cap Q

[neondriver]

i have never used a cap before, and now i have one for my new system. its a 1.0 with a digital readout, my question is simply is the led lights and volt display always going to be on? i guess your also susposed to charge it first which i am (12 volt source connected it to a neon light and connected to to the cap)it read 12-13.44. what is a normal number for it to sit at? after i disconnected the wires it still was lit up and about 2 minuter later it flashed 0.00 then turned off, is that just because its not fully charged?

[k4rts]

caps are useless.

[stompy]

ok the best way to charge a cap is to put direct 12v to it(use 4ga or bigger)
it will spark and then it is charged (only take a sec)
the read out stays on until there is no voltage change for 2 min then turns off
hope this helps

[Notladstyle]

After you charge it, the display will stay on until the voltage either falls below 10v or the voltage doesnt change for 2 minutes.

Your cap read 000 because the display uses a small amount of current which slowly drained the cap until it shut off.

[neondriver]

alright simple enough, i was hearing stuff about the caps blowing up and crap. but its all in and working.
thanks

[TIM TIM TIM]

they can blow up if you touch the + to -

[TJElite]

ok the best way to charge a cap is to put direct 12v to it(use 4ga or bigger)
it will spark and then it is charged (only take a sec)
the read out stays on until there is no voltage change for 2 min then turns off
hope this helps

This is also a good way to blow a capacitor up. When they are discharged, they read like a direct short, so the current that will pass through it is almost unlimited for a short period of time...enough to blow it up. When they blow, they typically spew hot crap out of them, that can really ruin your day.

Most caps on the market today, expecially the ones with meters, etc., have built in charging circuits to prevent this, but its always safer to charge through a resistor.

Toby

[neondriver]

This is also a good way to blow a capacitor up. When they are discharged, they read like a direct short, so the current that will pass through it is almost unlimited for a short period of time...enough to blow it up. When they blow, they typically spew hot crap out of them, that can really ruin your day.

Most caps on the market today, expecially the ones with meters, etc., have built in charging circuits to prevent this, but its always safer to charge through a resistor.

Toby

thats what i heard, i charged it out of the car. maybe ill touch the + & - together when im bored with it and see it blow up. so far so good, i really dont need it seeing i only have 1 12" sub and a 600 watt amp...but my future plans will be much bigger.

[stompy]

I would like to state for the record that not just me but every installer at our shop charges them that way, and in the hunderds of caps we have done not one has blown up.

[Notladstyle]

It is almost impossible to blow up a cap by shorting it unless you apply a voltage above is maximum rating.

[P057]

This is also a good way to blow a capacitor up. When they are discharged, they read like a direct short, so the current that will pass through it is almost unlimited for a short period of time...enough to blow it up. When they blow, they typically spew hot crap out of them, that can really ruin your day.

Most caps on the market today, expecially the ones with meters, etc., have built in charging circuits to prevent this, but its always safer to charge through a resistor.

Toby

Can you folks not read? He said that these days it isn't an issue, happened before, its just being on the safe side.:roll:

[Notladstyle]

Can you folks not read? He said that these days it isn't an issue, happened before, its just being on the safe side.:roll:

you cap didnt have one and we shorted it.