How close should a power capacitor be to an amplifier?

Ideally the power capacitor should be as close as possible to the amplifier. Within a couple of feet is acceptable. This keeps any cable losses to a minimum. To learn more about how car audio capacitors work click here. Here's how to wire two capacitors in a system.

How do you wire a car audio capacitor?

There is often a lot of confusion on how to wire a car audio capacitor (a.k.a. power capacitor or Stiffening™ capacitor). There are two terminals on a car audio capacitor. A positive and a negative. The negative terminal is connected to ground. The positive terminal is connected "in-line" with the car audio amplifier +12 volts terminal.

How do you put a capacitor on a car battery?

To install a capacitor, start by disconnecting your car’s battery ground terminal so that you can work safely. Next, mount the capacitor somewhere close to the element that needs more power, such as the headlights or stereo system.

How to wire two capacitors in a system?

Here's how to wire two capacitors in a system. In the diagram both capacitors have their ground terminals wired together but you could also ground them independently. You can even fabricate or purchase "buss bars" which are solid pieces of metal that connect the capacitors both physically and electrically.

Can I increase the capacitance of a capacitor?

There is no problem increasing the capacitance (just stick to the power rating or use a higher rating), though you probably won't notice any benefits, and will prove more expensive. Remember the larger the capacitance, the longer the cap will take to charge/discharge. Also, I wouldn't worry too much on getting exotic capacitors.

How does a power capacitor work?

The power capacitor acts like a small battery (power storage) so it is connected as shown in the diagram. The downside of this type of connection is you don't know if the power capacitor fails since the amplifier will continue to work with or without a working power capacitor.