What is a capcitator?

[Merzbow]

I want to eventually get an audiobahn system in my Vibe and I keep seeing these capcitators everywhere. What is a capcitator and what is their purpose???

[russ257]

Your amplifier is one of many elements (lights, AC, receiver, other accessories) competing for the available power in your car. Capacitors store current, which your amp can tap when it needs it most. I stole that from crutchfield but its a pretty good basic description

[wicked1981]

Quote, originally posted by russ257 »Your amplifier is one of many elements (lights, AC, receiver, other accessories) competing for the available power in your car. Capacitors store current, which your amp can tap when it needs it most. So is this somethig to look at since the Vibe has a weak battery? I know I dont have the problems others do in the winter season but will this be something I should consider doing?

[joatmon]

A capacitor won't help with weak battery problems. It is more useful when you have a piece of electrical equipment, such as a powerful amp that has a high initial power on current, or draws large current spikes Putting a cap across the power input will charge the cap up, and then when the amp needs that big current spike, some of that peak current will come from the battery/alternator, but some will come from the cap. depending on a number of things, it could prevent a current spike from trashing your alternator. Normally not needed in these cars unless you start adding serious electrical stuff.or so I am told.

[wicked1981]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »A capacitor won't help with weak battery problems. It is more useful when you have a piece of electrical equipment, such as a powerful amp that has a high initial power on current, or draws large current spikes Whats powerful? I have subwoofers with 800 watt amp..

[russ257]

do your headlights dim when your sub hits hard if so you should get a cap if not dont worry

[Merzbow]

Thanks alot everyone, my brain can now rest lol. This guy with a booth at Gibralter I call Johnny Tran. Allways has deals. when and if I get the money I'm buying 2 Audiobahn 12" high excurions or Sound Q's and the deal comes with a 1000-1200 watt amp. Package also includes ported box with neons, all wiring, and installation. Alll of it costs about $350. Pretty good deal if you ask me. So would I need to get a Capacitator for that system?

[Jahntassa]

If you have a 1000 watt amp, you need more like two capacitors, as well as a rewound alternator, 2 guage wiring, and probably a new battery.One of the guys in the shop I work in has a JL W7 (13" Sub) and a 1000watt Monoblock amplifier. He has 2ga wire running from his battery, and spent $1000 to get his alternator rewound to put out 16v and 200amps. He still needs to have the car idling high to turn it up a lot.I see my lights dim with a single 1 farad capacitor, a 350 Watt amp, and two sony 10's..

[cdFxer]

$1000? Wow! I think he got took There is a place here in central IL that rewinds them for higher current and replaces the voltage regulator (thats where you get more voltage) for @ $350 depending model you need. IIRC, chrome plating is available as well. My friend that runs the stereo shop tells me about all those high wattage systems, so I can drool lol. Im just amazed at how few efficient speakers there are out there... ah well thats how they save $$$ in making them.Oh yes, Im running a 1100W amp with two 10" subs. No lamp dimming evident here.... To me the system is very (and painfully) loud, dunno how it would be to you "pro's".

[russ257]

I love my sound system as much as the next guy but i think that people get way stupid with their sound systems. I have 1 12in sub and I dont even crank it the whole way up because there is no point it thumps more then enough

[Merzbow]

Hmmm...(removed) I know NOTING about sound systems...so I gues I'll be gettin a lower wattage amp...no matter less money for me to pay!!! So what is the lowest wattage of amp I would be able to run with 2-12's without having to buy new battrery, re-wire alternator, or lights dimming?

[mwebb]

The watts you need will depend on what subs you get- and the quality of the amp-What kind of amp was included in the deal you looked at for $350?

[cdFxer]

Oh yes, I just remembered somthing. My amp is a 5 channel amp, and I can not remember if it is running in 5 channel mode or not! My buddy who owns a stereo shop swapped labor with me (I wired his new install garage) and did the installation. The headunit has 45w/channel so I thought he said he used that for the door speakers. Sorry about not remembering this before....maybe thats why I dont see any dimming, lol! All I know is that system sounds excellent at normal levels and is friggen loud when ya crank it!

[TheDude]

I had(took it all out to be redone) a single audiobahn Flame Q 12" sub that was quoted for 1100RMS and 2200 Peak. Powering it i used a 2002 series Rockford X6 amp, putting out close to 1000RMS. I also has a 3 farad audiobahn cap with a built in D-Block. Throughout the system i used 1/0 guage wire. I was also running a 4 channel Ken. for my highs. I didnt have to upgrade my bat. or my alternator. Its all about useing the right wire and Cap for the job. Think of a Cap as a super fast recharging Battery. It charges ultra quick and hold voltage just as a battery does. Pretty much the bigger the better

[Fialchar]

A basic rule of the thumb for power caps is this: For every 1000 watts your system has, you'll need 1 farad's worth in caps. The cap is tied in to the power line before reaching the amp, and when the amp needs a boost of power, it draws it from the cap as well as the battery, thereby reducing the amount of power being drawn from your battery. My lights still dim even though I have 2 farad's of caps, but I still have much to do on my car (Stinger Alternator, another power cap, replacing the current Optima Yellowtop battery)