Quote:
Originally posted by illusion
ok this is scaring me. How is a regulator going to be used as a separate asset for car audio? a regulator is used from the alternator to the batteries because the alternator likes to put out voltage, the regulator limits the voltage so it doesn't blow your entire system. Lighting audio misuses the term regulator for it's battery isolator, but it's not the same. So how is it best to use a cap unless he's serious about car audio??? how do you use a regulator.
A capacitor is in essence a battery with very very low internal resistance giving it the capability to almost instaneously discharge, this helps brief surges of power, and helps music quality, like when real stiff bass note comes through, the cap will give you amp that extra little oomph to make it rock solid. If you lights are dimming because of your stereo, I cap may help, an extra battery may help, but the only real fix is a better alternator. Power is Power, If your alternator is making 50 amps, and your stereo is pulling a constant 100amps, eventually your battery will die and your alternator along with it, it doesn't matter if you have 50 batteries, eventually they would die, and remember a cap is a battery, it's just a very fast acting battery that charges itself from your electrical system(the main battery which is charged by the alternator).
So if you're looking to improve your sound quality and help your lights not dim(it won't stop it all together) a cap is for you. The bigger the better, although the rule of thumb for your average electrolytic caps are 1 farad per 1000w, it never hurts to have too much. The best bang for the buck lately have been batcaps. You can pick up a nice batcap 300 for $100 and change which is theoretically equal to a 100 farad cap, and the size of two packs of smokes(approx 3" x 3" x 4") http://www.batcap.net/Model300.html
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He didnt know what a regulator does..
A little info on the side, its possible to have a regulator type of setup just before the amp.. but in 99% cases it wont do you any good.. It'll simply be stunning the alternator till it dies.
Opakracing, get yourself a 1 farad cap.