I am not sure If I should buy a 1 Farad Capacitor or a 2nd battery for my car audio.
Here's my car info:
2003 Honda Civic
1 Year old Energizer Battery - CCA = 500
(MTX X500D) Mono Amp 500 watts for 2 10" Kappa Subs 102.7W
(MTX TC4004) 4 Channel Amp 1200 watts
*********************************************
First Person's Views:
***************
Someone told me to get a capacitor, it stores energy and will give a better deeper bass and will provide current when amps really need it. It will save my car from dim lights, etc.
2nd Person's Views:
**************
Another person told me, Amps always need power. When amp needs current, it will suck the capacitor dry in less than one second, leaving capacitor to use battery to charge up again. Once the capacitor is charged, that extra current can then be transferred onto the amp. Once capacitor is discharged, the vicious cycle continues. Capacitors are known in the car audio community as a marketing ploy to make people think they need something, when in reality, they really don’t. Take your money and invest it in a second battery. A capacitor these days runs between $50-$80. Add a few more dollars and you can get a second battery, which will supply your amplifier with much more power than a capacitor ever could, while not straining your electrical system.
So now I am confused. If I should get a capacitor or 2nd battery? :S
Can anyone please straighten this out? Please share any other suggestions you have in regards to this.
Thank you
Rey
Replies (4)
kirchatndftbl on 01/4/2009 22:02:12
what are the current problems with you charging system?? minor to severe dimming lights??
2nd persons views pretty much hit the topic over the head..
dont waste your money on a capacitor they will only make the problem worse in the long run..
spend the money on a better battery along the lines of a gel cell type, consider the optima yellow top..
also the big 3 upgrade will help allow current pass thru the charging system easier
http://www.sounddomain.com/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/312025/page/1#Post312025
im sure one of the golds can explain this in more detail if you need it..
ttocs on 01/4/2009 23:44:44
he was correct, neither a 2nd battery nor a capacitor will help you. You can only add a 2nd battery if you charging system can support it and most factory alternators are barely able to keep one battery full along with powering your shtuff so a 2nd will actually cause the alternator to work harder and burn out faster.
Your order of upgrades should go
1,)big 3 upgrade. Even if you run 0 awg to your amp the choke point in the system will be the factorys 10 awg grounds......
2.) High output alternator
3.) Then you can add a 2nd battery, but you need to have both batteries be the EXACTLY same so you will be buying 2, not 1.......
swez on 01/5/2009 01:45:36
Rey,
The guys here are shooting it straight about the subject in general. The main issues will show up at night, when you are out and about, cranking up the bass for extended times only.
You'll know the situation is reaching a problem stage when the headlights dim badly on deeper bass hits. If you have a dash gage that measures system voltage, watch it dance as the bass hits. These are all clues the audio gear is grabbing more power than that tiny battery and ALT can handle on their own.
If you run into trouble as you install this system, come here for tips and straight talk on how to work around the snags. Ttocs has been a Pro Installer for many years and knows the ropes well. His comments on an H.O. ALT, larger wiring to carry more current and a larger BAT are Standard procedures on such builds.
Kirch call it right too... the "Big 3 upgrade" will also help, But even a 5.0 Farad Cap has its limits. (Too small a storage device)
The long term answer is a larger charging system, (ALT) and a bigger electrical storage device. (BAT)
Comments?
Swez
Victor on 01/5/2009 06:29:23
In such case as yours..
1 - Big 3
2 - Replace Battery with a higher storage capacity ( cause its old and not in good shape )
( I would say in your case doing 1 & 2 would suffice )
3 - High output Alt.
4 - Multiple batteries/relays / isolators etc...
( 3 & 4 would be required if you have a high output system with more than a 1000wrms, of course this depends on the efficiency of the amps and current draw etc.. but lets not get into that.. )
* Buy a Stiffened Capacitor to watch sudden voltage drops ( a cap sure does do the work it is designed too, but it does not do all that it is hyped about ) ...
* A capacitor does not have place in building a strong foundation for your system... Refer steps 1-4 for that...
