Why you don't need a capacitor
01-13-2009, 05:47 PM
#21
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sort of, but dont confuse power with signal.
what the cap does in regard to audio equipment is it keeps the amp running properly. what i mean by this is, with an UNREGULATED amp, you can look at the power output versus voltage as a diagonal line if graphed. so as voltage increases, power output increases.
when you first start your engine, after the alternator has time to recharge the battery (1 minute or so) the car should be running at 14.4 volts. at this voltage your amp is running properly. the bass is punchy and solid (assuming the system is built right). as you drive around and run your system, the voltage goes up and down. the louder your stereo, the more it varies. turn on the A/C, it goes down more.
now a cap will NOT add voltage, nor will it stop it from varying, but it will somewhat damp the variations. this means that your bass might sound more punchy, kinda like how it did when you first started your engine.
most of this can also be corrected with doing the BIG 3. often times, your alternator is powerful enough to power everything, but your factory wires cant transfer enough current to keep the battery charged.
what the cap does in regard to audio equipment is it keeps the amp running properly. what i mean by this is, with an UNREGULATED amp, you can look at the power output versus voltage as a diagonal line if graphed. so as voltage increases, power output increases.
when you first start your engine, after the alternator has time to recharge the battery (1 minute or so) the car should be running at 14.4 volts. at this voltage your amp is running properly. the bass is punchy and solid (assuming the system is built right). as you drive around and run your system, the voltage goes up and down. the louder your stereo, the more it varies. turn on the A/C, it goes down more.
now a cap will NOT add voltage, nor will it stop it from varying, but it will somewhat damp the variations. this means that your bass might sound more punchy, kinda like how it did when you first started your engine.
most of this can also be corrected with doing the BIG 3. often times, your alternator is powerful enough to power everything, but your factory wires cant transfer enough current to keep the battery charged.
