Size for Power Usage

Da Mail Man

Active Member
Most likely the worst place to ask this but:

1)...Some individuals that use high power amps in their vehicles utilize capacitors to prevent large power draws on heavy base "thuds" (bass is a fish - lol) during music playing....

2)...I have some communications equip. that i wish to put a "cap" in the 12vdc line to "pick up the slack during heavy power/current draws.......

Can anyone here direct me as to what I need? (12v dc, 100 amp draw)....I posted here because may questions I have had in the past have been answered although, computer related...Thanks for any assistance.
 
why 'worst'?

You'd be mainly offering a surge filter and reducing noise in that kind of use case. Depends entirely on the power usage of the equipment though since you left it vague, a 'carputer' for instance would only require a couple dozen watts.
 
Thanks for the reply...

"Worst" as I said, because this is not computer related in part unless someone is using a computer in their vehicle...

1)...What I was getting at best that I can describe, is a deceased friend of mine had radio equipment in his vehicle..

2)...When he turned his amp on which drew heavy current, would draw quite a bit of amperage when he would engage it.....Most similar to a person running music equipment in their vehicle and, when strong base notes "hit", would cause his headlights to "flutter" because of that high current draw....

3)....When he installed the cap(s), it solved that problem...

The purpose of the cap(s) he used were to supply that extra current/power surging heavy draw times - most like an additional battery so-to-speak....I was looking for how to determine what size cap to use with a 100 amp peak draw at 12vdc.
 
You indicated communications equipment which is different than trying to shove a thousand watts or more into a set of subs.

What communications equipment would be rated for 1200w? We understand the purpose and features of capacitors, at lower power draw the benefits are less impactful as an input buffer for instantaneous wattage.
 
Thanks for the reply..
"You indicated communications equipment which is different than trying to shove a thousand watts or more into a set of subs."

But, electrical current draw is not, regardless if audio or radio equipment....***I am not looking to put a cap on any audio line to a SPEAKER......The cap(s) would go on the 12v dc power side of the power INPUT to the power amp, powering that amp....

Well, I will ask someone in a ham radio forum as they should know....Thanks anyway.
 
Sounds like you should already be familiar with all of the dependencies including power my man :cool:
 
I remember my friend whom was running "lots'a stuff" in his vehicle and, despite his extra amperage alternator, he had to play with caps on the power (12vdc) input to all to get it all working correctly......
 
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