How can you tell if a car audio capacitor is bad?
Car audio system - 2 550 watt amplifiers, 2 10" subs, 2 250 watt 6×9s, 1 .5 farad capacitor, upgraded battery and alternator. After installing the capacitor according to the manufacturer’s wiring diagram, I find that the car battery is draining while parked with the system turned off. The amps are powering off, the only apparent cause is the recently added capacitor. After removing the cap from the system, the battery drain appears to have stopped. Is this normal for a capacitor to drain the battery under these conditions, or could it be malfunctioning?
Tags: alternator, amps, apparent cause, battery drain, car audio system, car battery, farad capacitor, quot, subs, watt amplifiers
April 11th, 2010 at 1:05 am
Sounds like the capaciter is doing its job, its charging from the battery, if its not fully charged before the car turns off, it will continue to take in electricity.. unless it has a bypass for when the car is off, some cheap ones dont..
April 11th, 2010 at 1:05 am
If it stops working.
April 11th, 2010 at 1:05 am
no but a buddy of mine put a cut off switch in the system to solve that problem
April 11th, 2010 at 1:05 am
The capacitor itself shouldn’t be causing a battery drain; but if it has a built-in voltmeter or display, that may be staying on when it shouldn’t.
April 11th, 2010 at 1:05 am
The battery in my truck is always going dead. I always thought it was the alarm system but after reading this I might just of needed to take the cap out. Thanks.
April 11th, 2010 at 1:05 am
yes it has to be the manufacturer cause the capacitor is messed up