Victor...
Here's my car info:
2003 Honda Civic
1 Year old Energizer Battery - CCA = 500
(MTX X500D) Mono Amp 500 watts for 2 10" Kappa Subs 102.7W
(MTX TC4004) 4 Channel Amp 1200 watts
*********************************************
First Person's Views:
***************
Someone told me to get a capacitor, it stores energy and will give a better deeper bass and will provide current when amps really need it. It will save my car from dim lights, etc.
2nd Person's Views:
**************
Another person told me, Amps always need power. When amp needs current, it will suck the capacitor dry in less than one second, leaving capacitor to use battery to charge up again. Once the capacitor is charged, that extra current can then be transferred onto the amp. Once capacitor is discharged, the vicious cycle continues. Capacitors are known in the car audio community as a marketing ploy to make people think they need something, when in reality, they really don’t. Take your money and invest it in a second battery. A capacitor these days runs between $50-$80. Add a few more dollars and you can get a second battery, which will supply your amplifier with much more power than a capacitor ever could, while not straining your electrical system.
So now I am confused. If I should get a capacitor or 2nd battery? :S
Can anyone please straighten this out? Please share any other suggestions you have in regards to this.
Thank you
Rey
Replies (4)
kirchatndftbl on 01/4/2009 22:02:12
what are the current problems with you charging system?? minor to severe dimming lights??
2nd persons views pretty much hit the topic over the head..
dont waste your money on a capacitor they will only make the problem worse in the long run..
spend the money on a better battery along the lines of a gel cell type, consider the optima yellow top..
also the big 3 upgrade will help allow current pass thru the charging system easier
http://www.sounddomain.com/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/312025/page/1#Post312025
im sure one of the golds can explain this in more detail if you need it..
ttocs on 01/4/2009 23:44:44
he was correct, neither a 2nd battery nor a capacitor will help you. You can only add a 2nd battery if you charging system can support it and most factory alternators are barely able to keep one battery full along with powering your shtuff so a 2nd will actually cause the alternator to work harder and burn out faster.
Your order of upgrades should go
1,)big 3 upgrade. Even if you run 0 awg to your amp the choke point in the system will be the factorys 10 awg grounds......
2.) High output alternator
3.) Then you can add a 2nd battery, but you need to have both batteries be the EXACTLY same so you will be buying 2, not 1.......
swez on 01/5/2009 01:45:36
Rey,
The guys here are shooting it straight about the subject in general. The main issues will show up at night, when you are out and about, cranking up the bass for extended times only.
You'll know the situation is reaching a problem stage when the headlights dim badly on deeper bass hits. If you have a dash gage that measures system voltage, watch it dance as the bass hits. These are all clues the audio gear is grabbing more power than that tiny battery and ALT can handle on their own.
If you run into trouble as you install this system, come here for tips and straight talk on how to work around the snags. Ttocs has been a Pro Installer for many years and knows the ropes well. His comments on an H.O. ALT, larger wiring to carry more current and a larger BAT are Standard procedures on such builds.
Kirch call it right too... the "Big 3 upgrade" will also help, But even a 5.0 Farad Cap has its limits. (Too small a storage device)
The long term answer is a larger charging system, (ALT) and a bigger electrical storage device. (BAT)
Comments?
Swez
Victor on 01/5/2009 06:29:23
In such case as yours..
1 - Big 3
2 - Replace Battery with a higher storage capacity ( cause its old and not in good shape )
( I would say in your case doing 1 & 2 would suffice )
3 - High output Alt.
4 - Multiple batteries/relays / isolators etc...
( 3 & 4 would be required if you have a high output system with more than a 1000wrms, of course this depends on the efficiency of the amps and current draw etc.. but lets not get into that.. )
* Buy a Stiffened Capacitor to watch sudden voltage drops ( a cap sure does do the work it is designed too, but it does not do all that it is hyped about ) ...
* A capacitor does not have place in building a strong foundation for your system... Refer steps 1-4 for that...
Victor...
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