I think the main reason for capacitors is that the pulse of energy required is big (very low resistance and big amperage) - sort of like how your headlight dim while trying to start the car, it takes a big pulse. The sound still comes out or the car still starts, but power quality is still shot when power dips. Doubling up on batteries would help. A capacitor can let out a huge wallop - easily more than a battery - for a short pulse. That's why capacitors are used for firing flashes.

Capacitors also smooth out irregularities when converting from AC to DC in traditional non-switching power supplies. This is very traditional and reliable and probably why capacitors were chosen to smooth irregularities in car audio power systems.

Ever notice your lights dim for a fraction of a second at home when a powerful electric motor starts? Amperages in cars are 10x more than homes due to the lower voltage. The ability of wire to carry electricity is directly related to amperage, so that why big wiring and capacitors and other such tricky stuff is needed in car power and not home power.

If you want a second battery, probably an optima or something that doesn't put out hydrogen would best. Most inexpensive wet batteries will produce hydrogen while the vehicle is running (it is charging). If you have an electrical problem, your batteries will go flat half as fast, and take twice as long to get charged back up. Personally, I've had the same single battery in my 88 900T for about 6-7 years and it starts no matter what the temperature from -20f to 100f, so having a second one doesn't seem like a requiment to me.



posted by 206.26.224...

• Audio freaks - About adding a Capacitor..., VictorVector, Thu, 27 Mar 2003 10:07:54
  • Re: Audio freaks - About adding a Capacitor..., BHarvey, Mon, 31 Mar 2003 10:23:24
  • Get a Optima Yellow Top 900CCA battery., KB88900T, Thu, 27 Mar 2003 13:44:21
  • Thank you, and now on to the speaker popping...Slaab?.., VictorVector, Thu, 27 Mar 2003 13:06:26
  • this may fly in the face of car audio freaks..., Trevor, Thu, 27 Mar 2003 10:43:13
    • uncertauin dissent, nt moore, Fri, 28 Mar 2003 16:48:05
      • Re: uncertauin dissent, jp, Sat, 29 Mar 2003 09:18:13 <-- Viewing This Message
      • Re: uncertauin dissent, Trevor, Sat, 29 Mar 2003 09:07:10
      • I don't think you should put batteries in parralel., Jimbo, Fri, 28 Mar 2003 17:29:36
      • and, nt moore, Fri, 28 Mar 2003 16:51:38
    • Re: this may fly in the face of car audio freaks..., Chad, Thu, 27 Mar 2003 11:37:58
      • Re: this may fly in the face of car audio freaks..., Trevor, Fri, 28 Mar 2003 12:44:18
        • Re: this may fly in the face of car audio freaks..., Chad, Sun, 30 Mar 2003 20:03:29
    • So my plan to become the Honda Insight tuning..., bRAD, Thu, 27 Mar 2003 10:55:11
    • Agreed. That's why I took mine out...., Taylor, Thu, 27 Mar 2003 10:49:29
  • Re: Audio freaks - About adding a Capacitor..., Chad, Thu, 27 Mar 2003 10:38:37

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