Instructions and diagram for connecting a capacitor to a subwoofer (amplifier) ​​in a car

Why do you need a capacitor for a subwoofer?

An electrical capacitor is a two-pole device capable of accumulating, storing and releasing electrical charge. Structurally, it consists of two plates (plates) separated by a dielectric. The most important characteristic of a capacitor is its capacitance, which reflects the amount of energy that it can accumulate. The unit of measurement for capacitance is the farad. Of all types of capacitors, electrolytic capacitors have the highest capacity, as well as their further improved relatives - ionistors.

To understand why a capacitor is needed, let’s figure out what happens in the car’s electrical network when low-frequency car acoustics with a power of 1 kW or more are connected to it. A simple calculation shows that the current consumed by such devices reaches 100 amperes or more. The load is uneven, the maximums are reached at the moments of bass hits. The voltage drop when the car audio passes through the peak of the bass volume is caused by two factors:

• The presence of internal resistance of the battery, limiting its ability to quickly release current;
• The influence of the resistance of the connecting wires, causing a voltage drop.

The battery and capacitor are functionally similar. Both devices are capable of storing electrical energy and subsequently releasing it to the load. The capacitor does this much faster and more readily than the battery. This property underlies the idea of ​​its application.

How to choose a capacitor

The required capacitor capacity depends on the power of the subwoofer. In order not to go into complex calculations, you can use a simple rule of thumb: for 1 kW of power, a capacitance of 1 farad is required. Exceeding this ratio is only beneficial. Therefore, the most common high-capacity capacitor on sale, 1 farad, can also be used for subwoofers with a power of less than 1 kW. The operating voltage of the capacitor must be at least 14 - 18 volts. Some models are equipped with a digital voltmeter indicator. This creates additional ease of use, and electronics that control the charge of the capacitor make this procedure easier.

Why do you need a capacitor for car audio: let's look at it in detail

Why do you need a capacitor for car audio?

Why a capacitor is needed for car audio is known to all those who have dealt with car audio in one way or another. The fact is that when installing an audio system with your own hands, you have to study a lot of materials. And the recommendations indicate that a capacitor or storage device must be installed along with the amplifier. Are capacitors needed for car acoustics or are these all myths? If they are needed, then why and what is their role in the entire system. This is what we will talk about in our article.

The best capacitors for acoustics

So why do you need a capacitor? As you know, the price for it is not small and not all motorists, even lovers of good sound, want to cut their budget once again. On the other hand, every music lover sooner or later acquires a powerful speaker system or brings it to perfection. This is very good, but the more powerful the system, the more energy you give it.

Note. The battery is not capable of delivering such energy, as a result of which a drawdown occurs (what this means is described in detail below). The drawdown is expressed by the fact that the car’s headlights begin to “blink,” the amplifier’s power drops, and the bass coming from the subwoofer, which was previously clear, becomes “blurry.” In some and especially severe cases, a sharp drop in amplifier voltage leads to clipping, which can damage the speakers.

Auto acoustics review

To this day, on the Internet, in various forums and blogs, there are heated debates regarding the need or uselessness of such a storage device as a capacitor. The debates themselves, to the great regret of car audio lovers, do not lead to any truth. They are completely useless, due to the fact that opponents do not even have a basic school understanding of physics.

Note. The biggest nonsense that can be read from forums is that you need to install a capacitor based on only farads per kilowatt. Such recommendations are fundamentally wrong, since you will not understand where they came from.

So, to lift the veil somewhat, let's go back to our physics lessons. As valuable knowledge is updated in our memory, all myths will disappear like morning smoke.

It is important to know:

• A capacitor for a woofer is the same power consumer that is not capable of generating electricity itself. But it is capable of accumulating it and then consuming it for its own leaks, but not for battery leaks;
• The capacitor's task is to accumulate energy and then release it to the consumer. The drive itself has extremely low internal resistance and for this reason “parts” with energy very quickly (by the way, it does not accumulate it slowly either).

Note. The difference between a capacitor and a battery is that the peak energy output of a capacitor occurs only for the first moment, and then there is a sharp drop in charge. Thus, the recoil speed drops along with the charge.

