Re: [DML] grounding equipment to battery?

[kayoong@xxxx]

Just another of my two cents and not to flame Martin's suggestion, there are 
a few things to know about "caps" or better known as "stiffening capacitors" 
in the auto hi-fi business. ? 

First, if a good audio amplifier is well engineered and well made, there 
should really be no need for a stiffening capacitor. ? Unless you are running 
one "extreme" high output amplifier or multiple amplifiers which will 
requires the extra current, one should stay away from using the stiffening 
capacitors. ? The primary purpose of the stiffening capacitors is to aid the 
amplifier if you are playing the system at HIGH VOLUME for long a period of 
time or for short extreme loud bursts of bass signals. ? The reality is, how 
long does one listen to the system that loud while driving? ? 

*** Folks, please do keep in mind that high volume or loud sound will 
deteriorate your hearing and once your hearing is damage, THERE IS NO 
REVERSAL. ? You will be wearing a hearing aid afterwards as an "amplifier" 
for ambient sound in your ear or ears!

Unless the car is used is entered and used in sound competition, stiffening 
capacitor should be avoid. ? All the stiffening capacitor will do to your 
alternator, is soak up all the current that the alternator generates. ? It 
makes the alternator labor by having it putting out all the time when there 
is no need for it to do so. ? The stiffening capacitor will over tax your 
alternator and may cause an early demise. ? If you are going to, or must use 
a stiffening capacitor, you must do some electrical calculations and upgrade 
to an alternator that can produce the amps required..... Special custom built 
alternators ARE NOT CHEAP.... Just ask Mr. John Hervey for an alternator over 
150 amps.

Instead of using a stiffening capacitor, one should first make sure the 
battery is in good order and then second, by upgrading the alternator that 
can supply the current that is demanded by the vehicle and then the added on 
amplifier's current demand. ? This way the correct alternator will chargeup 
the battery and supply the current to run all of the total electrical 
demands. 

A point on amplifiers. ? Many amplifiers are "hyped" in their power rating 
and many retailers are interested in making sales only and that all they are 
interested in doing..... making sales. ? These amplifiers are poorly 
engineered with poorly regulated power input stage which is one of the reason 
why stiffening capacitors are required. ? Many stiffening capacitors starts 
at around $75.00 US to much as $450.00 US. ? Get a well made amplifier with 
true RMS output which has a good regulated power input stage and you will not 
need a stiffening capacitor. ? This way you will save the money. ? Lower cost 
and poor performing amplifier with a stiffening capacitor will almost be the 
same cost of a decent well made higher price amplifier. ? So, get a better 
high price amplifier, this is a better way to go as a compromise in money but 
not in sound quality or quantity.

Kayo Ong
#5508
Lic 9D NY 

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In a message dated 1/15/03 4:16:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
webmaster@xxxx writes:
> 
> However, if you experience problems (and I doubt you will) by using a
> different ground point, you can snub it at the amplifier by putting a
> capacitor across the power supply terminals. You can buy caps for this
> purpose from car hi fi shops.
> 
> 
Martin
> 
> #1458
> #4426
> FAMILY="


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