HzEmall Regal
Don't hack your car !!
- Joined
- May 25, 2001
Originally posted by GNandTTA
The key word there being competitor, not daily driver. Big alternators deliver big current at high rpms. But they don't do jack at idle. For a daily driver stick with the factory alt.
Caps do help. Alternators and batteries are slow in comparison to caps when it comes to delivering short bursts of current. They have a much lower internal resistance than a battery or alternator. Plus most caps are usually mounted right next to the amps.
That is why most good amps (car and home) have large caps right on the circuit board. By adding an external cap you are just adding more avaliable fast current.
When was the last time you did some testing on a alternator ? Your stock one produces hardly anything at idle or low RPM. At least most higher output alternators have a much higher output rate at idle or low RPM. Wranger and Ohio are just 2 of the alternator companies that offer much higher outputs. My 180 amp alternator produces about 98 at idle. My stock one (120) in my 97 Suburban put out a measly 52 at idle and low RPM
Alternators are not just for competitors, after all these things are not big money. You can buy a 160 Amp alternator for around $400, that is just a couple of caps.
Alternators and batteries are slow to deliver current compared to a cap if the battery is dead. If you go with a large reserve battery (not a large CCA) and it is charged it will provide all the current you need.
As for the large capacitors inside home and car amps, they serve a different purpose and are at a different point in the power supply section of a amp then a outboard cap. Plus with almost all the amps on the market being regulated power supplies, a boost in current from a cap will not make the amp perform any better cause they are designed to work the same within a certain voltage range.
If you people wish to buy caps, go right ahead, we (retailers) make more money, but the couple hundred dollars people spend on them can be better used elseware in the car.
All I am trying to say is that there are 100 sides to every theory out there and opinions are like buttholes, everyone has them. BUT simple stuff like voltage, current, power and resistance can't change......you can't change the law of physics, many have tried, but failed.
Research the product and the concept before spending your money just cause some people on a board say so (me included)
If you want to go to www.carsound.com and do some research on there there have been tons of discussions regarding caps on there under Richard Clarks forum and they have all been proven they don't work.