how can i take a power capacitor out of my sound system without killing my self lol?

Question

i have wired a power capacitor up in to my sound system (farad cap/stiffening cap if you like) and it's giving me engine noise through my speakers i dont really need it i only bought it because it had a digital display and looked cool, but now i want to remove it and i have heard stories of them blowwing up can any one help me?

Answer 1

First of all a stiffening capacitor used for car audio will never kill you, neither give an electric shock that can cause you dangerous harm. If connected improperly like inverting the polarities the cap will expelled the inside chemicals like acid that can be harmful to yourself, but no so dangerous to kill you.
To answer the question simply disconnect the main fuse in the power wire and connect any small light bulb or even a Christmas light bulb to theterminals of the cap anf wait a few seconds to complete discharge.

Answer 2

Capacitors aren't likely to explode unless you connect them to a higher-than-rated voltage, or wire them in reverse polarity. Disconnecting a capacitor from your system won't present any danger to you. I'd remove any watches or rings before starting just to reduce the chance of shorting the terminals, but even then you'd only get a big spark.

Take the fuse out of your main power wire near the battery, then just disconnect the wires from the capacitor and remove it. Be careful not to touch the (+) and (-) terminals at the same time with a metal tool, and don't let a tool touch the (+) terminal and vehicle metal at the same time; but again, if you do, you'll just get a big spark. Touching the terminals with your hands won't hurt you a bit.

After the capacitor is removed, it's a good idea to discharge it. To do this, place a 12v test light across the two terminals. When the light goes out completely, the capacitor is discharged.
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Kainoa, a capacitor cannot charge to a higher voltage than its power source; in this case, the vehicle's battery and alternator system, which is limited to under 15 volts. Neither the battery or the capacitor, at this voltage, pose any harmful shock risk. I've never, ever seen a documented case of someone being electrocuted by a standard automotive battery or power supply capacitor.

Powering down the system will not cause the capacitor to discharge as long as it's connected to the battery. Even disconnecting the battery won't discharge the cap. Discharging the cap has to be done by placing a load between the positive and negative terminals. The easiest way to do this is with a test light or resistor, but there's no real reason to do it before the cap is removed.

Answer 3

Yes, a capacitor looks like a can in most cases. It builds up electricity and when needed it 'dumps' all of the energy giving the circuit a boost. The difference between a capacitor and a battery is a cap constantly charges and discharges almost instantaneously while a battery discharges at varying rates over time -- much slower. Some people say an extra battery could help instead of a cap, but this can be hard on your alternator because it will always be charging 2 batteries instead of one.

Answer 4

I have seen capacitors blow up, but your concern should be getting an electric shock. Capacitors store charge and the larger ones could store enough of a jolt to kill you.

Best thing is to wait after powering down the system. There is a formula called RC time constant which will tell you how long it takes to discharge. Once enough time has elapsed the capacitor can be safely removed.

If you are unsure of what you are doing, it's best to leave this to the pros.

Answer 5

The simplest and safest way is to have the system running and disconnect the amp power lead from the battery (or take out the fuse. The amp will then suck out all the power from the Cap before going off!

Answer 6

If it's just a capacitor all you need to do is isolate power to it, ensure it has an earth and allow time for it to drain through that earth (about the same time for a cuppa to make sure). It shouldn't blow up unless it's damaged, but capacitors store energy, that's what they're for!!

Answer 7

Use a 12v light bulb to discharge it. When the light goes out, it's dead enough to remove safely.

Answer 8

use the one hand method,meaning dont ground yourself out . cut it withe one hand and remove it with one hand. its not a hand grenade so it wont kill you if you ground it out,just be carefull. this also means dont be touching any metal parts of the car with your body while removing it. good luck

Answer 9

discharge it first using resistors ( the only thing-- be carefull when using what resistors you use)

Answer 10

hahahahahaha kill you...