power cap light ...erm?

[fuzzi]

just had a power cap fitted to hopefully stop the lights fading so much when play music loud. When everything is off the dials stay light up.

is that right?

dint want it to drain my battrie. I might be a stupid question as there is nowhere for the power too go as for the remote on the amp but still.

just wanted to check

thanks

 

[theduck]

Lights staying on sounds wrong, and I thought these were a waste of money anyway. Much better with higher capacity battery and more efficient alternator

 

[Yellow Dave]

Mine had a remote wire from the head unit to it to turn it on and off as with the amp. Does yours have this or just a live feed from the battery.

Mine made no difference to the lights flashing at all to my 03 1.4 16v clio though!

 

[fuzzi]

NO JUST A + AND A -

no remote cus i checked. i only got it cus i had some credit on paypal and didnt know what to get so just got 1. lol bit spur of the moment

 

[mattjk]

Lights staying on sounds wrong, and I thought these were a waste of money anyway. Much better with higher capacity battery and more efficient alternator

Well said duckman

 

[Vish]

If lights stay on, doesn't it mean its still feeding from the battery until its full?

I had the problem of my sub cutting when it was turned up loud. Switched from 40A to 60A battery and has been totally fine. That was a couple of years ago I think and its never cut out or dimmed lights etc.

 

[cat171]

Lights staying on sounds wrong, and I thought these were a waste of money anyway. Much better with higher capacity battery and more efficient alternator

Well said duckman

Agreed

 

[fuzzi]

went on on my lunch and it still fine. showeing a steady 12 v like the batterie. all looks to be fine.
power cap was just a quick and easy solution for now. Getting car service soon and ill be gettin a better batterie n altantor at the same time.
thanks for the help and advise lads

 

[marky-f1]

my old 1 used to stay lit up for 10-15 mins after the sounds were off then switch off mine never had a remote wire either

 

[theduck]

Has it worked as a solution though?

 

[fuzzi]

hmmmm interesting. i just went to my car hasnt be touched since 4 unlocked open boot light still on. didnt touch the ignition at all.

 

[markblack172]

power caps detect a current drop and power up to keep the power running at a higher rate when the stereo is on,
turning the alarm off or opening the boot will activate the power cap
try to leave the car closed and locked where you can see the power cap to see if it powers down

i had an audiobahn one on show and it powered up as soon as the alarm was turned off or the alarm was set off (fookin kids) lol

 

[theduck]

power caps dont detect anything, they are JUST a capacitor, which means they store a reserve of energy which then 'overflows' back into the system, the idea of a powercap is provide surges of electricity when there are suddenly louder sections of music. In practice they cost money and do f**k all.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor

 

[markblack172]

^^ thats not the same as a power cap for a car,
if you look inside the clear display there are resistors and a circuit board and usually a digital display to tell you what voltage the cap is running at, this is what picks up the voltage drop.

 

[theduck]

it really is, just Power caps are just bigger versiosns of these. the circuit boards are for the digital display etc.

 

[bmh.01]

They're shite, end of. Its been proven, move on. Check out talkaudio if you want to argue.

 

[Tigger]

Well said duckman

Agreed

+1

 

[fuzzi]

power caps detect a current drop and power up to keep the power running at a higher rate when the stereo is on,
turning the alarm off or opening the boot will activate the power cap
try to leave the car closed and locked where you can see the power cap to see if it powers down

i had an audiobahn one on show and it powered up as soon as the alarm was turned off or the alarm was set off (fookin kids) lol

will be worth a try thanks m8.
power caps kick up a fare bit of fuss dont they?
alot of people unsure whts the point.
i didnt think it would do much, but has made the bass a bit punchier
and reduced the light dim so its sertantly doing something.

might not have done as much as a new batt and/or altanator but its only fraction of the price

 

[theduck]

will be worth a try thanks m8.
power caps kick up a fare bit of fuss dont they?
alot of people unsure whts the point.
i didnt think it would do much, but has made the bass a bit punchier
and reduced the light dim so its sertantly doing something.

might not have done as much as a new batt and/or altanator but its only fraction of the price

power caps dont detect anything, they are JUST a capacitor, which means they store a reserve of energy which then 'overflows' back into the system, the idea of a powercap is provide surges of electricity when there are suddenly louder sections of music. In practice they cost money and do f**k all.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor

My post explains why it would appear to be doing something, though I have never known one do anything noticeable