Wiring two capacitors
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 68
Likes: 1
Wiring two capacitors Hey guys,
Sorry, this on the long side.
I’m putting in three amps two of which will have a capacitor. I noticed that when charging or discharging one of capacitors the other charges or discharges at the same time.
The reason for this is pretty obvious when you look how I have wired it up as I have them essentially wired in parallel
The panel that the capacitors are attached to is right next to the battery. So, each capacitor is grounded to a junction block which then goes straight to the negative terminal on the battery.
The positive side of each capacitor is similarly fed by a 4gauge wire connected to a common lug on a breaker which is in turn fed by a single cable to the positive side of the battery.
From there each capacitor goes to the positive and ground of their respective amps.
I could separate the grounds. But what difference would that make? Separate wires going to the battery or separate wires attached to the chassis, they’re still essentially connected together.
Similarly I could run separate positive wires to individual breakers - One for each capacitor. But they would only truly be isolated from each other if one is disabled with a breaker open. I’m being silly here. But for some reason I’m having a real mental block.
Will this work as it is?
Jon
Sorry, this on the long side.
I’m putting in three amps two of which will have a capacitor. I noticed that when charging or discharging one of capacitors the other charges or discharges at the same time.
The reason for this is pretty obvious when you look how I have wired it up as I have them essentially wired in parallel
The panel that the capacitors are attached to is right next to the battery. So, each capacitor is grounded to a junction block which then goes straight to the negative terminal on the battery.
The positive side of each capacitor is similarly fed by a 4gauge wire connected to a common lug on a breaker which is in turn fed by a single cable to the positive side of the battery.
From there each capacitor goes to the positive and ground of their respective amps.
I could separate the grounds. But what difference would that make? Separate wires going to the battery or separate wires attached to the chassis, they’re still essentially connected together.
Similarly I could run separate positive wires to individual breakers - One for each capacitor. But they would only truly be isolated from each other if one is disabled with a breaker open. I’m being silly here. But for some reason I’m having a real mental block.
Will this work as it is?
Jon
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 68
Likes: 1
So, I’ve pretty much decided that this is no different from running two amps off one capacitor - which I wasn’t sure was a good idea , but the consensus seems to be that it’s ok as long as the capacitor is rated for the combined demands of both amps.
New question : these have the little volt meters built into the caps but no separate wire to turn them on/off.
i believe they are supposed to shut down on their own after a few minutes once the amps are off and are no longer drawing power.
Fooling around this morning I discovered that once the capacitors were charged up and power was removed they would slowly discharge on their own . I was expecting that the meters would show a steady voltage until the meters turned themselves off...
Anyone used this type of capacitor/ triggerless volt meter arrangement?
Jon
New question : these have the little volt meters built into the caps but no separate wire to turn them on/off.
i believe they are supposed to shut down on their own after a few minutes once the amps are off and are no longer drawing power.
Fooling around this morning I discovered that once the capacitors were charged up and power was removed they would slowly discharge on their own . I was expecting that the meters would show a steady voltage until the meters turned themselves off...
Anyone used this type of capacitor/ triggerless volt meter arrangement?
Jon
