How to Install an Audio Capacitor in a Car
While you are driving down the street with your bass blaring, you probably are not realizing how much of your car's electrical system is in use, unless you have experienced your headlights dimming. Rather than continuously drain your car’s power source, you may install an audio capacitor. This device will act as an electrical supply system for your stereo and will prevent your lights from dimming, due to the stereo using power.
Supply List
- Audio capacitor
- Wire cutter
- Wire crimper
- Ohmmeter
- Allen key
- Gauge wire
- Power wire
- Voltmeter
- Resistor
- Screwdriver set
- Park your car on a relatively flat surface, so you can work comfortably.
- Charge your capacitor prior to installing it in your vehicle.
- Disconnect the negative battery cable from the negative battery terminal.
- Find a location close to the amp where you can situate your capacitor. This distance should be 18 inches or less. Connect the device using a mounting bracket, which usually comes with it. However, you may have to purchase one at your local hardware store, if one did not come standard with the capacitor.
- Take your Allen key and use it to remove the caps on the capacitor's posts.
- Run a ground wire from the metal ground point on your car’s chassis. The other end of the ground wire should connect to the negative post on the capacitor.
- Remove the power wire from amplifier’s power input port. Cut the wire as needed, so it reaches the capacitor's positive post.
- Connect a new wire that should run in between the amplifier’s positive post to the power input on the amplifier.
- Connect a 16-gauge remote wire from the amplifier’s remote input. The other end of the remote wire should join to capacitor’s remote turn-on post.
- Reconnect the battery by attaching the negative battery cable back to the negative battery.