Differences between a capacitor and an ionistor

Capacitor for subwoofer

Ionistors are what most music lovers carry in their trunks. They differ from a capacitor in the following parameters:

• Huge losses;
• Greater resistance;
• Releases charge much more slowly;
• It costs several times less than a capacitor of the same capacity.

The optimal operating time of the ionistor is: 1 sec/83 cool.

It is recommended to check the ionistor to clearly understand how it works:

• We connect the ionistor to the speaker system with power drawdowns;
• We start it up and observe that the voltage at the terminals increases. So far so good;
• We increase the volume and notice that the voltage drops from 13 to 10 volts.

Note. All this means that at the first hit of the subwoofer, the charge will drop and the ionistor will turn into an extra power component, since it is useful and active only when its charge is greater than the voltage in the network.

This situation among car audio enthusiasts is called sag, but it can be much worse if thin, low-quality wires and cheap copper-plated aluminum are used in the power supply. In this case, cable subsidence is also added to the normal subsidence.

Note. You need to know the dangers of cable sag. The fact is that with a sharp increase in consumption, reactance occurs. The more and faster the user tries to take energy from the cable, the more it (the cable) will interfere with this (if it is thin and long).

The problem of a cheap and low-quality cable will also be reflected in the ionistor, which, having discharged, will no longer be able to receive energy.

Condenser installation

When installing a capacitor, it is recommended to connect it in parallel with the power supply of the amplifier (see How to connect an amplifier to a car radio: you are your own master). It must be placed as close as possible to the power amplifier, at least no further than 60 cm. If you put a capacitor in place of the ionistor, the result will be much more effective.

Everything is done like this:

• The car generator is repaired or a new one is installed;
• A cable is laid from it to ground and plus;
• A new battery is installed;
• All terminals are changed or thoroughly cleaned;
• A good quality power copper cable with a sufficient cross-section is laid;

Capacitor circuit

• We connect the amplifier, do not forget the fuse.

Advice. Until we check all the terminals and make sure that there is 14 volts, we do not connect the capacitor.

• After everything has been checked, you can connect the capacitor. Measurements at the terminals will show the same results, but you shouldn’t be surprised. If the circuit is “live” and there is enough power, then the capacitor has nothing to turn on and it seems to be waiting in the wings.

Note. Another misconception is the fact that supposedly a capacitor is needed in systems where high volume is required or in SPI El competitions. In normal cases, a capacitor will successfully replace an ionistor.

You can prove the need for a capacitor in conventional car speaker systems based on the following:

• Measuring the capacitor can last a long time, and this will “wake up” even the most acidic battery and thus be able to give up its full potential;
• Among the so-called espi ale fraternity, the use of gel batteries, capable of “shooting” hundreds of amps with amazing speed, is more common. No matter how much we praise the capacitor, at such a speed it will “feel” clearly out of work;
• Again, regarding the espi el, the capacitor is out of place, since it is an energy consumer, which is clearly evil for the espi el.

In a word, the ESPI EL certainly does not use any capacitor or other storage device.

The best capacitors

Which capacitor is better for acoustics?

Today, there are a lot of capacitors, like any other car audio products, on the market. Some amplifier manufacturers even provide terminals in advance for connecting a capacitor.

Note. Such amplifiers include the Audison Vesis HV Venti, which was even recognized as the best acoustic amplifier of last year.

Focal

Another well-known manufacturer of amplifiers and high-quality audio equipment, but from France, Focal, uses a different solution in its models: there is a place for capacitors after the amplifier's power supply. This is where, according to experts, the efficiency of using additional storage devices is many times higher.

Which capacitor is better for acoustics?

Note. The disadvantage of such a capacitor is that it is only suitable for amplifiers of the Focal brand.

The features of this capacitor are as follows:

• Significantly improves sound performance;
• This is not even one capacitor, but several. They are collected into a single module.

Note. The number of capacitors corresponds to the number of amplifier power supplies.

• The connection is made using the supplied cable through a special connector;
• In difficult operating conditions, the stability of the amplifier is increased due to High-Cap technology.

When installing a capacitor with your own hands, it will be useful to watch a thematic video review. Equally important are high-quality photos - materials, diagrams, instructions and drawings. The price of capacitors varies, but the best of them all is not cheap.

