Power Capacitor owned my car

[Ragnarok2]

Ok heres the story:
I buy myself a power capacitor for my car sound system. Im confused on how to charge it, and I charge it somewhat I think, and then just connect it to the battery and it works...for now.
Tonight, I listen to music when my car is off...and after about 10 minutes I notice my speakers and subs turn off. I try to start my car, but to no avail.
I wait about 10 minutes, try to start my car again and thankfully it works, but a real hard time starting it up. I drive around the block a few times, turn my car off and on again and this time it starts smoothly.

SO, what I'm thinking is that power capacitor really screwed me over. The digital display on it reads about 9.80-11.60Volts when the thing is on. When I was initially charging it, I was supposed to charge it until 12Volts and connect to battery, but I think I only did until about 8.5Volts. I read somewhere that the amount you charge it determines how much battery it will drain. If you know how these things work, please help a fellow anadtecher out! Thanks a million times!

 

[mchammer]

What kind of car?

 

[The Stigenator]

did you install it according to instructions???

 

[Eli]

LOL.

/tries not to say something mean



First of all, your new capacitor did not drain your battery, unless it is the size of your car.

Second, it should only take a few seconds at most for the cap to charge up.

Edit: Check your wiring. Do you have a DMM? Check the voltage on the supply wires.

 

[Bacstar]

How many amps and total watts?

If you're running your stereo without the car running, you may be draining your battery pretty fast.

 

[TG2]

the capacitor is only for surges the amp needs...

so instead of the system drawing 15 amps on the battery, then drawing 25 amps when the bass hits...with the cap in the system, the cap gives the amps the other 10 amps for the short duration the amp needs it

 

[smack Down]

Your capacitor fluid may be low. Try adding more

 

[Number1]

Disconnect the capacitor and turn your radio on for the same ammount of time you had it when it killed the battery.

If the battery dies again, you need a new one.

 

[Ragnarok2]

Actually, now when I have my car turned and the sound on, the digital display reads 13.60Volts...which is what the alternator gives out I believe...so I think it was just the fact that I turned my stereo too loud for too long that the battery got drained. Also, to answer some questions...I got 2 12" Infinity subs at 1200Watts each, 4 speakers at 50Watts each, and 4 tweeters but I have no clue how many watts those are. I got two amps at 1600Watts combined and the power cap. Thats pretty much the setup for now. And, my car is a 1997 Chrysler Cirrus.

Also, Thanks for all the replies!

 

[LordMorpheus]

The cap does not store a signifigant amount of charge next to what the battery has. It should not contribute any major load to your car when you are trying to start it and all that, unless it dischages when the car is off.

If it does, just turn the ignition switch to "on" for a few seconds before starting the car and you should be fine.

If you have a problem it's probably just a bad battery.

 

[Umberger]

that powerful a sound system definitely has the potential to kill a battery in a few minutes, especially a bad battery. 1600 Watts at 12V is over 130Amps... i know that your amps don't actually draw that much all the time, but still... that is a LOT of current for a battery to supply for 10 minutes+

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: Umberger
that powerful a sound system definitely has the potential to kill a battery in a few minutes, especially a bad battery. 1600 Watts at 12V is over 130Amps... i know that your amps don't actually draw that much all the time, but still... that is a LOT of current for a battery to supply for 10 minutes+

I run a little over 1000W RMS in my car across 3 amps and have never had an issue with battery life. I'm running a stock battery in my 03 Neon with the big 3 upgrade.

I'd say I've had the car off, but the stereo on for probably 30-45 minutes at times. Would volume have a huge determining factor? I don't have a way to measure the power output of all the amps at once, so...

I wonder how long it'd go!

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: jamesbond007

Originally posted by: Umberger
that powerful a sound system definitely has the potential to kill a battery in a few minutes, especially a bad battery. 1600 Watts at 12V is over 130Amps... i know that your amps don't actually draw that much all the time, but still... that is a LOT of current for a battery to supply for 10 minutes+

I run a little over 1000W RMS in my car across 3 amps and have never had an issue with battery life. I'm running a stock battery in my 03 Neon with the big 3 upgrade.

