Author Topic: Power cap advice (Read 2120 times)

LowlifeDubber · « **on:** 05 April 2011, 08:18 »

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!

Cheers lads.

B-chi · « **Reply #1 on:** 05 April 2011, 09:17 »

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.

LowlifeDubber · « **Reply #2 on:** 05 April 2011, 09:20 »

So is it constantly on then mate?That seems a bit daft

Why didnt they have the sense to incorporate a switched feed to turn it on and off with the headunit

N900 MJT · « **Reply #3 on:** 05 April 2011, 09:54 »

I have had mine in the car since the day i got it and has never drained the battery!

B-chi · « **Reply #4 on:** 05 April 2011, 09:54 »

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.

LowlifeDubber · « **Reply #5 on:** 05 April 2011, 09:58 »

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.

B-chi · « **Reply #6 on:** 05 April 2011, 10:05 »

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.

LowlifeDubber · « **Reply #7 on:** 05 April 2011, 12:58 »

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.

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

Here it is anyway just finished re-assembling it..