should i use a cap

[impulsed_sv6]

hey guys im currently in the proces of organizing a sound system

2 amps
4 chan 1200w powering 4 150wrms speakers
mono 1900w powing 2 subs 500w rms

jsut wondering shuold i include a 4 farrad capicitor

[HCVP]

Nup, they don't do anything.

If the power supply isn't up to the task in the first place then a cap won't make a difference anyway, and if it is, well then there's no need for one at all is there?

Just a waste of money

[impulsed_sv6]

so for poweing ti jsut use 4g then split that into twin 4g to power or should i go sum like 0ga split into 4ga

[soop]

I'm not real good when it comes to electrical stuff, but 4G into two 4g doesn't make sense. Because the single 4G will only be able to move a certain amount of current, and if you need TWO 4g cables, then surely a single 4g isn't going to cut it.

Eh, that seems logical to me anyway.

[HCVP]

I don't like using distribution blocks. I always reccomend you run a seperate run of power and ground cable for each amp, and use the largest cable that each amp will accept.

The money spent on a distribution block would cover the run of cable you need anyway.

[impulsed_sv6]

hmm spose depend how easy it would be to run 4ga cables

[HCVP]

You shouldn't have any issues, people do multiple runs without problem, even with larger cable.

IMO capacitors , distribution blocks, and whatever else, just get in the way of the shortest and most direct path.

[KAL SPL]

4 channel making 1200watts hey , what is it a BOSS ?

[StoneX]

Yeah, what amps are you using? Model numbers? What fuses do the amps have?

I've used these heaps of times... 4ga in and two 4ga outputs. If the both amp's fuses add up to less than 130A, then you can use 4ga for the main power run and then split it to the two amps. Since the wire isn't changing size at the distribution block, fuses aren't required there. The main fuse in the engine bay will still protect any 4ga even after the distribution block.

[impulsed_sv6]

yes it is the 1200 4 chan boss audio and the mono the is the alpine mrp m1000 im currently using my boss audio on 8ga but using 4ga on it wudn hurt and i gatherd using 4ga on the mono would be minimum

[StoneX]

The Alpine has 100A of fuses... What's the Boss have?

[KAL SPL]

yes it is the 1200 4 chan boss audio

Excuse me while I pick myself up off the floor from laughter

[acarmody]

Excuse me while I pick myself up off the floor from laughter

If your going to be laughing at everyone with an eBay special, than your going to be laughing for a while, they are becoming more and more common lately.

[impulsed_sv6]

hm the boss has two 30's in it wich bloddy blew today i booted it lights and snapped the power ablae causing it to spark on sumthing but the fuess blew

[acarmody]

hm the boss has two 30's in it wich bloddy blew today i booted it lights and snapped the power ablae causing it to spark on sumthing but the fuess blew

What? .

[db_notso]

well 3o amps on 14 volts
drain of 1600(ish)

specs on amp are slightly lower than specified for one

will need individual wiring for each amp (and individual WIRING fuses near battery)
4 gauge is slightly too big (perfect) but make sure you use 4 gauge for earth aswell
a capacitor on this system is not nescecary and would do nothing more than display voltage on its screen (if its one of those ones)
if you add another amp you would need a 1 farad equivelent capie but no for this amount of drain
even taking into account all lights and etc turned on would still be okay
besides if your lights are dull when the sound gets loud you can always add acapacitor later cant you!~

[HCVP]

if you add another amp you would need a 1 farad equivelent capie
!~

It DOES NOT matter how many amps you have, how many speakers you have, how much power you have, ect ect.

If the power supply (battery ,alternator, and wiring) are not up to the task, nothing is going to help, and most certainly not a capacitor.

If the power supply is upgraded where , and when needed, then there is no need to use a capacitor at all.

Capacitors are a waste of money, and 9 out 10 car audio enthusiast's will tell you the same.

[acarmody]

OK look, from what I have translated from this page is that you have a Alpine amp with 100amps of fuses and a Boss amp with 60amps of fuses. Well your 4-gauge power cable probably won't be up to scratch for that, especially a cheap kit. Your options are to either, A)Put in a completely seperate 4-gauge wiring kit and run each to each amp, or B) Upgrade to a single 2-gauge or 0-gauge wiring kit and use a distribution block to run 4-gauge to each amp.

[wraith]

I have done audio installs in the past and I agree with HCVP. Cap's are only a band aid solution. They will not make the problem go away.

[KAL SPL]

Caps discharge quicker than a battery , they create a better sound in theory but the end of the day your in a bloody car , if your worried about exact sound reproduction and time allignment stay at home and listen to your home theater !

They serve a purpose in car audio , just not a very cost effective 1.
Rule of thumb or so Im lead to believe is 15 farad of capacitance for every 1000wrms , not really in anyones budget for an average system.

[acarmody]

A good amp should have enough capacitors in it to sound fine.

Batteries can discharge with amazing speeds, don't believe me, than lay a big bar across the terminals.

Also most people associate capacitors with subs, well a sub will most likely move at its fastest at about 100hz (depending on LPF) and I'm pretty sure a battery can discharge quickly enough for a mechanical device that wants to move a 100 times a second. Hmm that's saying it wrong. What I'm trying to say is that the power doesn't need to reach the amp in a millionth of a second. Or any quicker than a battery can supply.

Well that's my theory anyway. I'm not saying that there is no place for capacitors, just that its not for the reasons that most people think. One use is to clean up the 'noise' in the power supply.

[bencbh]

i bought an audio battry from jb hi fi i dont remember what it was called but it has a yellow top on it lol, it works alot better then a capacitor but the battry was about 400 bucks. or u could just relocate your battry to your boot and run 0g wire straight to your amp

[acarmody]

Optima D34 probably.

[db_notso]

capacitors ARE a |BANDAID
a bandaid for the .005 of a second that the voltage drops out when system is overloaded with current draw

most audio enthusiasts wont touch a capacitor unless going very extreme amounts of power usage

but on the other hand a capacitor in a medium system will cost less than a higher output altenator
thats how i look at it but to each his own


all of my cars i just go for clarity rarther than outright sound volume or decibels

my old corrolla (first car damn it) had 12 speakers (medium range) 4 subs ( low range)
and 4 tweeter (high range) then two hockey pucks (for w ank factor lets face it )
also needed 5 amplifiers from jaycar at1200watts each
yes this was overdone but i was learning you know!~ would have been fine with three 1500's
to run the above setup i had upgraded altenator raised idle and run two 2 farad capacitors
otherwise my ignition module would cut out under high load

like i said each to his own but MOST audio systems under 4 amps DONT need a capacitor
its when you get above 2000watts of audio drain that you MAY need one depending on the condition of wiring altenator and battery

[impulsed_sv6]

ok guys been doing shopping for amp n speakers
mrp m1000 and 4 type r speaks and free instal is quoted at $1000
mrp m1000 and 4 type r speaks and soundstreem 4 farrad cap $1050

i dunno if this is worth it or not cuse i think the retail on the cap is like 300 and for 50 buz to get a cap is really cheap and over the free install i think it may be worth 50 bux because i can instal it my self