I'd say I've had the car off, but the stereo on for probably 30-45 minutes at times. Would volume have a huge determining factor? I don't have a way to measure the power output of all the amps at once, so...

I wonder how long it'd go!

Yes, volume and even song would be a huge determining factor.

OP, you probably just need a new battery. Check the battery voltage after it has sat overnight. Make sure it's fully charged in the first place. If your battery is drained, it will take more than a 10 minute drive to charge it back up.

If it's anything less than 12.5V with no load, I'd replace it.

Check it with your headlights on. If it's anything less than 12.0V after a few minutes, I'd replace it.

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: smack Down
Your capacitor fluid may be low. Try adding more

Sadly, that could be more correct than you think!

 

[Ragnarok2]

Originally posted by: goku

Originally posted by: smack Down
Your capacitor fluid may be low. Try adding more

Sadly, that could be more correct than you think!

Mines a brand new capacitor. This happened the same day I installed my capacitor, so I don't think that could be it.

 

[Ragnarok2]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: jamesbond007

Originally posted by: Umberger
that powerful a sound system definitely has the potential to kill a battery in a few minutes, especially a bad battery. 1600 Watts at 12V is over 130Amps... i know that your amps don't actually draw that much all the time, but still... that is a LOT of current for a battery to supply for 10 minutes+

I run a little over 1000W RMS in my car across 3 amps and have never had an issue with battery life. I'm running a stock battery in my 03 Neon with the big 3 upgrade.

I'd say I've had the car off, but the stereo on for probably 30-45 minutes at times. Would volume have a huge determining factor? I don't have a way to measure the power output of all the amps at once, so...

I wonder how long it'd go!

Yes, volume and even song would be a huge determining factor.

OP, you probably just need a new battery. Check the battery voltage after it has sat overnight. Make sure it's fully charged in the first place. If your battery is drained, it will take more than a 10 minute drive to charge it back up.

If it's anything less than 12.5V with no load, I'd replace it.

Check it with your headlights on. If it's anything less than 12.0V after a few minutes, I'd replace it.

That might be the problem. I was listening to System of a Down on almost full volume with high bass.

Also, I tried starting my car this morning and it started up just fine. And also, as I said before, my Power Caps digital display is reading 13.64Volts while the car is on, and I'm pretty sure thats what I'm supposed to be getting. While the car is off though, It reads about 10-11.40Volts

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Ragnarok2

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: jamesbond007

Originally posted by: Umberger
that powerful a sound system definitely has the potential to kill a battery in a few minutes, especially a bad battery. 1600 Watts at 12V is over 130Amps... i know that your amps don't actually draw that much all the time, but still... that is a LOT of current for a battery to supply for 10 minutes+

I run a little over 1000W RMS in my car across 3 amps and have never had an issue with battery life. I'm running a stock battery in my 03 Neon with the big 3 upgrade.

I'd say I've had the car off, but the stereo on for probably 30-45 minutes at times. Would volume have a huge determining factor? I don't have a way to measure the power output of all the amps at once, so...

I wonder how long it'd go!

Yes, volume and even song would be a huge determining factor.

OP, you probably just need a new battery. Check the battery voltage after it has sat overnight. Make sure it's fully charged in the first place. If your battery is drained, it will take more than a 10 minute drive to charge it back up.

If it's anything less than 12.5V with no load, I'd replace it.

Check it with your headlights on. If it's anything less than 12.0V after a few minutes, I'd replace it.

That might be the problem. I was listening to System of a Down on almost full volume with high bass.

Also, I tried starting my car this morning and it started up just fine. And also, as I said before, my Power Caps digital display is reading 13.64Volts while the car is on, and I'm pretty sure thats what I'm supposed to be getting. While the car is off though, It reads about 10-11.40Volts

Take a nice long highway drive.

If your voltage is still at 10-11.40V, you need a new battery.

A fully charged 12V lead acid battery with no load should read 12.7V.

11.4V is less than 50% capacity.

 

[beemercer]

Do you have a link to the capacitor or similar product.