How to connect a capacitor to a subwoofer

Installing a capacitor is not a complex procedure, but when performing it you need to be careful and follow some rules:

1. To avoid a noticeable voltage drop, the wires connecting the capacitor and the amplifier should not be longer than 50 cm. For the same reason, the cross-section of the wires must be chosen large enough;
2. Polarity must be observed. The positive wire from the battery is connected to the positive power terminal of the subwoofer amplifier and to the capacitor terminal marked with a “+” sign. The capacitor terminal marked “-” is connected to the car body and to the negative terminal of the amplifier power supply. If the amplifier was previously connected to ground, the negative terminal of the capacitor can be clamped with the same nut, while maintaining the length of the wires from the capacitor to the amplifier within the specified limits of 50 cm;
3. When connecting a capacitor to an amplifier, it is better to use standard clamps to connect wires to its terminals. If they are not provided, you can use soldering. Twisted connections should be avoided as significant current flows through the capacitor.

Figure 1 illustrates the connection of a capacitor to a subwoofer.

How to charge a capacitor for a subwoofer

To connect to the car's electrical network, an already charged car capacitor should be used. The need to perform this action is explained by the properties of the capacitor, which were mentioned above. The capacitor charges as quickly as it discharges. Therefore, at the moment the discharged capacitor is turned on, the current load will be too high.

If the purchased subwoofer capacitor is equipped with electronics that control the charging current, you don’t have to worry; feel free to connect it to the power circuits. Otherwise, the capacitor should be charged before connection, limiting the current. It is convenient to use an ordinary car light bulb for this, turning it on against the power supply circuit. Figure 2 shows how to properly charge large capacitors.

If after reading the article you still have questions about connection, we recommend that you read the article “How to connect an amplifier in a car.”

Installation and charging

This procedure is not something very complicated.

Note

An interesting and noteworthy fact is that the battery is rarely the owner's attention while the car is starting. As soon as problems begin, the owner begins to sound the alarm

Read more: ZIC X5 10W40 oil: characteristics, analogues, articles, reviews

The condition of the battery, of course, especially with the onset of cold weather, deserves more careful attention, but still, even if it is new and fully operational, it will definitely need the help of a capacitor (see Why is a capacitor needed for car audio today) in a car where there is a powerful subwoofer.

Detailed and step-by-step instructions on how to do this are provided here:

First, you should prepare: find a DC source (battery in this case), a resistor (it comes with the capacitor) or a 12 V light bulb (if you couldn’t find a resistor) and wires for connecting the capacitor (they should be of the same cross-section, as well as power cables).

Note. As for the negative terminal of the capacitor, it must be connected to the “ground” of the car (body).

• Carefully turn off the fuse for the speaker system;
• Remove the wire from the positive terminal of the capacitor;
• We connect the battery to the network (you can learn how to do this from thematic articles);
• We take a resistor or a light bulb, connect one contact to the positive terminal of the drive, and the other to the power wire (charging time is determined by the manual, instructions included in the kit);

Capacitor for subwoofer

• put back the fuse for the speaker system;
• wait as long as necessary (at least 2 minutes), then turn off the resistor;
• We connect the drive's power cable to the positive terminal directly.

Advice. It is not recommended to tighten the terminals too much, as this will lead to undesirable consequences.

Why do you need a capacitor for a subwoofer?

Thus, we explained why this component is needed in a car. Now let's move on to the useful topic of how to install and connect a capacitor.

Installation

The installation process itself has the following features:

• The capacitor is installed no further than half a meter from the amplifier to avoid a decrease in the amplitude of the current due to the resistance of the connecting wires;
• In no case should you skimp on a capacitor, and if you decide to install it, it must be a high-quality one, and not some Chinese one, so that it will be of any use.

• If there is still no electronic circuit in the capacitor, then it is recommended to initially recharge the element with a 12-volt light bulb;
• Interestingly, you can install a capacitor in a system of any power, regardless of the number of amplifiers.

Charger

As for charging the capacitor (see How to charge a capacitor for a subwoofer yourself), then, as mentioned above, it is useful to charge with a 12 V light bulb, which will let the user understand how the process goes. It itself implies the following:

• A light bulb or resistor (preferably a 12 V light bulb) is connected to the battery positive on the wire;
• The other end of the wire is connected to the positive terminal of the capacitor;
• During the charging process, if the capacitor has a display with a light indication, it will light up. The voltmeter value on the capacitor will also increase, but as soon as it stops, charging must also be completed;
• Remove the light bulb or resistor.

