capacitor probs

[Chaddy]

i have a BLITZ 3 FARAD capacitor and i recently rewired my stereo and after disconnecting the capacitor it went flat and i forget how to charge it to use it again.its plugged in and is running power through coz it has a completed curcuit but it dulls in and out and no display so its not charged to work what do i do??????????

[BigDaz]

to charge mine it just needed to be all wired up and have power (eg accesories on or car running etc) Make sure u have a good earth on it and make sure ur remote wire is conneted/working

[Chaddy]

ill try changing the earth.........if it hasnt got a good earth would it still be letting it play coz it all works its just bypassing through capacitor which isnt on or coz its doing that does it mean the earth is ok

[Phreddy]

Hey Guys.

Charging a capacitor is as simple as connecting it directly across the battery supply line - "+" to positive, "-" to negative. (and don't connect it the wrong way around or disaster awaits!!! You could also be seriously injured if the cap explodes - which they certainly can do when reverse voltage is applied)

The tricky part about charging such a large capacitor is that because the "in-rush current" is quite high, you can get a healthy spark when the voltage is first applied.

Operationally the capacitor just sits across the main battery supply to the amp - that is, one terminal to positive and the other to ground. The positive lead then extends a little further to the amp. You can use the same earth point for the amp and the cap, but you don't have to.

What might be happening here is that your amp has a good earth, 'coz it seems to be working OK, but maybe the cap's earth is a bit bodgey. Alternatively, the capacitor itself might be working fine, but the voltage display circuit might be stuffed!!

BigDaz - not a bad suggestion, but the remote line won't have to be high to charge the cap - it's supposed to sit across the full-time +12 supply anyhow.

Anyhow, hope it helps.

Cheerz!

[Tasmaniak]

Shine a light at it

[Phreddy]

LOL!!!

Yeah, that was a good one, huh 12V?