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power cap install???



S

scotty493

  clio 172
can someone tell me how to correctly fit one as im having some trouble with something draining my battery

if i disconnect the cable from the battery under the bonnet but still leave it connected to the power cap should there be power coming from the cap ?i know nothing about these things!!!1
 
B

Black-Clio-1.4

  Orange
Try upgrading the battery or find what is taking up all this power?


I currently run 3 amps - 2 x 1400RMS/1x 400rms. I have upgraded to a yollow top.
 
S

scotty493

  clio 172
have upgraded battery i have 3 tv's ps2 internet 2 1200 subs 2 amps and some speakers...but something in the back end of the car is draining power
 
W

wallop

  vaux cavalier
To save confusion I thought I would put all relevant sketches requested in one place....so here goes;

POWER CAP;

capwiring.jpg


POWER CAP (inc remote switch-on lead)

powercap.jpg


PARALLEL BATTERY CONNECTION;

PARALLELBATTERYWIRING.jpg


SPLIT CHARGE CIRCUIT;

SPLITCHARGEWIRING2.jpg


Usual suspects;
1, Faulty battery, a single dead cell would drain both batteries if not connected via a split charge....
2, Incorrect remote feed selected behind head unit, amps & all accessories remain on all the time instead of switching with the ign/head unit.....
3, Faulty alternator, self explanatory really, if this isn't charging then batteries will drain....
 
S

scotty493

  clio 172
what would you connect to the battery in the boot everthing or just the amps and run the tv's and ps2 off the front battery?
 
B

Black-Clio-1.4

  Orange
I woudl of thought using the rear battery to power everything would be best.

Also why don't you remove the power cap, never seen it worth while, even if your car isn't turned on.
 
W

wallop

  vaux cavalier
Your approaching the problem from the wrong direction mate....

How you plan on using your equipment governs how you need to wire it up....

If you plan on using your system with engine OFF, then everything should be fed from the isolated boot battery, (as in it needs to be 'split charged')....

If you NEVER plan on using your system with the engine OFF, then take feeds for each item from the closest source to keep cable length, (resistance/voltage drop), to a minimum....
 
S

scotty493

  clio 172
its never on with engine off......i have always thoght power caps where single pencil typed shapes this ic like a car battery shape n size
 
W

wallop

  vaux cavalier
The most common sizes are, ( 0.5Farad, 1Farad, 1.2Farad, 1.5Farad etc etc), but the larger units, (5Farad, 10Farad, 200Farad etc etc), are usually rectangular....Certain manufacturers,(Audiobahn for example), opt to make rectangular caps for the 'bling' effect....

There are units called Batt-caps which are also rectangular....

Powercaps in 95% of cases are sold by people who don't understand how they work to people who don't realise they won't gain any significant benefits from having one....In fact, in probably 95% of applications they can have a detrimental overall effect on the charge circuits ability to maintain voltage levels during prolonged hard use....
 
S

scotty493

  clio 172
right everything is dissconected im going to start again is it best to get a relay to slit these batteries (im not clued up on this normal amp speakers and sub im ok with but extra battery and tv's is a bit much)....i dont think there is a relay just a big fuse ?????
 
W

wallop

  vaux cavalier
Why to 'split-charge'....

1, Playing system with engine OFF....Prevents the starter battery from becoming depleted by isolating each battery, in this case all ancillaries should draw power from the boot battery, (inc the head unit).....

2, Using two different types of battery....If using a normal lead acid battery as a starter battery & a Gel type deep cycle battery in the boot the specs for each will differ, this could promote one battery bleeding into the other then vica versa to the point where both batteries become fully depleted....

3, Using similar batteries that are of different ages....Again, this would indicate that each battery has different specs, (float voltage), which would cause similar bleeding between the batteries....

No need to split-charge....

1, If you never run your system without the engine running then there is little chance of battery depletion to the point where starting would be an issue....

2, If running two batteries in 'parallel' with no 'split-charge' they should be purchased at the same time & be of identical type & capacity, this will allow both batteries to become as one once connected up & used for the first time....
 
S

scotty493

  clio 172
i have been told that if i have dissconnected the main battery that before i reconnect the power cap in the boot i should drain the battery in the boot other wise it will try and send charge back to the battery under the bonnet is this true?

from the main battery i have the head unit coming from that then there is a power lead going from that to the battery in the boot then from that there is the tv's,amps,subs,ps2 and speakers ....now these only come on when the head unit face is put on but some how something is still draining the power and im not sure what ..would it be an idea to put a switch between the 2 batteries to eliminate it draining the main battery?
 
S

scotty493

  clio 172
i will try and get some pic's up in a bit it has 3 tv's a ps2 2x 1200w subs 2 amps , alpine haed unit ,speakers ,internet think thts all but some thing is draining the battery but not sure what
 
S

scotty493

  clio 172
right removed the wires yesterday and started to re do the wiring now as it already has the battery in the back im going to leave it in there and run everything but the head unit off the battery in the boot ,but what is the best way to link the two batteries together so i dont damage anything ? before who ever had installed it run a power lead to a junction box had a wire from that going to 1 amp and anothe going to the battery in the boot and one from the battery in the boot to the other amp.....is this right or is it wrong as it dont seem the right way to me ????
 
W

wallop

  vaux cavalier
This threads going round in circles mate....

If the two batteries are of similar type, age & capacity then simply connect them in 'parallel' as above sketch shows.....Just remember that if running system with engine OFF then both batteries will be supplying power....

If the two batteries are of different types, (lead acid, deep cycle gel type), or different ages, (one used & one new for instance), or different capacities, (different 'float' voltages), then you need to connect using a 'split-charge' setup to prevent the batteries from bleeding into one another....Connected in this manner, running with the engine off will only use the boot battery....

With regards audio connection....You should connect both batteries together then take all power for the boot from the boot battery via a fused main feed....

Here's a sketch I did not long ago, (ignore fusing values & second boot battery)...
dualbattery.jpg
 
agithegreat

agithegreat

  1.2 Clio
The spade connectors are for the switched side of the relay.
The bolts are for the laod side. So add this in your line of wire from your front battery to your rear, preferably with 0 awg. Then wire the one spade connector to ground, and the other to the trace line on the alternator.
 
agithegreat

agithegreat

  1.2 Clio
Yeh, ok sorry. It's the tiny wire on the alternator, i believe its striped. It really is small... just split of that. However i foudn this to not have enough umpf to switch on my relay, so i just tapped into the ignition on the radio interface....
 
agithegreat

agithegreat

  1.2 Clio
Yeh the switched live, typicaly the yellow one. But pop a multimeter across and flick on and off the ignition, the one which switches basically.
But you will then need to wire your headunit permanent live onto your rear battery, and your switched live (ignition) of your headunit onto the permanent live too. Otherwise you will have to have your ignition on to turn on your headunit. See what i mean?
If that confused you i'll draw you a pic!
 
S

scotty493

  clio 172
that wouldnt be so bad to be honest as i only normally have the head unit on with the car running..i will wire it to the rear battery anyway also mate with the spade connectors which is the ground and which one for the live?
 
S

scotty493

  clio 172
sound just got to do the ground then connect to the battery then all done thanks for your help agithegreat much appreciated
 
Last edited:
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