Additional benefits of installing capacitors in cars

In addition to solving problems with the operation of the subwoofer, a capacitor connected to the car network has a positive effect on the operating mode of electrical equipment as a whole. This manifests itself as follows:

• The capacitor is a good filter for high-frequency components of the mains voltage that arise when switching loads and operating some electronic devices; its functions have a beneficial effect on the operation of all vehicle systems;
• The use of a capacitor makes it possible to smooth out voltage surges that occur when consumers on the on-board network are turned on and off, which allows the generator to operate in a more even mode;
• When the car is started by the starter, the capacitor, of course, takes an additional part in it, giving its charge to the on-board network. This is especially true in winter, when the battery’s ability to deliver current decreases, but the properties of the capacitor do not change.

The capacitor is installed, and you notice that your subwoofer is starting to play more interestingly. But if you try a little, you can make it play even better, we suggest you read the article “How to set up a subwoofer.”

What is a capacitor

A capacitor for a subwoofer is designed to accumulate (condense) energy and release it to the consumer at the right time. The storage device has low internal resistance and therefore releases the accumulated energy quite quickly. The peak of recoil occurs at the first moment, and then the charge drops sharply, as does the outgoing speed.

To be precise, the capacitor (storage) is used not for the subwoofer, but for the amplifier that controls this subwoofer.

It is important to understand that a capacitor is a consumer and does not generate energy itself.

What is a car capacitor and why is it needed?

Today, a car capacitor is usually understood as an electrolytic capacitor connected to a car audio amplifier (or directly to a radio) in parallel with the supply wires. But why is it needed?

Capacitors are often used to protect against network interference.

1. Filtering of power supply interference. Capacitors have been used for a long time as the simplest, but at the same time, quite effective filter of power supply interference - they have probably been noticed by everyone who has happened to look inside electronic devices. The capacitor is charged by the supply voltage and, in the event of a sharp drop in voltage, compensates for the drawdown, returning the accumulated charge to the network. Usually, high-quality car amplifiers have their own protection against voltage sags, but if you hear extraneous sounds from the speakers when you turn on auto electrical components (fan, wipers, headlights, etc.), a capacitor can help. And one more thing - regardless of where the capacitor is installed in the car network, it will maintain the voltage of the entire network, and not just the amplifier. Therefore, if your headlights flicker when the audio system is running, then after installing the capacitor they will stop flickering (they will burn at full intensity). Another thing is that strong (until the headlights flicker) drawdowns during operation of the audio system clearly signal a lack of power from the generator and battery. Installing a capacitor will not solve this problem - it is not a source, but a consumer of energy, and in the event of a power shortage, it will likely worsen the problem.

2. Supports power supply to the radio during peak loads, for example, when playing bass. There are two options here:

2.1. There is not enough power going to the audio system. The reasons may be different: a dead battery, a weak generator, power wires of insufficient thickness, etc.

What does it look like in theory?

In this case, when installing a capacitor (close to the amplifier), theoretically, it is possible to obtain a certain increase in sound volume without distortion - provided that the excessive loads are short-term (no more than a fraction of a second) and are interspersed with periods of reduced load of no less duration (so that the capacitor can restore charge).

And as most often happens in practice.

But real music cannot meet such requirements - the bass in compositions rarely sounds for less than a few seconds. Therefore, there will be practically no noticeable effect - it can hardly be called an improvement in sound quality if the speaker starts wheezing a third of a second later than usual.

2.2. There is enough power, but the battery does not have time to “give” the required current. As you know, when a consumer appears, the battery discharge current does not set instantly; and the installation time depends on the characteristics of the battery - primarily on the internal resistance (more precisely, on the reactive component of the internal resistance). And if the internal resistance of the battery is high, then when the load sharply increases, it will provide the required current with some delay, small, but sound distortion at this moment can already be noticeable.

Connection diagram of a capacitor to the amplifier power circuit.

Indeed, in this case, installing a capacitor may be an acceptable alternative to replacing the battery. This will not completely solve the problem, but it can smooth out the bass fronts, for example.

