Big 3 Upgrade

Like I said, you sound like you're regurging stuff you heard someone who actually knew what they were talking about, poorly.

*shrug*

And I've seen plenty of asshats who have no idea what they're talking about work all kinds of places, including car audio shops. (Especially car audio shops, in certain cases.) How about YOU get an engineering degree, and then come talk to ME?

 

I don't see why having an engineering degree makes you smarter than me on this sunject, buy okay. go buy a cap and hope to see good results out of it vs. a simple wiring upgrade.

 

As the saying goes, arguing on the internet is like the special olympics...

Saying capacitors are useless is blatant ignorance. I wouldn't use them, myself, but anyone who understands a circuit can see how they aren't _useless_. (And how increasing wire diameter isn't going to increase load capacity / reduce resistivity enough in with a _stock_ power supply to make that big of a difference...)

 

yeah okay. I'll leave you alone to your own thoughts.

 

Well said.

Ever bridge a wrench across an alternator when the vehicle is running?

Great way to kill yourself.

 

Ok, I have to but in here....


Do capacitors do SOMETHING? Yes, they help a little because a capacitor can discharge LARGE amounts of power very very quickly.

Are they worth the money? No.

Would I run a capacitor? No.

The problem is that running a capacitor is like taking morphine for a broken leg. It may mask the problem briefly but it wont solve the problem. The problem is a deficient charging system. And since the capacitor is charged by the charging system it's not likely to help all that much.

The Alternator is like water leeching into the ground from a source; it has a specific speed at which it replenishes. The battery is like a well; it's the place where all that power is collected and stored. When the well runs dry all you have left is your source which only produces a specific amount.


If any of you have spent some time with a wimpy air compressor you should get a good picture of replenishment vs storage.


Bottom line; get a better alternator.

 

Sure, fair point. Like I said, I don't like them. Mainly because they scare me. (Though laugh points at the tutorial posted, theoretically anti-capacitor, having comments on how to safely discharge your capacitor...)

But yeah, if you want to go with that analogy, a capacitor would be akin to a large bucket that is automatically filled from the well. There are certainly cases it'll alleviate.

I think saying "not worth the money" is silly because they're awfully cheap, unless you buy them from monster cable (where they use unobtainium to make them super awesome). And definitely cheaper than a new alternator, as I said.

That being said, they're certainly a band-aid, and as I said to begin with, they scare me. So I agree with good, sound logic. (Did you happen to install car audio for 2 years? )