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KK1
Dodge Dakota
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2/02/2004
17:14:32
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 Subject: capacitor
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What watts do your have to have till you need to use a capacitor? If i have 600 from the sub and 100 from the component, Capacitor or not?
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KK1
Dodge Dakota
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2/02/2004
18:47:24
| RE: capacitor
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And when do you need a new alternator.
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jam0o0
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2004
18:59:49
| RE: capacitor
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i read somewhere that 1/2 farad per 500 watts. i have 450 watts and my headlights dim. so i'm gunna get a 1/2 farad cap i think.
but "caps are only a bandaid" <-- some friend talking.
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2004
19:33:49
| RE: capacitor
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Caps are not a band-aid.
They provide the amp with the sudden rush of current needed when the sub hits hard. It's like having a battery connected directly to the amp instead of running the power through 15' of wire.
I was lucky and picked up a 20V 1/2 farad cap from an old main frame computer (power supply)that I replaced. This computer was the size of a filing cabinet, yeah a big ol' 1980's monster. If you have a computer junkyard or electronics junkyard around see if they have any old main frame computers or 1/2 to 1 farad 20V caps. Probably can pick them up dirt cheap.
If you get one of these caps you won't get instructions with it. You need to charge the cap before connecting it to power. Hook the cap - terminal to the ground leads and take a 20 ohm 5W or 10W resistor and connect it between the power lead and + terminal of the cap for a couple of minutes. This will bring the voltage of the cap up slowly. Watch out because the resistor is going to get HOT. Connect the power leads to the + lead of the cap quickly so it doesn't loose it's charge. If you disconnect the cap from power, short the power and ground leads out with the 20W resistor you used to charge the cap. This will bring the voltage down slowly. If you don't use the resistor to charge and discharge the cap it can be damaged by the sudden rush of current.
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