GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => Car audio => Topic started by: LowlifeDubber on 05 April 2011, 08:18
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Now then,ive just been given a nice looking power cap.It has a digital read out on top and lights up.The car will have an uprated alternator and an optima yellow top battery when it gets back from the bodyshop.
I know there is people on the fence whether they work well or not but its purely a looks thing for me.Although i dont want to just wire it up to look pretty,i want it plumbed in properly.
Ive stripped it down and it will be tarting it up bodycolour with a twist.
Before i stripped it down i checked it worked ok.It has 2 posi connections and 2 neg connections on either side of the 1 farad twin cap body.
But.As i cant seem to find a switched live input,when i plumb it in,it looks like the neon and the digital readout stays on permanently.
I dont really want this to happen as even if it is a small drain on a fully smoothed car its a risk i dont want to take.
It's a non descript connect x pc-210.I cant find any anywhere on the web so cant get a pic until i get in the garage later.
Any advice please?
I will keep my reply to 2 pages i promise! :grin:
Cheers lads.
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Sorry buddy but it'll always put a drain on the batt.
It's another the thing the power supply has to power.
If you want it for looks plug the headlights into it.
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So is it constantly on then mate?That seems a bit daft :grin: Why didnt they have the sense to incorporate a switched feed to turn it on and off with the headunit :angry:
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I have had mine in the car since the day i got it and has never drained the battery!
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Sorry mate. Misunderstanding I think.
I meant it's another thing to supply not that it's always on. If it's got a voltmeter I'd of thought one would be for the powercap and one for the voltmeter.
Could be wildly wrong. I'll google it if I get chance.
My advice to anyone thinking of BUYING a power cap is buy a battery instead.
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I will get it built up and take a couple of pics for you lads.
Like i say it has a good battery and an uprated alternator (70-90amps) so im only fitting it as it was free and looks pretty.But i hate wiring something up fake for looks,id rather it be functional. :laugh:
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I hear what your saying. But what function does a powercap do?
It supposedly supplies current when there's a large short drain on the power supply. The thing is it can only supply a very, very, very small amount for a very, very, very short time.
For instance my battery can supply 5000 amps over a short period or for a "burp". If I had a power cap it would mean the battery would have to charge up the cap AND supply the amp meaning less power for the amp.
Just had a quick flick through the tinterweb. This is why I think caps are crap.
A 1 farad power cap contains about 100joules of energy.
A 65a yellow top battery contains 2,600,000joules of energy.
That means you'd need 26,000 1 farad caps to equate to 1 65a battery.
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I completely agree with you regarding functionality i just want to plumb it in so its working,whether it is doing a job or not,i just have a place for it to go and i think it will look pretty. :grin:
I just thought there would be a way to have it switched but it doesnt seem to have that option.
But thinking about it if it was to act as a battery(all be it a very small one) unless there is a drain on it,it should stay topped up.But as it has spangly lights on it this would cause a drain.How much of a drain i dont know though :huh:
Here it is anyway just finished re-assembling it..
(http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/5063/img0169px.jpg)
(http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/8823/img0168ag.jpg)
(http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/1376/img0166na.jpg)
(http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/8826/img0170de.jpg)
(http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/7458/img0167k.jpg)