How many Farad Capacitor?
12-20-2005, 09:06 PM
#1
0 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 20
Hi there.. I'm running two 10" JL 10W6's with a JBL 600.1 amp. Now, I realize that .5 - 1 farad should be sufficient. Was wondering if there is any benefit of overkilling with say 3-4 farad's, since I can get it for almost the same price. I have a new alternator under the hood, but I'm still getting some light dimming when the bass punches with the vehicle accessories on.
Justin
Justin
12-20-2005, 09:28 PM
#3
If you're only running 600 watts and the lights are dimming, then I would look elsewhere for the problem...
How many Amps is your Alt.? What kind of car? Any other amps in the chain?
But as far as a cap goes, they are ONLY bandaids, they 'solve' nothing, only attempt to hide the problem... Take a closer look at your electrical system, and make any improvements that you can, rather than using a cap.
Mark
How many Amps is your Alt.? What kind of car? Any other amps in the chain?
But as far as a cap goes, they are ONLY bandaids, they 'solve' nothing, only attempt to hide the problem... Take a closer look at your electrical system, and make any improvements that you can, rather than using a cap.
Mark
12-21-2005, 11:40 PM
#5
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 20
wasted911 - Thanks for the reply.
SQ civic... it's a BMW e36. Unfortunately the increased power draw is coming from a load of other mods in the car sucking up power. I understand a capacitor will not solve the amperage fluctuation, but it will solve the voltage fluctuation---which is my primary concern. Not as much because of the dimming lights, but because I have a lot of sensitive electronics in there, would like to minimize strain on the voltage regulator, and keep the voltage trickling into the battery constant. The amperage fluctuation I guess I can't do too much about without dropping loads of cash.. so this band-aid seems like a suitable solution for my needs.
Are there any downfalls to having say a 3 farad cap?
2 8's AKA Jeepbeats - I didn't upgrade the factory grounds, but that really is a smart idea. Thanks for the advice. Is there any benefit of upgrading the ground on the alternator as well?
Justin
SQ civic... it's a BMW e36. Unfortunately the increased power draw is coming from a load of other mods in the car sucking up power. I understand a capacitor will not solve the amperage fluctuation, but it will solve the voltage fluctuation---which is my primary concern. Not as much because of the dimming lights, but because I have a lot of sensitive electronics in there, would like to minimize strain on the voltage regulator, and keep the voltage trickling into the battery constant. The amperage fluctuation I guess I can't do too much about without dropping loads of cash.. so this band-aid seems like a suitable solution for my needs.
Are there any downfalls to having say a 3 farad cap?
2 8's AKA Jeepbeats - I didn't upgrade the factory grounds, but that really is a smart idea. Thanks for the advice. Is there any benefit of upgrading the ground on the alternator as well?
Justin
12-21-2005, 11:56 PM
#6
A lot of people do the big three: http://www.canadiancaraudio.com/cgi/...c;f=3;t=011293
Hope that helps! Welcome to the board, by the way.
Hope that helps! Welcome to the board, by the way.
12-22-2005, 01:17 AM
#7
Originally posted by Justin_Toronto:
Unfortunately the increased power draw is coming from a load of other mods in the car sucking up power. Justin
Unfortunately the increased power draw is coming from a load of other mods in the car sucking up power. Justin
Mark
12-22-2005, 09:51 PM
#8
some capacitance along the line will help with instantaneous Vdrop.. but the larger caps suffer from high ESR... some so outragious that your $2000 carbon cap from RF is totally NFG for the application.. yet people still buy them... [img]graemlins/freak.gif[/img]
I wouldn't go any higher then 2F in one shot, and a pair of 1F cans would probably be 4X better...
I wouldn't go any higher then 2F in one shot, and a pair of 1F cans would probably be 4X better...
01-24-2006, 10:29 AM
#9
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 20
Originally posted by Haunz:
some capacitance along the line will help with instantaneous Vdrop.. but the larger caps suffer from high ESR... some so outragious that your $2000 carbon cap from RF is totally NFG for the application.. yet people still buy them... [img]graemlins/freak.gif[/img]
I wouldn't go any higher then 2F in one shot, and a pair of 1F cans would probably be 4X better...
some capacitance along the line will help with instantaneous Vdrop.. but the larger caps suffer from high ESR... some so outragious that your $2000 carbon cap from RF is totally NFG for the application.. yet people still buy them... [img]graemlins/freak.gif[/img]
I wouldn't go any higher then 2F in one shot, and a pair of 1F cans would probably be 4X better...
These are the specs of the cap I'm looking at:
Capacitance: 2,000,000 micro farad (2 FARAD)
Working Voltage: 16DC
Surge Voltage: 24DC
Equivalent Series Resistance: 0.0015 ohm @ 120hz/25 C
Capacitance Tolerance: +- 10%
[ January 24, 2006, 11:47 AM: Message edited by: Justin_Toronto ]
01-24-2006, 11:30 AM
#10
well .0015 ohm is generally considered to be pretty standard for a good 1F cap... the one you posted is a 2F so if that # is accurate it sounds pretty good...
Some manufacurers will cheat the rating though... so be warned...
A good battery will generally have an ERS around .02-.04 ohms by compairison
Some manufacurers will cheat the rating though... so be warned...
A good battery will generally have an ERS around .02-.04 ohms by compairison