Recently, “capacitors” have appeared on the shelves of car dealerships, characterized by a huge (up to hundreds and even thousands of Farads) capacity, but at the same time having a modest size and a very attractive price. These are not capacitors, these are ionistors. There is little point in connecting them to an amplifier - yes, they have the declared capacitance, but ionistors differ from capacitors in their high internal resistance (ESR), low maximum discharge current and low rate of installation of the supplied current. There are ionistors with low ESR, similar in characteristics to capacitors, but they are much more expensive.

Do you need a capacitor for a subwoofer?

Smoothing out voltage dips during peak loads is what a subwoofer capacitor is for. It would seem like a useful thing, but only at first glance.

The fact is that by the word “capacitor” most people mean an ionistor. The definition of the word can be googled, but simply put, it is something between a capacitor and a chemical current source.

Typical "capacitor"

Unfortunately, in the form in which audio manufacturers offer us, ionistors have a number of disadvantages:

• big losses
• high resistance compared to a capacitor
• low output speed compared to a capacitor

The advantages include low cost, again in comparison with a capacitor of the same capacity.

A capacitor is not needed in the system; if it corrects some problems, it means that the power supply is not organized correctly!

In connection with the last statement, let's look at several situations.

An example of bad wiring
If you have a very powerful sub link, a loud system and you want to rock the area or even participate in sound pressure competitions, then such drives will not help you, in this situation you need to install real high-quality products, the cost of which starts from $300 . And if you are at this level, then it will be much more efficient to spend money on laying wiring of the maximum cross-section, replacing an acid battery with an AGM, or installing additional batteries.

Additional food

Application of capacitor

It turns out that almost always using a capacitor does not make sense. But then what are they even needed for? In addition, they can be found in high-level systems!

Brax IPC 27000r.

The fact is that a real high-quality capacitor well suppresses high-frequency and low-frequency interference, voltage changes when fans are turned on, electrical noise, and the like, so in high-level projects (usually focused on sound quality) with a large amount of equipment, the use of these devices is justified, and sometimes necessary.

PS: Be careful about custom articles and their thoughtless copies about the benefits and necessity of capacitors in an everyday system.

Capacitor for car amplifier

It's no secret that installing a car amplifier can make the sound of music in a car more comfortable, and when using powerful and high-quality circuits, it can increase the range of reproduced frequencies. The only problem is that in this case you will have to sacrifice the quality of the car's electrical power supply. A powerful amplifier increases the amount of current consumed several times.

This can lead to uneven power supply to the headlights, loss of quality and clarity of the bass reproduction, and if an unsuitable power cable is used on the sound amplifier, the speakers may even fail.

If all technical standards are observed, the above-mentioned problems are also present, but to a lesser extent. In this case, you simply cannot do without connecting a capacitor for a car amplifier.

It is used to compensate, smooth out voltage surges and sags. Connect it parallel to the input circuits of the car amplifier and, if possible, as close to it as possible to eliminate low-frequency interference.

Operating principle of a capacitor

For modern subwoofers, short-term peaks are enough to start drawing more current. As a result, it cannot fully provide energy to the battery. Even the thick wires that feed the amplifier do not have such resistance that will cause a decrease in voltage at the moments of the pulses.

Connecting a subwoofer to an amplifier and capacitor

As a result, the functionality of the amplifier is reduced. To eliminate such phenomena, it is necessary to install a drive in the car. It is an electrolytic device with a large capacity. Connected in parallel with respect to the power circuits on the amplifiers. The resistance of the equipment is very low, and the current is transferred to the amplifier at lightning speed. Thanks to this, the occurrence of subwoofer malfunctions is excluded. Just as quickly, the capacitor is recharged again and “gives” a portion of the current back.

So, what is a subwoofer capacitor for? In simple words, we can say this: the device accumulates and quickly transmits electricity. In technology, this function is used to improve the sound of a car radio.

