Does not installing a capacitor on your sound system ONLY effect flickering lights?

Or can it shorten the life of the alternator?


I don't got a powerful system its just an MTX-500W Amp

 

A cap is to a sound system like a bandaid is to a gunshot...whats it gonna do? Look effective, but not doing anything.

Caps do help with voltage spikes, but only really minor ones - getting large voltage dips means you should be looking at upgrading your wires, possibly a bigger alt, or a second battery. (maybe)

 

Alright cool, so I won't have to worry.

Someone tried telling me that, so I was just making sure/getting worried.

Ya I don't think its dropping voltage TOO terribly. Even on the hardest hitting songs the voltage meter don't even move. I should be fine then..

 

I agree you should be fine.

 

If you have access to an old needle-style multimeter that's quick to respond, put that at the battery terminals on your amp and crank it, see how much voltage drop you get.

The factory gauges are typically pretty dampened. Try putting your dome lights on and looking at those, they seem to be pretty easy to use as a gauge..

But honestly, if it doesn't bother you, it ain't broke!

 

Just be careful with not having one on there. I have a 02 Ext Silverado and I put a Rockford Fosgate 500W Dual Channel and crossed it over and it was fine for about 2 days then it just died. I put a 500W Cap on and it saved my trucks life Because before I put it on I checked the battery and it was totally dead. And put a new one on from the factory when I bought it. They didn't know a stereo killed the battery And a brand new battery couldn't hold up and died as well. So after that I added a 800Cell battery from Pepboys with a 7 year Warranty I think and it was cheaper that a dry cell.

 

I always suggested a cap because it always helped my spikes. but you can easily do an Alternator Mod.

 

I agree, as a former DB Drag world champion (1999) and World record holder SPL 2 sub class, Caps do nothing more than filter out A/C ripple from your charging system and offer some current benifits during short transient events in your signal. A beefier battery, larger gauge power and ground wires and a higher output alternator is your best bet.

I do like appropriately sized caps though as they really do a good job of filtering noise from your power wires which in turn allows your amp to "amplify" a cleaner signal (signal meaning power, not the RCA inputs).

 

What did you compete in? I want to compete next year in the under 1K watts class, or single 12"..depends

 

PM Sent,...don't want to thread hijack