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Author what does a cap do???
MoNkEy MaGiC
Member

Registered: 12th Apr 03
Location: West - London Drives: Corsa GSi
User status: Offline
9th Feb 04 at 23:47   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

sorry if this sounds stupid, but i only know a little to do with ice!

ive had a alpine 12inch sub with amp in the past but thats about it, saw me mates new car the opther day and it had this massive cap thing init with litle screen saying 12.1 or sumthing??
Richie
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Registered: 3rd Dec 02
Location: Newport, Wales
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9th Feb 04 at 23:56   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

A power capacitor is also referred to as a stiffening cap. Basically it smooths out the power to the amplifier and when a nice bass drop hits it kicks in to give the amp the extra juice that it needs so it can produce the note as cleanly and loudly as possible.

BUT rule of the thumb with car electrics is and always will be:

Alternator
Battery
Capacitor


Upgrade the alternator first as this is where all your main power will come from to charge your batteries ect, if this is pants then the rest isnt gonna get what it wants.

Upgrade the battery next to hold more power and it will do the electrical system wonders.

Then a cap to finish it all off.

Upgrade all wiring, not forgetting the earth strap for the ground on the battery and the postive + ground on the alternator.
Trotty
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Registered: 22nd Feb 01
Location: Bristol
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10th Feb 04 at 00:04   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

Whereas I am a pleb and did this backwards...
drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
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10th Feb 04 at 02:22   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

i just got battery at the moment. System should be set up soonish after my alarm is fitted on monday, so will see how long i can play tunes for before upgrading the alt.
SteveW
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Registered: 15th Jul 02
Location: Up in the clouds
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10th Feb 04 at 09:19   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

i cant spell so i have done..

Battery (not a very big one, just a little more powerful)
CAP

and im waiting till i get the engine in to do the Alternator
MoNkEy MaGiC
Member

Registered: 12th Apr 03
Location: West - London Drives: Corsa GSi
User status: Offline
10th Feb 04 at 11:41   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

ok thanks guys

ive got a more powerfull batterry, do i really need to get a new alternator and cap as all im running at the moment is 6x9 on a amp?
NeilsC
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Registered: 6th Dec 00
Location: Middlesex drivin a Puma Racing on FRS 18's
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10th Feb 04 at 13:03   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

dont worry about a cap if yr only doing 6x9's mate, still they do look good with a digi display
Richie
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Registered: 3rd Dec 02
Location: Newport, Wales
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10th Feb 04 at 13:34   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

Well if ur just running 6x9's you'll just be spending £100 on a display item. Your 6x9's wont benefit from it.
combat_sri
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Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: welwyn garden city,herts
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10th Feb 04 at 13:41   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

how much would it cost to upgrade the alternator?including fitting as i aint gotta clue even where it is let alone how to change it! hopefully corb will still have one of them yellow tops for sale in a week or so and ill have one of them maybe in my boot!
Richie
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Registered: 3rd Dec 02
Location: Newport, Wales
User status: Offline
10th Feb 04 at 13:43   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

Well andypsg has just had an 150a alternator and i asked about it and i was quoted £500.


combat_sri
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Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: welwyn garden city,herts
User status: Offline
10th Feb 04 at 13:46   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

damn,didnt think it would be that much! would it be ok to just replace my battery with a yellow top,then get a cap or would i still not be getting enough power? it would be running 3 amps with a total rms of about 1800watts
Richie
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Registered: 3rd Dec 02
Location: Newport, Wales
User status: Offline
10th Feb 04 at 14:39   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

For something that strong id still reccomend the alternator be uprated.
corsa starter
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Registered: 20th Jan 03
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10th Feb 04 at 22:01   View User's Profile U2U Member Reply With Quote

for just a single 3 or 4 channel amp running 6x9's and a sub would i need to upgrade anything???

 
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