Thread: How to install a CAP?

just got a 3 farad cap. dont no how to install it. whats it connecting to. i got two amps. 1 powering my subs and 1 powering my 2 pairs of speakers. but both of my amp connect to each other. so does the cap connect to 1 amp or both. new to the cap poo...dont want to screw anything up. but i think that the power wire going to the amp should be going threw the cap and out to the amp?

It has to be charged just before you supply power to it.

It's best to install it as close to the amp as possible. You may need to get addition power and ground wire the same size you have now. Otherwise, cut the ground and power wire leaving enough room to mount it. The overall length of the ground wire should as short as possible (18" or less if possible, not critical).

Remove the fuse at the battery. If you don't have one, you need one that is rated the same as the total fuses that are on the amp. It must be no more than 18" from the battery.

Connect the ground from the chassis to the cap then to the amp.

Connect the the power wire (from fuse by the battery) to the cap then to the amp.

To charge the cap, get a 12v light bulb with leads. Temporarily connect the power wire from the battery to one side of the bulb (at the fuse) and connect the other side of the bulb to the wire going to the cap. The bulb will light and over a period of time (10-20 seconds) it will get dimmer. When the bulb goes out, the cap is charged. Basically, your going to put the light bulb where the fuse was.

Now you can re-install the fuse.

_______________________

IMPORTANT: Make/print a sign/note that states:

"WARNING: This vehicle employs a large electrolytic capacitor for the electrical/audio system. The capacitor holds a charge EVEN when disconnected. When changing the battery, remove this fuse. Take caution and charge the capacitor prior to replacing this fuse. SEVERE INJURY OR DAMAGE MAY RESULT IN FAILURE TO COMPLY!"

Have a big red arrow pointing to the fuse and one of those yellow triangles with the exclamation point in the center. Laminate this sign and place it near the fuse by the battery.

Something like this:

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j230/sparky3489/CapWarning.jpg

Its best to sell it, and invest in a deep cycle battery(i.e optima yellow top). Caps are only a temporary storage charge, mainly for eye candy.

If your lights are dimming from your stereo, a true car audio guru will tell you this.

Replace battery with bigger one. If lights still dim, replace alternator with higher output model, if the lights still dim after that, install second battery with isolator.

It has to be charged just before you supply power to it.

It's best to install it as close to the amp as possible. You may need to get addition power and ground wire the same size you have now. Otherwise, cut the ground and power wire leaving enough room to mount it. The overall length of the ground wire should as short as possible (18" or less if possible, not critical).

Remove the fuse at the battery. If you don't have one, you need one that is rated the same as the total fuses that are on the amp. It must be no more than 18" from the battery.

Connect the ground from the chassis to the cap then to the amp.

Connect the the power wire (from fuse by the battery) to the cap then to the amp.

To charge the cap, get a 12v light bulb with leads. Temporarily connect the power wire from the battery to one side of the bulb (at the fuse) and connect the other side of the bulb to the wire going to the cap. The bulb will light and over a period of time (10-20 seconds) it will get dimmer. When the bulb goes out, the cap is charged. Basically, your going to put the light bulb where the fuse was.

Now you can re-install the fuse.

_______________________

IMPORTANT: Make/print a sign/note that states:

"WARNING: This vehicle employs a large electrolytic capacitor for the electrical/audio system. The capacitor holds a charge EVEN when disconnected. When changing the battery, remove this fuse. Take caution and charge the capacitor prior to replacing this fuse. SEVERE INJURY OR DAMAGE MAY RESULT IN FAILURE TO COMPLY!"

Have a big red arrow pointing to the fuse and one of those yellow triangles with the exclamation point in the center. Laminate this sign and place it near the fuse by the battery.

Something like this:

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j230/sparky3489/CapWarning.jpg

It has to be charged just before you supply power to it.

It's best to install it as close to the amp as possible. You may need to get addition power and ground wire the same size you have now. Otherwise, cut the ground and power wire leaving enough room to mount it. The overall length of the ground wire should as short as possible (18" or less if possible, not critical).

Remove the fuse at the battery. If you don't have one, you need one that is rated the same as the total fuses that are on the amp. It must be no more than 18" from the battery.

Connect the ground from the chassis to the cap then to the amp.

Connect the the power wire (from fuse by the battery) to the cap then to the amp.

To charge the cap, get a 12v light bulb with leads. Temporarily connect the power wire from the battery to one side of the bulb (at the fuse) and connect the other side of the bulb to the wire going to the cap. The bulb will light and over a period of time (10-20 seconds) it will get dimmer. When the bulb goes out, the cap is charged. Basically, your going to put the light bulb where the fuse was.

Now you can re-install the fuse.

_______________________

IMPORTANT: Make/print a sign/note that states:

"WARNING: This vehicle employs a large electrolytic capacitor for the electrical/audio system. The capacitor holds a charge EVEN when disconnected. When changing the battery, remove this fuse. Take caution and charge the capacitor prior to replacing this fuse. SEVERE INJURY OR DAMAGE MAY RESULT IN FAILURE TO COMPLY!"

Have a big red arrow pointing to the fuse and one of those yellow triangles with the exclamation point in the center. Laminate this sign and place it near the fuse by the battery.

Something like this:

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j230/sparky3489/CapWarning.jpg

Its best to sell it, and invest in a deep cycle battery(i.e optima yellow top). Caps are only a temporary storage charge, mainly for eye candy.

If your lights are dimming from your stereo, a true car audio guru will tell you this.

Replace battery with bigger one. If lights still dim, replace alternator with higher output model, if the lights still dim after that, install second battery with isolator.

It has to be charged just before you supply power to it.

It's best to install it as close to the amp as possible. You may need to get addition power and ground wire the same size you have now. Otherwise, cut the ground and power wire leaving enough room to mount it. The overall length of the ground wire should as short as possible (18" or less if possible, not critical).

Remove the fuse at the battery. If you don't have one, you need one that is rated the same as the total fuses that are on the amp. It must be no more than 18" from the battery.

Connect the ground from the chassis to the cap then to the amp.

Connect the the power wire (from fuse by the battery) to the cap then to the amp.

To charge the cap, get a 12v light bulb with leads. Temporarily connect the power wire from the battery to one side of the bulb (at the fuse) and connect the other side of the bulb to the wire going to the cap. The bulb will light and over a period of time (10-20 seconds) it will get dimmer. When the bulb goes out, the cap is charged. Basically, your going to put the light bulb where the fuse was.

Now you can re-install the fuse.

_______________________

IMPORTANT: Make/print a sign/note that states:

"WARNING: This vehicle employs a large electrolytic capacitor for the electrical/audio system. The capacitor holds a charge EVEN when disconnected. When changing the battery, remove this fuse. Take caution and charge the capacitor prior to replacing this fuse. SEVERE INJURY OR DAMAGE MAY RESULT IN FAILURE TO COMPLY!"

Have a big red arrow pointing to the fuse and one of those yellow triangles with the exclamation point in the center. Laminate this sign and place it near the fuse by the battery.

Something like this:

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j230/sparky3489/CapWarning.jpg