huakenny said:
bro,
i guess most of zth members know im dealing wit zaptor....:_:
but one thing im not so sure coz im noob in electronic....
do u think the more capacitors u hv, the better effect u will get? coz i hv few japanese and overseas DIY websites....they DIY bout 5capacitors only normally....
dun u think 42caps is too much? hehe....
just my 2cent..plz feel to gv me some comments...
:_:
Actually, depends on what you're trying to do... :)
With my limited knowledge of practical electronics, let me see if I can explain what I am trying to achieve.
Capacitors are basically...electronic power storage. You charge them up, and they retain a potential difference across a gap, a "charge", or stored "force" cos it's potential difference that moves electrons. It's also known as a "condenser".
When used in an electronic circuit, they have the effect of stabilizing electrical current. Electricity in a car is basically not stable at all. Even when off, the chasis retains a certain amount of "dark current'...leaks and such off the many electrical devices in the car. When an engine is running, there are so many sources of electrical "noise". The car already has a stabilizer for the current coming off the alternator that more or less stabilizes it so that the car can use it. BUT it is loaded with spikes and troughs of varying magnitudes and frequencies.
Now...the different devices that make up a car will show varying sensitivities to this "noise". Ignition requires enough current be available every time a spark is generated...hence, should it encounter a trough when it needs to draw on current, the spark would be weaker. Imagine your engine cylinders firing...each spark just slightly different. Certainly, it would not be as smooth as if each spark were exactly the same.
Electronics in a car...your ECU, Audio system, the various sub-ECU's in a car...the various sensors...all require stable current at mili-amp levels.
A condenser bank would help level out these spikes and troughs. Capacitors form a small "reservoir" of charge that can be used to fill in the troughs...and at the same time absorb the spikes. Modern capacitors have extremely fast charge and discharge times, so even they can react to even extremely short duration interference in electrical flow.
Now, to the type of capacitors to use.
Electrolytic capacitors...the most common type...is fast enough to even out low frequency interference but not fast enough to completely filter out the high frequency stuff. If you absorb enough low frequency interference, you improve things like ignition...and your sound system, though for the sound system to sound really good, you'd need some really huge capacitors.
To filter out high frequency interference, the cheapest way would be to use ceramic capacitors. These are very low capacitance, but very high speed. High frequency interference would affect things like your ECU and sensor system, and your audio system as well.
The next thing you need to know is that the higher the value of the cap, the slower the charge/discharge rate. This, of course, applies to normal capacitors and not the high capacity "condensers" used in car audio applications. Hence, you'd have to use caps of different values to accomodate the different frequencies of interference you are trying to filter out.
I have completed my 2nd prototype...probably my final prototype until I can find some much bigger capacitors at a decent price. This one consists of 90 capacitors, both electrolytic and ceramic, and adds up to 53,000 mFarad. I've just put it in my car and moved my pivot to my blaupunck sub. Immediate noticeable effects are...
a) It starts real easy. I used to have a problem starting because of my extremely high fuel pressure. The engine floods easy. Now, it's a single crank. So, sparking must be gaining from the capacitor bank.
b) My sound system became noticeably more powerful and more dynamic. Sub-woofer is much louder and more snappy. I had to re-balance the system.
c) Lights...do not seem to benefit from the cap bank...and theoretically, they should not.
I haven't tried driving yet, as I finished late and was damn tired. Dropped a nut while installing the damn thing, and had to work to extract it. Then dropped a spanner, and that took some time too.
53,000 mFarad is actually very small. This adds up to only 0.05 Farad. Capacitors used for car audio purposes are 1 Farad and above. It doesn't matter how many capacitors you use. It's the type/speed of capacitor and the total capacitance that counts.
If I could find some really fast, high capacitance caps, I'd use less. As it is, I had to build this one on 2 boards mounted one on top of the other. For simple improvement of ignition and some basic audio improvement, my 1st prototype should be more than enough. And for some really good improvement in audio performance...some simple capacitor banks connected to each device could do wonders for your sound.
Next...a VS built with valves...hee hee...just kidding...
