any one thought of this

[leathaltsi]

this is a weird question is there a way to run a audio capacitor in the electrical system after the alternator or after the baterie would it work or help out at all with the fuel pump and other accesories just an idea

 

[knochgoon24]

Maybe it can be wired in parallel with the battery. A capacitor is just a quick discharge battery. It would need to be fuse protected.

Interesting idea...

 

[OakStreetTuner]

A capacitor is really only used to remove voltage spikes from reaching critical electrical componets (PCM, your Amp), im not sure if it would improve the performance of other electrical parts but it would be interesting to know.

 

[leathaltsi]

It is quick discharge but it stores alot more and restores quikly

 

[FatalDreams]

what are you asking this in reference to? a performance upgrade to the ignition system?

 

[knochgoon24]

When it's used for car audio, its main purpose it to supply power to the amp when the battery/altenator can't supply it fast enough (ex. A nice bass hit).

These capacitors come in different "sizes." The unit of measure is a Farad. The rule of thumb is 1 Farad for every 1000 RMS watts of system.


There are a bunch of formulas... so either keep reading, or skip to the dead horse...


To make this easier, let’s use and example:
A typical low beam headlight is 55 watts and draws 12 volts.

For a flat plate capacitor, the energy stored in the capacitor, W = 1/2 *C*V^2. We will use this to get an approximate.
Where c = the capacitance in farads and v = the volts supplied. WTF

W is officially measured in Joules, but 1 J = 1 Watt second.8

So, if you have 1 Farad cap, charged to 13 volts. It could supply 1/2*1*13^2 = 84.5 Watt seconds.

Since one headlight requires 55 W, all you have to do is divide…84.5/55=1.5 seconds.
Therefore, you’d totally discharge your cap in 1.5 seconds if it powered a headlight bulb without any assistance from the battery or alternator. Since it will have help, this time will be much longer.

If the voltage drops 1 volt, you’d need about 5 W (extra math not shown). So your 84.5 Watt second cap would power that one headlight for 17 seconds. (If you start adding extra bulbs and accessories, this time drops.)

That should make the dimming of the headlights much less noticeable.





If you're still reading this , you probably realize that this is just as bad as benchmark racing. (LOTS of guess work) Therefore, until someone tries this (maybe with a spare cap) we will never know how well it might work.

**Sadly, this was easier that the homework I had due for a class last Thrusday. **
***I do not guarentee that the math is 100% accurate. It is 2am.***

 

[leathaltsi]

not a ignition upgrade more of an electrical system upgrade It was just a thought i dont know if i would try it on my dsm since they are so touchy to electrical issues

 

[jakeachy]

capacitors really dont do anything in car audio- such a bad myth

 

[Ice Racer]

capacitors really dont do anything in car audio- such a bad myth

Wha? Just gonna throw that mozza ball out there without any technical backup after knochgoon24 when through and then and so on...

 

[knochgoon24]

capacitors really dont do anything in car audio- such a bad myth

I hope you're just saying that the myth that caps don't do anyting in a audio system is false.

If not, then I guess you've never seen a high power audio system in a small car like a civic (small altenator). My friend was having problems with his headlights dimming every time the bass hit. He threw a 2 Farad cap into the circuit before the amps. The headlights no longer dim.