Installing a 1 farad capacitor

For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser. Installing a 1 Farad Capacitor on your MC?

Status Not open for further replies. Good Day MCP! I was just wondering if its possible to install a 1 farad Capacitor on our mc? I was into car audio before and wondering if we could use it to have more stable voltage specially when we have a lot of accessories on our mc. I think this would really help like expanding our charging system's life and etc. Replace the main power fuse. This will allow your audio system to receive power once again. What do I do if there is no place on a capacitor for a remote wire hookup?

Should it come on when the main fuse is put into place, and what would cause the capacitor to power up, but not the amp? Not Helpful 6 Helpful Do I need to use a resistor to charge the capacitor, or can I just use the test light? You can use the test light, but be sure to connect the capacitor in series with the test light. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 5. If both the amp and cap have a remote wire, do I need to split and connect it to both? You will actually just run the remote turn on wire from the amp already hooked up, and then run the turn on to the cap.

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 9. No, it does not matter which one the remote wire goes to first. Not Helpful 2 Helpful 2. I just hooked up a cap in my car and now I'm hearing strange noises coming out my sub-woofer. What could it be? Check the grounds on your cap and amp. Make sure everything has its own separate ground. Not Helpful 2 Helpful 1. The negative side will be black or it will have a "-" symbol.

Charles Bunton. Play it safe. Always discharge your capacitor. Capacitors can shock. Capacitors can kill. Not Helpful 1 Helpful 0. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If you find the electrical problem persists even with the extra power from a capacitor, it may be time to upgrade your vehicle's alternator. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Keep safety in mind when working with a charged capacitor.

Wear safety glasses or goggles and remove any jewelry before installing the capacitor. Most capacitor models encompass a safety circuit which will light up a warning if the connections are not correct. If the light comes on, disconnect the capacitor and double-check your connections.. Never install an uncharged capacitor. It is an instant power draw on the system and will blow any fuse in the system. Always charge the capacitor first.

Helpful 7 Not Helpful 4. Discharge the capacitor before disconnecting it from the circuit. Do this by connecting the resistor across the leads of the capacitor. Helpful 4 Not Helpful 9. They can get very hot, and if you have chosen too small of a resistor, they can blow up. You Might Also Like How to.

How to. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: Updated: August 6, Categories: Car Batteries and Ignitions.

In other languages Italiano: Installare un Condensatore. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read , times. More reader stories Hide reader stories. The power capacitor acts like a small battery power storage so it is connected as shown in the diagram. The downside of this type of connection is you don't know if the power capacitor fails since the amplifier will continue to work with or without a working power capacitor.

Ideally the power capacitor should be as close as possible to the amplifier. Within a couple of feet is acceptable. This keeps any cable losses to a minimum. To learn more about how car audio capacitors work click here.

Here's how to wire two capacitors in a system. In the diagram both capacitors have their ground terminals wired together but you could also ground them independently. You can even fabricate or purchase "buss bars" which are solid pieces of metal that connect the capacitors both physically and electrically.

These "buss bars" are generally bare metal so they can be dangerous if not installed properly. Use caution if you take this route. This is done with a resistor and a voltmeter. The exact value of the resistor is not critical but I would keep it in the k ohm range.