Ive done lots of car audio in the past, mostly designing custom enclosures out of anything and everything. one thing i have NEVER done is install or even used a cap. well now installing 2 infinity perfect 10.2s in my girlfriend's 05' SER and I want to do this setup right, no cutting corners what so ever. I just ordered a 1F cap and I've herd in the past that when connecting them there are some dangers involved. anything i should watch out for? Is there a right and wrong way to wire it up? (im not an idiot don't get stupid lol) thanks,

 

Only danger is shorting it out when charged.

Wiring is easy. 12v from battery goes to + terminal, power to amp goes from same terminal, and ground the - terminal on the cap. Good luck!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hks85 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ive done lots of car audio in the past, mostly designing custom enclosures out of anything and everything. one thing i have NEVER done is install or even used a cap. well now installing 2 infinity perfect 10.2s in my girlfriend's 05' SER and I want to do this setup right, no cutting corners what so ever. I just ordered a 1F cap and I've herd in the past that when connecting them there are some dangers involved. anything i should watch out for? Is there a right and wrong way to wire it up? (im not an idiot don't get stupid lol) thanks,</TD></TR></TABLE>I have installed 100s and have found the best way is to have it as close to the amp as you can, wire the pos. from the batt. to the pos. term. of the cap and then from the pos. term. of the cap to the amps pos. input, then ground the cap at the same place that you ground the amp, the amp should be grounded as close to the amp as possable, [with a good ground] wire gage for power and grounds should all be the same appropriate size. once all is wired , you must "charge" the cap before you hook up power, what I do is I leave the main fuse out on the amp power wire. [at the batt.] then I install a 12v light bulb in series, it will light up bright, [carfull it will get hot] and will slowly dim out, when it is out, [barely a glow on the bulb filament] the cap is charged and you can install the fuse, this must be done anytime the batt. has been disconnected for more then an hour 94

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fcm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have installed 100s and have found the best way is to have it as close to the amp as you can, wire the pos. from the batt. to the pos. term. of the cap and then from the pos. term. of the cap to the amps pos. input, then ground the cap at the same place that you ground the amp, the amp should be grounded as close to the amp as possable, [with a good ground] wire gage for power and grounds should all be the same appropriate size. once all is wired , you must "charge" the cap before you hook up power, what I do is I leave the main fuse out on the amp power wire. [at the batt.] then I install a 12v light bulb in series, it will light up bright, [carfull it will get hot] and will slowly dim out, when it is out, [barely a glow on the bulb filament] the cap is charged and you can install the fuse, this must be done anytime the batt. has been disconnected for more then an hour 94</TD></TR></TABLE>

so how long (APPROX) does it take to charge?

 

Depends on the capacity of the capacitor. IE: 1.2 farads, to 5 farads. The higher, the longer. Usually an hour or so for small ones.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by itr_dc2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Depends on the capacity of the capacitor. IE: 1.2 farads, to 5 farads. The higher, the longer. Usually an hour or so for small ones.</TD></TR></TABLE>

if it takes you an hour to charge a capacitor, you are doing something very wrong....a one farad cap will charge in a minute or two....

like fcm said - just install a bulb in series with the power wire for the cap - I one of those cheap instrument bulbs - works like a champ...and doesn't really get that hot.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rcurley55 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if it takes you an hour to charge a capacitor, you are doing something very wrong....a one farad cap will charge in a minute or two....

like fcm said - just install a bulb in series with the power wire for the cap - I one of those cheap instrument bulbs - works like a champ...and doesn't really get that hot.</TD></TR></TABLE>

lol i hope your right, I couldnt wait an hour after doing an instal. thanks everyone!

 

Danger in wiring a cap

They have the potential to explode if wired backwards.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxxtreme &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Danger in wiring a cap

They have the potential to explode if wired backwards.</TD></TR></TABLE>Ditto that ... I have also seen the sides of caps blown out if charged too fast, [just hooking up batt.] as for charge time, as rcurley55 said, a minute or two, it will depend on the size of the cap/caps and the wattage of the bulb used, I use one of those inline dome light bulbs, [looks like a glass fuse] it has never taken more then a minute or two for me, the big advantage with using the lightbulb, [over resistor] is you can tell when cap is charged, [ when bulb gos out, cap is charged] 94


Modified by fcm at 3:53 PM 3/22/2005

 

A cap cant charge to fast. If the one you saw was blown out then it was probably hooked up backwards.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxxtreme &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">A cap cant charge to fast. If the one you saw was blown out then it was probably hooked up backwards.</TD></TR></TABLE> Seen more then one, and all were wired properly, maybe bad caps? 94

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fcm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Seen more then one, and all were wired properly, maybe bad caps? 94</TD></TR></TABLE>
There was either something seriously wrong with the instalation, (wrong voltage) or very faulty capacitors.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rcurley55 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

if it takes you an hour to charge a capacitor, you are doing something very wrong....a one farad cap will charge in a minute or two....

like fcm said - just install a bulb in series with the power wire for the cap - I one of those cheap instrument bulbs - works like a champ...and doesn't really get that hot.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree. I have 1.0 farad cap. I used the funky little resistor thing that they provide. I charged for like 3-5 minutes and went about my business. I haven't had any problems at all. Like someone stated earlier, put that cap CLOSE to the amp. You don't want power issues later. How do you plan on mounting the amp and cap? I hate it when people mount them on the speaker box.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tyrone2982 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> How do you plan on mounting the amp and cap? I hate it when people mount them on the speaker box. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I haven't really thought about it... Its my girlfriends car has like 1000 miles on it and i don't want to be drilling holes all over any recommendations?