Mike Harvey

I currently have only 1 fared CAP & I think that I may need 2 more. Whatcha guys think? The 1320 watts RMS is only the bass amps I'm not including the 600 watt 4 channel amp. Plus I am going to add a lot of light features & more driving lights in the future so will I need maybe 3????? I don't know much about this end of car audio. Thanx

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- Mike Harvey -
1986 Firebird S/E

86V6

hey man, from what i am learning, you need a 1F cap for ever 1000Wrms. what r your wires running? I am upgrading my system to 2 4G wires. One pushing a 800a2= a 1F cap and I am going to add a .5F cap on the other one before the distrubuter block. I would say your sould be fine with what you have or maybe add a .5F cap as well. If you have two 600+ amps, I'd add another 1F cap... im just learning, but passing on what i have learned

Mike Harvey

They have 4 gauge wiring all around the car. Plus the fuse block on top of the batteries are intense looking. I've never seen a fuse that big.
From what I have learned is that a CAP should be placed closest to your battery. Since I have an Optima Yellow Top in the rear of the car the CAP is sitting almost right next to it. Someone also told me that for every 500 watts RMS you run you should have a CAP so I have no idea. Thanx

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- Mike Harvey -
1986 Firebird S/E

85ws6TA

Depends on the Caps Power ability. alumapro suposidly has the best out now. i thinks its www.alumapro.com

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1985 WS6 Trans AM
glass T-tops
bone stock sloth of an engine LG4
T-5 tranny. thank god, i couldnt stand an LG4 auto.
Plans for an LT-1 or LT-4,
also plans for dual flowmaster exaust.

Got a corvette when i was 16, paid for it myself, screwed the engine up (idiot light didnt work, and i trusted the guy when he said he just changed the oil), and it turned into a project car.
now my TA is my daily driver. not a bad one, but it needs to be faster.

Justins86bird

No, you should place a cap as close to your amp as you can.

If you planing on adding lights and stuff, i would be more concerned with the power output of your alt. If your alt cant keep the volts up with everything running, a cap wont help you.


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-Justin-
T-Top '86 5.0L LG4 700R4 WS6
T-Top '92 5.0L TBI 700R4
My '86 Firebird Homepage
The F-body Model Kit Pictoral Archive (updated 9/18/00)

There can be only one!!

[This message has been edited by Justins86bird (edited January 20, 2001).]

daniel dekay

the second battery was a good idea. how many amps are receiving the reserved power from your 1 farad cap? i would advice 1 farad per 1000 and under watts. or since u have 2 amps, use a second 1 farad amp for the second amp if it sees the same power, if its smaller, use a 1/2 farad. justin was right with the alternator idea. how much amps is yours currently putting out? since a cap just stores power from the batterey, using it when your bass hits, u will need a very very high amperage alternator if u want those extra things like driving lights and what not.

daniel

hey mike, i didnt receive an email for the thirdgenners nor cal meet, can u send one to me? 'ddekay@calpoly.edu'

thanks

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86 camaro cpe(dont laugh)has 92z28 body kit with GTS covers, new red paint and a killer stereo. 2 amps, 8 speakers, disc changer, custom install with subs coming by the end of the summer. sawpped (or in the process of) 305lg4 for brand new 350. TES headers, flowmaster cat back, performer manifold, TCI converter, jet chip, kn with dual snorkel cleaner. and she still passed the sniffer!

"Cal Poly SLO is the shi#"

JP84Z430HP

I have been told the 1 farad per 1000 watts RMS theory, too, but I have also been told that's not exactly true. I have just about 1000 watts actual power with a 1 farad, and I could stand another 1 farad. I don't see anything wrong with having too much except for cost. I don't think that having 3 would be bad for you, but any more than that would be a waste.

All in all, I think 1 farad per 500 watts wouldn't be a bad idea. Anyone know if it would be bad to go with too many caps?



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Working on:
'84 Z28 LG4 305 with 200,000 original miles!
Added dual elec fans.
145 MPH IROC Speedo
Building 430 HP 350
using primarily GMPP parts.
Block is in shop!

ASE Certified Master Tech

Starting to look like the Kicker poster child!

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

Most new amps have a lot of internal capacitance, so the farad per 1000 watts is a bit liberal by today's standards. A 1 farad cap should suffice for your amp as long as you wire it as close as possible to the amp. I would try to keep the power wire between the cap and amp under 6 inches if at all possible. My 1 farad cap has almost 4' of wire between it and my sub amp and it's totally useless.

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The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

stingerssx

I agree with Justins86bird 100%, and I have also heard that for every 500w you should use a 1 farad. If you can afford it, go ahead and use ten!!

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'82 Firebird, dead stock, 9 bolt disc rear, over 200,000 miles and still going strong, more to come...
http://www.spinfrenzy.com/stingerssx...easures.html#4

chrisfrerick

you should also buy a good cap to start with some cheap caps are only rated at 16v and 85degrees. you want to get a cap that is 20v at 95 degrees. the temperture of the cap has something to do with how long it will last. so an 95 will last longer than an 85.