Do I still need a cap?
 

A while back my girlfriend purchased a pos nissan with a pretty decent sound system, minus all the screw-ups. In the trunk was 2 12" kicker subs, 2 sony Xplode amps (one 1200w to the subs,one 760w to the rear speakers) and a SCOSCHE 500k cap powering the two. I'm removing all this and putting it into her new car, a 94 camry with no horsepower :(. If I'm not using the 760w amp, would I still need the cap hooked up? After the project is done I'll be posting pics of the whole thing, but extra info is good to have. Thanks a lot!

RE: Do I still need a cap?
 

Caps are overated. If your alternator can't handle it get a bigger one. I'm running an Alpine 1000 along with a 4 channel amp with no cap and i can blast the sh1t out of it all day with no problems. It also depends how effecient your equipment is.

RE: Do I still need a cap?
 

Forget about the cap for right now...How are you going to "power" the system??? I would do a bigger alternator definately then maybe think about a dry cell battery in the trunk and alternator relay under the hood.

RE: Do I still need a cap?
 

Honestly, I wanna do a bigger alternator, but its not in the budget right now. So its a little car with little power. I think before I get a new alternator I'm gonna worry about a new air intake and maybe a hi flow catalytic converter (needs replacing I swear ;)) So if I already have the cap and cant afford a new alternator, I'm guessing the cap is gonna have to stay for now. Thanks a lot tho guys, Now I know to get the new alternator when I can.

RE: Do I still need a cap?
 

Upgrade your negative terminal > Chasis ground at the battery. That should resolve a lot of the issues you tend to see with high draw equipment.....still, i'd throw the cap in there if you've got it. no sense in having it just sit around and not be put to use.

RE: Do I still need a cap?
 

easy on the massive electrical upgrade suggestions -

A Sony "760 watt" amp is probably 380w rms optimally, and the 1200w amp is probably 500w rms.

A system that size is going to draw roughly 40A at full volume playing music. A fraction of that if it's not blasting all the time. That's assuming they're both at their optimal impedance.

I'm not sure what size this stock alt is, but unless it's unusually small there's I don't see a need for charging system mods.

But regarding the topic -- there is never a NEED for a stiffening capacitor.