I am buying a Mazda 3 and I am putting a pretty powerful sound system in it. Should I buy a capacitor or spend the extra money and have a performance alternator put in.
2007-11-01 08:32:18 · 8 answers · asked by Runner88 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Audio
Get the Flux Capacitor
and go back to the future.
2007-11-01 08:35:33 · answer #1 · answered by Fuzzybutt 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If your total system power is 1000 watts RMS or more, you will need to:
1. Upgrade the alternator to a high output alternator
2. Upgrade to a heavy duty deep cycle battery
3. Upgrade the "Big 3" - that is to replace the power wire between the battery and alternator, the ground from the battery to the chassis and the ground strap from the engine/tranny to the chassis with at least 1/0 AWG wire.
Failure to do this will result in you replacing them anyway as the alternator will eventually fail.
Here is a guide that will calculate what size alternator and power wires you need http://www.datafilehost.com/download.php?file=6d26c621
A second battery is never a good idea as it's an added strain on the alternator to charge two batteries AND supply power for the car. The ONLY time a second battery is useful is if the audio system is to be used with the car off.
A cap is only good so far as the audio system isn't trying to pull too much from the electrical system. A cap doesn't provide more power, it's designed to 'stiffen' the voltage to the amp, nothing esle. If the current isn't there, a cap won't help. The alternator must have at least 20% more amperage power than the entire vehicle and sound system combined for a cap to be of benefit which is ironically the same requirements for an amp to be efficient.
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2007-11-01 14:44:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
If you are getting over 1000w rms then you should look into a high output alternator and a "big 3" upgrade (more info on big 3 on www.the12volt.com). A new battery may help also if you have a really powerful system.
A cap is not goin to be able to help if your lights are dimming (if that is why you would want to get one). They are only really useful in certain applications and i don't recommend spending the money on one. You MAY notice some difference with a cap but it is not usually that much.
2007-11-01 09:03:28 · answer #3 · answered by MDC 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Eaton's Cooper Power™ series Power Capacitor Products are designed for worldwide utility and industrial applications for system voltages from 2.4 kV through EHV. Cooper Power Systems produces capacitor subsystems for shunt, series, HVDC, SVC, and filtering applications throughout the world.
2016-05-26 22:24:24 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are over 1000watts, go with the alternator. The cap is ineffective if there is no voltage, it only stiffens the power, where as the alternator creates voltage more efficiently.
If you do that you are gonna want to upgrade your power wire from the battery to the alternator(1/0awg), and upgrade your groud wires througout the vehicle, oh almost forgot...a deep cycle battery is in order as well.
2007-11-01 08:49:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
think of a second battery and the allternator, that will allow your system to have a little head room before it causes your system to have like a brown out.
2007-11-01 08:37:52 · answer #6 · answered by redd headd 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Psp
2007-11-01 08:36:56 · answer #7 · answered by missmarble50 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Probably both if your heading towards uber decibels.
2007-11-01 08:36:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