I am looking at installing a Rockford Fosgate 1 Farad capacitor.

My question is on the actual wiring. So I take the power lead from the battery, run it to the Capacitor, and then continue to the amp. Then I have a ground, that I run to my grounding source.

Is that it? I read somewhere there is supposed to be a third wire....is this correct?

I understand charging it, so thats not a problem. Did a search but didn't find anything on the actual install. Saw the car audio site install guide, but that seemed a bit too simple.

yup, that's pretty much it. third wire might be a remote turn on wire for the digital display (I have an old monster one that needed it) bust most newer ones auto sense.

yup, that's pretty much it. third wire might be a remote turn on wire for the digital display (I have an old monster one that needed it) bust most newer ones auto sense.

Thanks man, greatly appreciated. I figured that was it, but with a capacitor, I didn't want to be guessing.

:thumbup:


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Installed today, no problems. There was no third wire, just a positive and a negative (Rockford Fosgate 1 farad digital capacitor w/ LED).

The only weird thing was when I went to charge up the capacitor. The charing 'card' it came with has a green light on it, that is supposed to go off when charged. It never went off, and I let it sit for a long time (as in 20 minutes plus). It only got up to 9.1. I even used a spare red top optima battery, and that only got it up to 8.1 (the 9.1 was when I started the car up).

Anyway, figured it had some sort of charge and the main reason for charging a capacitor was so that it didn't do a huge drain on the battery instantaneously.

Took the resistor (card) off the capacitor and hooked everything up (positive and negative), and started the car up and turned on the stereo. The capacitor LED said 13.4 and seems to be working fine.

Pics of installed cap?

Why did you 'need' a cap?

>^..^<

Why did you 'need' a cap?

>^..^<

puts less of a strain on your battery...

puts less of a strain on your battery...

I have never 'needed' a cap ...OTOH I use quality amps. (how does it put less stress on the battery?)

>^..^<

Ok, here's the thought/theory behind caps. A capacitor is basically a quick discharge battery. Under normal operation without a cap, when your sub bumps hard (no matter the quality of the amp; if it's high power it WILL do this), it pulls more from the battery instantaneously. Now, this is supposedly bad for the battery. So, you put a cap in line with it. The cap charges and then when you sub needs that sudden thump, the cap takes the quick drain, thus protecting your battery.
Now, that's the theory behind it. I honestly hear different stories all the time from professionals whether they REALLY change anything. But that's the thinking.

Pics of installed cap?


Can do, will try to get a picture this week for you. I just installed it onto the subwoofer box. I'm sure thats a no-no, but this isn't a show car or anything like that, just my daily driver.

Why a cap?

I had my battery slowly die on me and could tell that my alternator wasn't keeping up. Every now and then my car would get a little bit hard to start. One day, the radio was cutting out on me, and it felt like it was dying at stops, I knew it was a charging isssue. I parked my car and then tried turning it over--and nothing. Damn.

Alternator brushes looked decent, but not great. I don't know how many miles were on the current alternator, and I've been replacing parts with new parts when they wear out on this car. So I bought a new alternator--which probably would have been enough, but figured why not throw on a capacitor as insurance. It was $70 or so bucks for a Rockford Fosgage digital 1 farad cap, plus shipping. Then $10 for a capacitor install kit at Best Buy.

I know there are a lot of arguments pro and con capacitor, but I figured why not, couldn't hurt. Also, watching the digital gauge, it will drop a couple decimals throughout a song and then back up to full charge, so it is doing something.

I have only found caps to be of benefit when used with lesser quality amps. High end amps have enough internal capacitance ....low quality amp mfg's cut corners to keep the price down ...capacitance is one of those areas. If you are wanting one for the 'cool factor' ...then you got your money worth. If you are looking for better SQ ...why not just spend the extra $$$ on a better amp ...instead of a 'band aid'.

>^..^<

I have only found caps to be of benefit when used with lesser quality amps. High end amps have enough internal capacitance ....low quality amp mfg's cut corners to keep the price down ...capacitance is one of those areas. If you are wanting one for the 'cool factor' ...then you got your money worth. If you are looking for better SQ ...why not just spend the extra $$$ on a better amp ...instead of a 'band aid'.

>^..^<


people that NEED caps are pushing crazy high wattages through their stereo systems. im not sure i agree with you on better amps dont need caps, though. im sure higher end amps have some sort of capacitance, but i dont think youll find an amp that performs like an actual capacitor does. even if you dont NEED an amp cuz your pushin lower wattages, id still have one just for safe measure.

if i were you, i would NEVER go around telling people that they will never need a cap, and they just need a better amp. my $.02

people that NEED caps are pushing crazy high wattages through their stereo systems. im not sure i agree with you on better amps dont need caps, though. im sure higher end amps have some sort of capacitance, but i dont think youll find an amp that performs like an actual capacitor does. even if you dont NEED an amp cuz your pushin lower wattages, id still have one just for safe measure.

if i were you, i would NEVER go around telling people that they will never need a cap, and they just need a better amp. my $.02

It has NOTHING to do with the wattage ....if an amp is designed with an adequate power supply there is NO need for an external cap. Higher end amps have enough internal capacitance for whatever their rated wattage is.

im sure higher end amps have some sort of capacitance,You really don't have a clue. ALL amps MUST have some 'capacitance'. Higher end amps just have a proper power supply.

even if you dont NEED an amp cuz your pushin lower wattages, id still have one just for safe measure.How is this a 'safe measure'? It just adds another potential problem to the system. Why not just buy a better quality amp ...instead of wasting $$$ on a 'band aid'?

OTOH ....I would guess that you think JL, Alpine, PG, Pioneer ...etc are all good amps. There are very few truely 'high end' amps ...most everyone else has 'sold out' to the 'mid-fi' marketing.

>^..^<

OTOH ....I would guess that you think JL, Alpine, PG, Pioneer ...etc are all good amps. There are very few truely 'high end' amps ...most everyone else has 'sold out' to the 'mid-fi' marketing.

>^..^<

ive never owned any of those name amps...ive had BOSS, and Power Acoustik....:dunno they always worked fine for what i needed them for

ive never owned any of those name amps...ive had BOSS, and Power Acoustik....:dunno they always worked fine for what i needed them for

Those are even lower quality than the 'mid-fi' crap I listed. No wonder you 'need' a cap.

>^..^<