong this thread is not my arrogance, I simply 'dont get' the problem.
09-07-2007, 06:05 PM
#12
Yankee
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,599
The cap should be installed in parallel to the incoming power meaning they are charged all the time... I am not sure the display is killing the batt... but something is... if you have 2 capacitors they 'could' do this but it would be unlikely ... but it is more likely it is something else (it could also be a coincidence that the battery was ready to go but that is unlikely)
my recommendation take the one (or both if there are two) capacitor out of the system, if that solves the issue then the cap is the source of the problem, if the battery drain persists the problem is elsewhere. While you are in there verify connection tightness, high resistance connections are the devil.
A lot of automotive stores will do battery/ alternator tests for you free (so they can sell you a battery or alternator)
BTW since the display is always on ... what is the battery voltage with the engine off? How long does it take to drain the battery to 11 volts ?
my recommendation take the one (or both if there are two) capacitor out of the system, if that solves the issue then the cap is the source of the problem, if the battery drain persists the problem is elsewhere. While you are in there verify connection tightness, high resistance connections are the devil.
A lot of automotive stores will do battery/ alternator tests for you free (so they can sell you a battery or alternator)
BTW since the display is always on ... what is the battery voltage with the engine off? How long does it take to drain the battery to 11 volts ?
09-08-2007, 07:39 AM
#15
Yankee
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,599
OK I was just on Lanzars, Stingers, Crutchfields and other sites and they offer the mounting information but they dont say diddly squat about the display except it should turn itself off, I assume you bought these used so there is no help from a retail shop. I think your battery was weak prior to this and the neons finished the job. Get the display to work properly (figure it out OR remove the capacitor) and buy a new battery which you probably now need.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
