Opinions on which capacitor is better?????

[noahnoah]

I need a capacitor/lightning cap for my system and I need help deciding on which one to buy. I'm looking at either a Power Acoustik 2.4 Farad Digital Capacitor or Lightning Audio LS10 Strike Series 1-Farad Capacitor. If anyone knows anything about capacitors please help. I would assume the large Farad would be better but I don't know why just seems that it would be. Last question, how are these usually mounted and kept stable?

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[GoCivicRacerGo]

2.4 farads is a lot of power, what amps are you going to be using? You might only need a 1 farad cap. Some metal straps could be used to secure the caps in place.

[Civey]

whew, a power boy. i like it. sounds kinky

[mohawkboom]

the Lightnign audio Strike cap woud be the bettrer choice.. less power to charge when is discharged..and a lower ESR...

[WhiteRabbit]

the best cap is none at all. it keeps out that uneccesary strain on your E-system.

[noahnoah]

None, my lights are dimming just a tad, should I get a capacitor or should I just go about my business and let my lights dim? I thought an capacitor would be a good idea to take some of the strain off of my battery and alternator? Am I wrong? What are you referring to when you say E-system. Electrical?

[mohawkboom]

Hi Noah,

I Cap doesn't take any strain off your electrical system..it just keeps voltage a little more stable. If your lights are dimming just slightly and it's annoying you. a 1 farad cap will take care of the problem.

Cheers
Mohawk

[badcivic2002]

You guys and gals can call it over kill but I got a Lightning audio 1.0 and an optima red top and NO dimming at all on an 800 watt amp

[WhiteRabbit]

Quote
[hr]Originally posted by: mohawkboom
I Cap doesn't take any strain off your electrical system..[hr]

I think you both misunderstood me. a capacitor ITSELF is a strain on your electical system! sure it can provide that microsecond of current for at least part of that bass note, but what then? your amp still needs current, its still playing bass nots, or has moved on to teh next one, where is the cap? recharging. and its recharging using power that your amp could be using now.

a capacitor is just a bandaid. if your not gonna upgrade yoru alternator, its not worth the money for a cap.

again, am i the only person who doesnt care about dimming? and if you DO care about dimming, why stick a bandaid over the problem? if your gonna fix it, why not solve the problem at the source?

[mohawkboom]

Band-aid= $99 Proper cure=$600+ hmm... ALso it's not a bif strain in the least bit on an electrical system..fo an SPL system where every incling of current matters..it's a NoNo..in an every day system for someone who doesn;t want dimming..it's a oerfect solution..

[WhiteRabbit]

even another battery is a strain on teh E-system.

anytime you add something that draws power, you are straining your E-system.

you cant argue that a capacitor has enough power to power yoru amp for a bass hit, and yet not draw the current from the alternator to provide.

and besides, you can get alternators or alternator rewraps for $300. the rewrap is fine as long as you get a warrantee with it......

Hell, there is a shop in san ho that will do it, all you have to do is bring your alternator to them in a shoebox, they will take care of you.

[mohawkboom]

rewinds on our medium case uncolled mitsubishi alternators can yield a reliable 90amps..or a sletchy 120amps(alt will run VERY HOT)..a can is a strain in the decivolt range so it's not a biggie.. Unless a person listens to speedmetal and the like where the bass and double kickdrums are non-stop..a cap does it's job...[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]

[WhiteRabbit]

well, if he doesnt care about fixing the problem, i guess he is set then

[mohawkboom]

Not everyone's like us and will go to great lengths to solve the problem completely and not just cover it up. While covering it up with a cap in this case is the cheapest and most practicle solution..it will work for him. We both run 1/0 Guage wire when 4 guage is plenty..I have a 160amp alternator, My cars about 120lbs heavier with sound deadening mat..sound absorbing foam, and great stuff minimal expanding foam...your glassing your trunk....most folks don't want to go to such great lengths...some say we're nucking futs...we say their nucking futs for not going through such great lengths for the proper solutions....C'est la vie

[WhiteRabbit]

im glassing my trunk cause tere is no way to fit a box bigger than net 6 cubes in a civic coupe. its actually the ONLY solution to that problem.

just like the ONLY solution to the problem of inadequate current supply is a new alternator.....