anybody got a power cap?

**Smartstradamus** · 02-06-2007, 11:03 AM

I was just wondering if anyone in the carputer game has a power cap between the pc and battery?

**2k1Toaster** · 02-06-2007, 11:21 AM

As in an audio installation, that would be pointless.

Not to my knowledge has anybody done it on these forums.

You could be the first.

A computer drains a lot of power, so a capacitor would drain very quickly. And also since this is not reproducing audio signals or anything else, mild fluctuations in voltage, are fine. It is normal, and that's what a ATX power supply is meant for. To filter that out. And guess how it is done? Huge coils and capacitors.

So another capacitor would be a double redundancy.

**Smartstradamus** · 02-06-2007, 02:21 PM

I asked because a friend of mine who is into his i.c.e asked me if it was an option for a carputer,ive never had a need for a cap so i started wondering if anybody on here had a use for it in their setup.
Either way there wont be one in my setup.

**2k1Toaster** · 02-06-2007, 03:30 PM

Fair enough. Maybe a car that does not have a properly installed sound system meaning the alternator cannot cope with the drain, so the voltage fluctuates too much by dimming the lights, and everything. Then a capacitor may be beneficial because that strain over time could be bad for the PSU, but other than that I see no reason.

Good question though.

**pmp99t** · 02-15-2007, 04:30 PM

I have 2 amps 1600 watts rms combined and carputer hooked up to a 20 farad cap and it works great. I used to have problems with carputer shutting off during a cold crank, with a cap I don't get a voltage dip during crank. You probably don't need a cap unless you have a high powered "system" or your carputer is shutting off during cranks. If you do have a "system" I would install a cap even if I had a built up alternator since it puts less strain on it.

**XC-C30** · 02-15-2007, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by pmp99t

I have 2 amps 1600 watts rms combined and carputer hooked up to a 20 farad cap and it works great. I used to have problems with carputer shutting off during a cold crank, with a cap I don't get a voltage dip during crank. You probably don't need a cap unless you have a high powered "system" or your carputer is shutting off during cranks. If you do have a "system" I would install a cap even if I had a built up alternator since it puts less strain on it.

Time for you to read up on wiring and the big3

And 20f? damn.... that's just pointless.... Unless you have 20000watts system or something......

**2k1Toaster** · 02-15-2007, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by IC-C30

Time for you to read up on wiring and the big3

And 20f? damn.... that's just pointless.... Unless you have 20000watts system or something......

And caps don't alleviate the strain on the alternator. They hold charge. Where do you think they got the charge? That capacitor drains your battery into its reserves. Then if you need extra power because your wires are too small to carry enough current, the capacitor acts like a second backup battery but only for a second. And then once the cap is discharged, it sucks up some power.