Capacitors

Hello,
I was just wondering about caps,Im just interested what people think,I never messed with one but people sure don't seem to like them.I was wondering why do they still sell them..lol!!

 

If you could convince people to buy a completely useless piece of equipment would you still sell it? That's why they exist. They exist because idiots exist.

 

this, there is no need for them if you have a good battery

 

Flux?

 

They need to be handled with care when charged. That's where the fear comes into play. Just watch a YouTube video on cap discharging.

The thing that sets a cap apart from a battery is its ability to release loads of current much quicker for a very short period of time. This is why most folks going for high SPL will have batteries and caps, the caps release the same voltage but higher currents to keep the wattage stable on the initial burp of sound. This is when you can create the highest SPL.

In most typical setups it important to not overload your factory components with high wattage systems without upgrades to wiring, batteries, alternators, etc.

Hope that help clear up the confusion and help you decide if a cap may be for you or not.

 

Caps can and do work. However, they work best in conjunction with amplifiers made to a price point.

Why do I say that and what do I mean?

Well, I'm a physicist and not an electrical engineer, but IMO a well-made amplifier will have enough internal capacitance built in to handle transient/peak loads. An amplifier being designed for a marketing department determined price point and advertised RMS power may be forced to skimp on internal circuitry. There is no easy way for the casual audio buyer to know since specs are poorly defined (driven by OEMS that don't want the world to know).

 

About twenty years ago when I was into car audio I ran a 1 Farad Capacitor for my PG M44 and M50 amps. I could tell a difference and at the time Phoenix Gold was the premier amp maker.

But this was twenty years ago and technology has changed quite a bit since then.

 

Yea a lot people don't like caps but yes it is exactly what Darren said it. They do work even on newer amps

 

Work and provide a benefit are two totally separate thoughts. Is there likely a need that will result in a noticeable improvement on most systems? Hell no.

 

paperweight

 

I have had aftermarket systems in every car I have owned for the past 20+ years.. I have never had to run a cap in any of them. Unless you are building a system to take to a competition, then you are wasting you money..

Unless of course you are trying to put a $5000.00 system in a $700.00 1996 Caprice

 

I did that. Except the car was a Ford EXP. Alpine head unit with sound processor mounted on the visor. MB Quart speakers covering the mids and highs with passive crossovers and Pheonix Gold M44 powering the MBs and a M50 powering an AVI 12" sub mounted in a false floor enclosure using the spare tire well. Everything was hidden in that car. I sold the sound system and gave away the car for free.

 

Most caps are sold,,, not bought.

Or, in more wordy form, most caps are sold by some salesman (probably on commission, or who gets a piece of the sale), they are not bought by someone who needs one.

 

^Truth