Capacitor

There is an opinion that the current storage prolongs the life of the battery or facilitates its operation. And some car owners install devices based on this consideration. But this is a proven myth! The storage device does not produce energy. It only accumulates electricity and delivers it to the consumer.

general information

Capacitor for a subwoofer and what it is for

A capacitor in acoustics (see Why a capacitor is needed for car acoustics today) is a component that serves as an additional power source for an amplifier. This element is very important and has the following features:

• Thanks to him, the amplifier always receives energy when absolutely necessary. The fact is that in acoustics there is such a thing as linear drop. This happens at times of peak load on the subwoofer and amplifier. At this moment, the battery is not able to provide them with the required amount of energy and then the capacitor comes to the rescue;
• It's not just about powerful bass drivers. Almost all modern subwoofers are capable of consuming significant current during short-term peaks. No matter how powerful the battery is, it is clear that it will not cope with this task.

Note. And here it’s not even a matter of cables conducting current to the amplifier. Whether they are thin or thick, it doesn’t matter, at the moment of optimal load on the woofer, this happens. And as a result, so-called failures arise, which negatively affect the overall reproduction of music.

• In addition, the battery and generator de-energize the air conditioner in the summer, which takes up to 30 percent of valuable energy.

Capacitor for a subwoofer and why it is needed

So, the capacitor is able to solve the problem with dips, since it is a high-capacity electrolytic device, the connection of which occurs in parallel with the power supply circuit of the amplifier. The capacitor has practically no resistance, or rather, it is so small that the current is given to the amplifier instantly, thereby eliminating the occurrence of dips. Then, with the same speed, the capacitor is charged again and is ready to give out the next portion of the beneficial current for the amplifier.

Note. Modern capacitors have a very large electrical capacitance, expressed in farads. It is often compared even with the capacity of the globe. Since the capacitors are placed near the amplifier, the distance between both components should not exceed half a meter. In addition, the capacitor connectors must be gold plated to be able to reduce the resistance. Often, capacitors are equipped with digital components, such as a voltmeter or LEDs (mostly expensive models - more about them below).

What types of automotive capacitors are there?

Today, many different capacitors for cars are already produced. From the simplest and cheapest models, to elite and expensive ones, with a large capacity of 20F. Such capacious installations are used in powerful equipment that has a distributor and has the ability to connect more than two amplifiers at the same time.

Automotive capacitor

The choice of device depends on several factors. Basically, you need to consider the power of the car's battery. Never buy equipment if it looks questionable. Capacitors have the “property” of exploding. And even the slightest violation of the integrity of the structure can lead to an explosion.

When inspecting the device in a store, you need to pay attention to the presence of protection on the terminals. They protect the system from accidental short circuits. It is also important to study the ease of connection and installation.

Automotive capacitor

What equipment capacity is needed?

There is no exact formula here. Many follow this rule: 1 kW. from the power of the amplifier must correspond to 1 F of the capacitor capacitance. This is normal and most users purchase the design precisely for this reason. For example, if your car has an audio system with a power of 2 kW, then you need to purchase a drive with a capacity of 2 Farads. But experts recommend choosing a device with a large supply of capacity.

Some models have built-in voltmeters. They control the system voltage level. Devices with voltmeters are more expensive.

How to install a drive in a car

Installation is usually carried out close to the amplifier. This prevents the amplitude of the electricity from decreasing. Since the connecting wires always produce resistance due to the low resistance of the capacitor. It is important to know that a distance of no more than 60 cm should be maintained from the amplifier to the capacitor. The smaller this gap, the better the installation.

Connecting a subwoofer

Some people mount the structure directly on the amplifier. It is convenient, practical and neat looking. Doesn't take up much space in the cabin. But there are other ways to arrange the system. For example, many car enthusiasts have gotten used to placing the amplifier in the luggage compartment, on the side of the wall. And the capacitor is on the opposite wall. It looks nice, but from a technical point of view it is not practical, since the distance is too large.

An important point: when installing a current storage device, it is not allowed to connect it uncharged to the positive and negative power wires. Because with such contact, the device will be “powered” by current from the battery, and this leads to burning of the fuse.

To avoid such troubles, manufacturers began to attach special circuits to their products, according to which the capacitors are charged gradually. If such a circuit is not available, then you need to charge the equipment in advance through a 12-volt light bulb. If the light goes out during installation of the device, it means it is sufficiently charged.

