Capacitor help? Its acting odd...?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ricky M
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Ricky M

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Alright, here is my dilemma. I just got done installing my new capacitor. I charged it with the supplied resistor. After a few seconds, the voltage display and the LEDs started flashing. As I kept on chargeing it, the display eventually started to stay on constantly, instead of flashing. Same with the LEDS. I tested the voltage of it (despite it having a voltage display) with a digital multimeter, and it read about 12.7 volts. The car's MOTOR wasn't on or anything. When I turned the car on (motor and everything, the voltage jumped up to about 14.7 volts. I turned the radio up a good bit and the voltage dropped a little bit but just barely. Down to about 14.5...maybe 14.4 volts (if that). About 30 seconds (give or take) after that..the display and the L.E.D.'s cut off. I was like..oh crap...so I turned the car off, went back and checked it all again and the cap was on, only with the voltage at about 13 volts, and dropping, since the car wasn't running.

So after explaining the situation, here is the question.

If the voltage drops, raises, and fluctuations are not severe enough, does the cap's display turn off? Then once the fluctuations become severe enough, does the caps display turn back on?

Is it supposed to do what my cap is doing or do I have a problem?
 
The voltage will lower and rise, especially when your bumpin with the music on because it's taking power and amplifying it. Mine does the same thing, I have a voltage meter on my radar detector and everytime long bass notes hit it will drop about .3 or so volts, then rise when the bass stops.
Another thing about it shutting off, it could be kindof like a "sleep" mode.
Like your cell phone, if you leave your cell phone open it will just turn the screen black but still be on.
That's what your cap is doing, sleeping to conserve power, but I'm sure it's still on. That's why I don't use a cap, their too confusing. Update your wiring to The Big 3.
http://www.caraudiotalk.com/audio-forum/showthread.php?t=3987
 
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