Car Stereo Capacitors used for Amplifiers ?

[Switch Kit]

Was just wondering if or how one of these might be helpful behind a Texas Star DX500 in your vehicle ? What would I look for concerning the size I might need ? and how are they even hooked up ? The pros and cons if any . Sounds interesting and just was wondering if they could be of help . Thanks SK

 

[Shockwave]

Was just wondering if or how one of these might be helpful behind a Texas Star DX500 in your vehicle ? What would I look for concerning the size I might need ? and how are they even hooked up ? The pros and cons if any . Sounds interesting and just was wondering if they could be of help . Thanks SK

Unless you are using the amplifier on sideband, the answer is no. The capacitor is only beneficial for intermittent loads. The sustained load of a carrier on AM will defeat the purpose.

 

[Switch Kit]

Unless you are using the amplifier on sideband, the answer is no. The capacitor is only beneficial for intermittent loads. The sustained load of a carrier on AM will defeat the purpose.

It would be on sideband , could you recommend one ? Thanks Shock

 

[Shockwave]

It would be on sideband , could you recommend one ? Thanks Shock

It's been a long time since I've used one. Back then the goal used to be a one farad capacitor. Today that value is easy to achieve and I've seen many that are two farads. They typically have a maximum voltage of 15 or 16 volts and match a stock electrical voltage system well. The goal is to connect them close to the back of the power amplifier and in parallel with the positive and negative wires.

They compensate for voltage drop during brief peak demands. Such as bass thumps on a stereo amplifier or, word peaks on a sideband amplifier. Don't expect major improvements. You might be able to measure it on a watt meter.

 

[nomadradio]

It's a filter capacitor. It serves to smooth out voltage drops caused by loud bass notes in audio amplifiers.

The current draw running AM doesn't bounce up and down the same way, so extra filtering won't make a difference you can see or hear. Sideband does create radical fluctuations in the current drain that could cause voltage drops that a capacitor might help. And fatter wires would probably make the capacitor unnecessary.

Spending money on an improvement nobody on the listening end can hear is all very good, but I never recommend it to a paying customer.

73

 

[Switch Kit]

It's a filter capacitor. It serves to smooth out voltage drops caused by loud bass notes in audio amplifiers.

The current draw running AM doesn't bounce up and down the same way, so extra filtering won't make a difference you can see or hear. Sideband does create radical fluctuations in the current drain that could cause voltage drops that a capacitor might help. And fatter wires would probably make the capacitor unnecessary.

Spending money on an improvement nobody on the listening end can hear is all very good, but I never recommend it to a paying customer.

73

Thanks guys for the replies , my thought wasn't about getting more power out of the amp . I run about 6 feet of heavy 8 gage to my amp from the battery , I'm seeing a little dimming of my headlights at night when talking on SSB , I was just wondering if one of those caps might be of any help concerning the draw ? Old car that's had a lot of use with amplifiers over 20 years , 95 amp alt seems like she might be getting a little tired these days , I've heard others over the years talk of using those caps in there cars and off there power supplies at home . I don't do much night driving anyway just was wondering how significant those caps might be in the transmitting radio world . I suppose I could change over to 6 gage couldn't hurt . Thanks again gentlemen .

 

[9C1Driver]

Switch there is an old thread here on running bat caps from stereo shops here somewhere. As already stated the general consensus was it just didn’t accomplish much. In your case an upgrade to say a 140 amp alternator would be money and time better spent.

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

A second battery will outperform a big capacitor in a car stereo system. Unless you have a bank of super caps, it's just a waste of money. And I agree with @9C1Driver, a bigger alternator is the most practical solution.

 

[Eldorado828]

The BIG 3 as it's known in the car audio world. Upgrade cables, alternator and batteries can apply to the radio world as well.

Every thread before this one is all facts so I won't be redundant.

In your case, even a smaller kinetik battery between you car battery and amplifier can make a difference in current/voltage drops. That alone can help stabilize things quite a bit.

Or the big 3 if you have the coin.