Capacitor for a subwoofer in a car

Connection recommendations

1. The system can be connected to circuits of any power. Even in cases where one amplifier built into the head unit is working. But when installing a capacitor in an audio system equipped with an external amplifier, the first step is to start with the minimum system power (from 250 to 300 W).
2. Such a device does not have to be connected only to a sound system that has a special battery. It’s just that such a “sonic” battery can quickly supply current and just as quickly unload the car’s network.
3. If you are going to connect the device yourself, it is better to have protective circuits. Also, you should have on hand devices that monitor the state of the on-board network.

Be sure to follow the diagram when connecting elements. It has visual drawings showing the location of electrical circuits. All important information is also present on the diagram.

Many drivers of cars of both expensive brands and budget models install good acoustic systems in the interior. To achieve high-quality sound at low frequencies, you need to add an electrolytic capacitor for the subwoofer to the audio system amplifier.

How to choose a capacitor

When choosing a capacitor for a car electrical system, you should take into account 2 important parameters: capacitance and equivalent series resistance (ESR, Equivalent Serial Resistance), which determines the speed of release of the accumulated charge. The capacity required is large, compared to ordinary electrolytic storage devices (in jargon - “electrolytes”).

For modern automotive devices, drives are offered with capacities ranging from tenths of a farad to several tens of farads, with internal resistance from several hundredths to thousandths of an ohm. The lower the internal resistance, the more efficiently the electrolyte releases its charge.

The higher the power of the audio amplifier, the greater the electrolyte capacity required. It is estimated as follows: per 1 kW of amplifier power, a minimum of 1 farad is required. If the capacity is larger, it will not harm the system. You should buy drives of proven models from reliable suppliers.

Popular brands range in price from $40 to $400 or more.

Expensive models are equipped with a protection system against overvoltage and switching on in the wrong polarity (i.e. when plus is supplied to minus, and minus to plus).

Typical characteristics of drives from one trusted manufacturer for cars with a 12 V power supply are shown in Table 1.

Installing a dubious inexpensive capacitor in the system will be useless due to the fact that its actual capacity, as established by practice and tests by independent experts, is 10 or more times less than the declared one, and the ESR value does not meet the standards. Since the electrolyte housing is sealed and cannot be opened by the buyer, unscrupulous manufacturers take advantage of this and save on materials for the linings; they put broken bricks and pieces of cement on the bottom for weight, and fill the remaining space with resin.

There are so many similar products on the market for storage devices for car audio systems that a myth has formed among car enthusiasts about the uselessness of installing a capacitor in a car.

Condenser installation

Connection diagram for a capacitor for a subwoofer, where to start:

Connection diagram for a capacitor circuit

• When installing the condenser, it is recommended to connect it in parallel with respect to the amplifier power supply
• It should be located as close to the amplifier as possible, and no further than 60 centimeters
• If you replace the popular ionistor with a storage device, then the result will be much more effective
• Your car's alternator should be repaired or a new one installed.
• From the generator you lay wires to positive and ground
• Install a new battery, or an old one after maintenance
• The terminals are either thoroughly cleaned or replaced with new ones.
• Lay the power cable from good quality copper and with a good cross-section
• Connect the amplifier, do not forget about the fuse

Tip: Until you check the contact of all terminals and make sure that there is 14 volts in the network, do not connect the capacitor.

• After checking, you can connect the drive
• Don’t be surprised when measurements at the terminals show you the same values, if the circuit is “live”, there is enough power in it, then the capacitor does not need to be turned on, it is just waiting in the wings, it will work when necessary

Note: Another common misconception about capacitors is that they are needed in systems where you need maximum volume or in sound power competitions, for fans of SPI. In fact, in normal cases, it will successfully replace the supercapacitor.

You can prove that Conder is necessary in conventional car audio systems:

• Measurements of the drive can last a long time, and even an acid battery will “wake up” and be able to give up its potential
• Among sound fans (the so-called SPL brotherhood), it is more common to use gel batteries, which are capable of “shooting” hundreds of amperes at an amazing speed
• Therefore, no matter how good the Conder is, it will not withstand such speed and will be out of work
• Again, in “SPL” the capacitor will be a consumer, and for such systems this is clearly evil
• Simply put, in ESPI EL systems no capacitor or other storage device is used
• Today there are a lot of storage devices and any other audio products on the market.
• Some of the amplifier manufacturers pre-provide terminals in the equipment specifically for connecting storage devices, and produce the connectors themselves for their equipment