Car Batteries or Capacitors: Which Should I Install? | Car Audio Tips

Looking to add a capacitor or upgrade your car battery, but not sure which to get? In this video, Sonic Electronix explains some of the details about adding batteries (such as an XS Power or Kinetik Power Cell) vs adding capacitors.

While upgrading or adding batteries is the best solution, there are many that prefer to install capacitors when they upgrade their car audio system. As a general rule at Sonic Electronix, "When in doubt, choose a battery".

Battery vs. Capacitor Knowledge Base:

[samanthaticehurst]

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[SonicElectronix]

It is no problem. Car audio is not easy to get into and we know that, so offering help is the least we can do. :)

[Huskyman]

it would be a good idea to add that when adding an extra battery/batteries it puts excess strain on your alternator. Personally I think a high output alternator should come before adding a second battery.

[hammockcamping]

He misused the term 'power' and thereby misstated a couple facts. Contrary to what the gentleman stated, a capacitor certainly is a good component to increase the power capabilities of your hybrid electrical supply. It does this better than adding more battery capacity. In contrast, a battery excels at its ability to store and supply energy. This comment won't make sense to those people who can't or won't differentiate between the meaning of the words power and energy. This comment is for people that understand (or want to understand) the meaning of those two words. Understandingly, most people won't understand this because the words are used incorrectly all the time. In short, capacitors are good for supplying brief high power demands, and batteries are good for supplying longer duration energy needs. For context, and roughly speaking, a large capacitor contains approximately the same amount of energy that an AA battery contains, whereas the former can supply thousands of watts, the battery can supply only about 5 watts. Whether or not a capacitor is a good idea for your audio needs is entirely dependent on the battery, wiring, alternator and capacitor options, but good capacitors certainly provide great advantages to hybrid electrical storage systems.

[stratmemph]

dd50. The Memphis pr1000.1 is one of my favorite amps because it is under rated and can put out 1200-1300w consistently and very efficiently. What I would recommend if you are still experiencing that type of voltage drops is to get your alternator and battery tested first to make sure they are good, and if so then you could upgrade your alt. You don't need a monster alternator upgrade for that amp, but an extra 50-100 amps would set you off right.

[SonicElectronix]

It will help cure voltage drop up until 12V. The alternator outputs 14.4V and if your alternator isn't strong, it will drop to 12V on a bass hit and be stabilized by the battery. This will definitely help but you won't get full 14.4V power without a larger amperage alternator.

[SonicElectronix]

A good place to always start is the battery. A Kinetik HC1800 would be a great choice for you to start out with. You would just have to make sure it fits in your stock battery location or use it as a secondary. If that doesn't cure light dimming issues then do the big 3 upgrade. Your last resort would be a capacitor. As far as wiring goes the NVX XKIT42 is an amazing amp kit that is true silver-tinned copper wire for better power transfer.

[SonicElectronix]

You would need the D1200 from XS Power, it will definitely help to stabilize your voltage.

[SonicElectronix]

You must get a battery isolator to prevent the stock battery and power cell from swapping voltage and draining each other. You can run the XS D3400 on a stock alternator but it will be constantly struggling to keep both batteries charged, especially if you have the XS one drained from use without the vehicle on. You run the risk of burning out the rectifier on your alternator more quickly.

[staygolden]

by the way i really apreciate that you guys take the time to answer these questions.

[SonicElectronix]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge John!

[SonicElectronix]

Did you upgrade your battery to ground and engine block to ground cable as well? That might help.

Once the bass hits, the rectifier in the alternator has to adjust to up the output to compensate for the bass hit, this takes time to do, longer than a bass hit which is why you have dimming. A capacitor will help with this, but at the same time, it does take power from your system to charge itself. Ideally, you would want to be at 14-14.4V all the time.

[SonicElectronix]

The enclosure is everything. A speaker moves air so it makes sense that the type of enclosure it is in determines how much air it moves and how it sounds. You know the secret to audio, the box. :)

[SonicElectronix]

They are really good at that! So long as you have a beefy electrical system so the cap doesn't end up leaching your system of power, capacitors are absolutely beneficial.

[SonicElectronix]

The D3400 is a great replacement battery, you will notice your vehicle feels more "lively", especially if you do the Big 3 Upgrade.

[SonicElectronix]

Thank you for the suggestion, it would be good to do a capcell video. We shall add it to our list of videos to make. We have a ton of ideas lol. And yes, let us know how those XS batteries are doing, great choice! :)

[theuncanspan]

RIGHT IN THE GOAL. exaclty what i needed to know

[voltareamstereo]

if you have shortage of charge, I'd suggest an alternator upgrade before touching batteries or cap's - Btw caps are all but usless, the energy they store would cater for little more than a 1/4-1/2 a bass note before becoming a paracitic load - - While the engine is running, the majority of your power will be coming from the alternator, the battery only matters if your dropping below 12.5V - which should not be happening if you size your audio system and your alternator correctly....

[Hakimfarhat]

You know what’s the best thing? Is to have a battery storage in your trunk and run a a capacitor in between to your amplifiers
I think a capacitor keeps consistent flow of power and a second battery to give that capacitor a steady flow of energy 2 in 1 and safe your alternator for the front battery also install an isolator in case the batteries drain your starting battery this way you have a full functioning clean flow of power no issues at all

[SonicElectronix]

The battery is simply a reserve of power, primarily used if you want to listen to the system with your car off. It can aid in some functions of the system. If you get a cheap battery, then you will not be able to listen to the system with the vehicle off for long periods of time, however it will help you with your current demand on the system. However, if the battery does not help, you need a bigger alternator regardless.