I am getting ready to install MB Quart PCE216 for my front/rear and a 10w6v2 in a 4080 box. I will probably get a JL 300/4 for the components and a 500/1 for the sub.

Will I need a capacitor for that setup in a coupe? Is there a certain capacitor you recommend?


2003 G35c/5AT/BS-Graphite/Prem/Aero/Splash/NISMO sway bars/JWT Popcharger/Z-Tube/ValentineOne

 

I have a Phoenix Gold Capacitor from my last car, works great! More expensive, but you could probably get a better deal on eBay!

 

No. Caps won't help your system. They may actually hurt performance. They look cool but they really won't do much besides that. Save your $$$.

 

Great, thanks. I was concerned about my headlights dimming with the two amps when the bass hit.

2003 G35c/5AT/BS-Graphite/Prem/Aero/Splash/NISMO sway bars/JWT Popcharger/Z-Tube/ValentineOne

 

I'm pretty sure that you have HID's. Most HID ballasts can operate at around 9-10 volts. Your amps will shut down before your headlights will.

With a 300/4 and a 500/1, I think you may notice some effects if/when you crank your system. I had a 450/4 and a 500/1 in my sedan. When I cranked it up, the HID's didn't dim but the engine would noticeably stutter. I really didn't mind because I only cranked it up rarely.

I think that the stock electrical system can support 500-800 watts rms. Any more than that and you'll probably experience some hesitation/stutter. You're going to be very close to the that max with your amps.

 

I have that problem and I have a 300/4 and a 500/1 in my system but only the tailights and corner lights and such dim but it doesn't look good makes my car feel cheap. It dims slightly and the engine RPM's move up and down a little.

2004 Skyline 350GT 5AT DG/G Clears,Bats, Now wit Bumps in da back! [img]/w3timages/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

 

Thanks RudeBoy. If that is the case then I will defintely get a cap. I would rather pay $200 more and not worry about it.

2003 G35c/5AT/BS-Graphite/Prem/Aero/Splash/NISMO sway bars/JWT Popcharger/Z-Tube/ValentineOne

 

kroams,
the cap will not help and it will actually hurt your system. When you get a large bass note like saying "boom" slowly, that's when your system will be taxed to the greatest degree. A capacitor is designed to charge and discharge within milliseconds. Therefore, during the 'boom', your cap will discharge and then look for more juice to recharge. When it recharges, it takes away power that should be going to sustain the 'boom.'

I hope I'm making some kind of sense here. If you listen to snare drums exclusively (real sharp hits/taps) then a capacitor will help. Otherwise it will be another source of power drain when you need it the most.

If you do get a cap, $200 is way too much. Don't spend much more than half that.

 

You are way better off spending $200 on an Optima Yellow Top battery and upgrading all the wiring from the battery to the alternator and chassis.

AL503 is totaly right in what he is saying too.

Do you hear me?

 

thank you!

I second the yellow top in addition to upgrading all the wiring under the hood (add wire or increase gauge from chassis to - battery, from alternator to + battery, and engine to chassis.) If you have a grounding kit, you've got 2 of the three.

 

Thanks al503 for the info. I don't listen to rap or music that has long bass hits, but it sounds like the cap is not a good idea either. I will just install everything and see how bad it is and make a decision at that point. Thanks everyone!

2003 G35c/5AT/BS-Graphite/Prem/Aero/Splash/NISMO sway bars/JWT Popcharger/Z-Tube/ValentineOne

 

Ditto what al503 said. NO CAPS!! I use to have guys come in the store asking for "storage compactors", meaning storage capacitors.

 

What a capacitor is designed to do is to provide reserve power when the current draw teh amp is asking for is more than the battery/alternator can supply. It certainly can't remedy a problem where an electrical system can not keep up with a constant load. And it's doubtful it will make any kind of a difference with snare drums. The amount of power required to make high frequencies is significantly less then it is necessary to produce low frequencies.

As far as the cap discharging and causing a bigger load on the electrical system, this can occur when you have a constant load that is higher than the alternator can keep up with. But for most people they don't listen to songs with a constant bass note, but rather a recurring one. And since a capacitor and battery only release as much energy as is asked of it, it will not discharge all it's stored energy at one time. In normal use it will help smooth out the voltage. How much effect it has can depend on many factors. Personally, if the electrical system is underpowered, I'd be looking at upgrading the alternator first. A big battery is only long term reserve power, and is hardly a solution for an electrical system that is insufficient. It's a good solution when the electrical system can handle most of the loads, but not the peak loads.

As far as batteries, again they are only good as reserve power. I prefer the deep cycle optimas myself, but not so much for the sound system, but rather it's overall reliability and performance. Don't bother with red tops. Drain them a couple times and they are dead. I had a blue top in my last car and that one was actually in my car before that. It lasted about 5 years and had been drained several times. After a short recharge it was good to go. The yellow and blue are the same except the blue has marine terminals which provide a great place to hook an amp's powerline to.

Here's a crappy picture of my old car's engine and you can see where the powerline is attached next to the standard battery post.

http://home.earthlink.net/~ckwik240/...0sx/Engine.jpg

Here's an informative link about capacitors and it's from a guy who is skeptical of the added benefits of them.

http://www.eatel.net/~amptech/elecdisc/capacitr.htm

 

CKwik,
The snare drum example came straight from Manville Smith who is an exec at JL Audio. No offense but I'll have to put my money on his opinion over yours.

 

ok so if getting a cap is bad(since I was just about to buy one)
if I upgrade my battery to a yellow top then will it stop my dimming problem? and If I do that I guess I need to upgrade the alternator wiring and such also right.?

2004 Skyline 350GT 5AT DG/G Clears,Bats, Now wit Bumps in da back! [img]/w3timages/icons/shocked.gif[/img]