Expert: Cleggsan - 3/17/2010

Question
I was just wondering what would happen if I have a 2, or 3.5 farad cap hooked up to a 600rms amp. Would it work or would it destory the amp? Do I even need a cap on an a/b amp? I have a 3.5 hooked up to my 2600watt amp. Total system is 3200 watts, or so the amps say. Both caps/amps have there own power line from the battery. Just wondering if a 2f, or 3.5f cap would work, and or hurt a 600watt amp?

Answer
No. The whole purpose of using a power cap is to make stable the DC voltage at the input to the amplifier.  If the cap is installed and charged correctly it will never do harm and will be a good result for the amp.  Best place to install the power cap is right next to the amp so that the wire/line from the cap to the amp + terminal is short as possible.

HOWEVER: Don't expect the installation of the power cap to eliminate the need of a sufficiently strong battery and alternator in the vehicle.  The cap will increase the capability of the amp to reproduce low frequencies and will help with short burst audio reproduction a little bit but with long sustained audio the cap becomes discharged and you are still hanging on the the battery output in the vehicle.  So, sound quality of the extreme low bass frequencies will be enhanced some, but the need for strong electrical power from the vehicle will still be necessary.

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