Best Capacitor for my sub

[Nitr0Racing21]

I have 1 15" at 500watts I really need a good CAP, I can't stand my headlights and all interior lights flickering while i have my sub on.

I also will like to get a high output alternator.

[Blackhawk]

500 rms? You would want a .5 or 1 farad cap then, the general rule that I've heard is 1 farad per 1000 watts. Get your battery and alt load tested and do the big three before you buy a cap, 500 shouldn't do much.

[bryan]

I personally don't believe in capacitors since they just add another load for your alternator to charge. Like he said above, do the big 3. :) Next step is high output alt.

[Nitr0Racing21]

big 3?

[Big Joe]

big 3?

all questions can be answered here.

http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/search.php


Never liked capacitors either. IMO better off upgrading what you have now. I'm running 2 12's a couple of tv's and an air compressor off my stock electrical system. I'm probably at the point where I should upgrade but I havent gotten around to it yet and for the past 3 years I haven't had any problems...knock on wood.

[Blackhawk]

I'd personally use a cap as a last resort, but then again I'm not a know-it-all for car audio.

[Ralph]

you should not be experiencing those major probably with just a 500watt amp. You need to check your electrical system

[ChaunB3400]

^^Ditto...B4 you get a cap u need to no what one does...

http://glasswolf.net/caraudio/capacitors.html

But honestly I have run around 1500rms on a stock GA alt no problems...

If your lights are flickering you need to check your electrical system...Get a High Output Alternator at least 200amps and upgrade your Big 3 after that...

[Blackhawk]

^I'd do the big 3 first, cheaper and it may help the problem. But ditto on output, I'm running 1000rms and the only time I have flickering is right at startup if it's blaring or if the car isn't running. Check the battery and alternator soon and check back with us.

[Nitr0Racing21]

I searched for big 3 nothing came out i tried big 3 and big three

[ChaunB3400]

There are a few guides online that will show pics

http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp~TID~73496~PN~1

['96GAGT]

all questions can be answered here.

http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/search.php


Never liked capacitors either. IMO better off upgrading what you have now. I'm running 2 12's a couple of tv's and an air compressor off my stock electrical system. I'm probably at the point where I should upgrade but I havent gotten around to it yet and for the past 3 years I haven't had any problems...knock on wood.

Air compressor? Is this for a Train horn or an air ride system?

[ChaunB3400]

http://www.sounddomain.com/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/312025/page/1

[Big Joe]

Air compressor? Is this for a Train horn or an air ride system?

Horn.

[kutchers_ga]

Caps are useless.

[ChaunB3400]

I beg to differ. If you install and use it properly, it has it's benefits.
Before you believe what "everyone" says, test one out for yourself.
As I have mentioned numerous times in the past, no electronic component is "useless". If that were the case, they would never have been created.
Of course you can be biased towards testing. It can be made so that the caps "appear" useless. It can also be put under the right condition where it can perform as designed. So before you say something's "garbage" or "useless", know the facts.

[Anniku989]

Shit, I'm running a 1606d powering RE SE's, YT under the hood and big three, and I'm doing fine.

Caps are overpriced bandages that just cover up your problems, your WAY better off spending it on a battery, or a HO alt.

[ChaunB3400]

Capacitors were designed to achieve certain goals. If your "test" environment is set up in such a way, that caps aren't needed, then you'll conclude that they're "useless". However, as I mentioned, they were designed to accomplish certain tasks. Whether they're utilized properly or not is up to the individuals.
If you take your setup for example, and sub 50A alternator, 2000w amp, and blast it with long bass notes. It'll not only render caps useless, but it will appear as if it was adding to the problem. Under this condition, you'd conclude caps as "garbage".
This is why I said caps have to be used as "designed" and properly. You can't abuse something and say it's not performing.

[Anniku989]

I never said they didn't work. I just said they were overpriced for what they did.

Why spend almost $100 (depending on what cap you get, of course) on a cap, that'll do little for you, when for $150 you can add another battery in, and it'll help 5x what the cap did.

[xtantman]

500 rms? Get A kinetik 600 battery.

[tubpub11]

at 500w you really shouldn't need a cap. what kind of battery do you have? is it just stock. if it is I would definately invest in a new battery first. then if that doesn't help try the big 3. after that the HO alt. but with only 500w there's no way you should have to go that far. I don't think you would really need the big3 with that much power. the bigger battery should do.

[98GTKid]

I belive you when you say it. I have a 1200W max amp and when it comes to extended bass notes my headlights dim a little. What makes me not believe in caps is that my dad has a 2003 blazer (been rained on once and never been inthe snow) with barely 7000 miles on it and when he turns up his 1200W Max audiobahn system with a 1 farad capacater it dims the headlights just as much as my now 90k 1998 Grand Am. I have checked my battery cables and they are no more corroded than his!

For the most part I would check out the big 3 because as far as I can see a cap doesn't seem to do anything other than cost more money.

[kutchers_ga]

This is why I believe caps are useless. http://forum.realmofexcursion.com/showthread.php?t=17970

[ChaunB3400]

I belive you when you say it. I have a 1200W max amp and when it comes to extended bass notes my headlights dim a little. What makes me not believe in caps is that my dad has a 2003 blazer (been rained on once and never been inthe snow) with barely 7000 miles on it and when he turns up his 1200W Max audiobahn system with a 1 farad capacater it dims the headlights just as much as my now 90k 1998 Grand Am. I have checked my battery cables and they are no more corroded than his!


Max watts are pointless...RMS is the only number that matters...A cap will not stop your lights from dimming...plain and simple...

Anyhow, capacitors were designed for a specific purpose, and if utilized, it will perform. I don't ever recall seeing an electronic piece that were "garbage" or "useless".
Caps are great filters, especially since the rectifiers on the alternators are not perfect. They also can reduce voltage rails/spikes and reduce propagation delays in current supply/demand.
Theoretically, since caps can release stored energy at a faster rate than a battery and alternator, it's suppose to be able to keep up with current demands of an amp. Proving in the real world is much tougher cause music is dynamic.

[xtantman]

Caps are like a band aid, with more modern batteries like Kinetik batteries there is no need for a cap. U can pick up a Kinetic 600 for as cheap as 105 shipped on ebay and will be better than a cap.

[GtAudioFreak]

If you look hard you can find bigger kinetic batteries for cheap I got my HC 2400 for $125.

[xtantman]

yea i just ordered a kinetik 800 for my other car for about that price. How did u get a HC 2400 that cheap was it used? I knwo on ebay they had the 600 for 105 shipped, the 800 for 120 shipped and the 1400 for 182 shipped.