How to Install a Car Audio Capacitor in your Vehicle

Parts linked in the description below!

This Video provides an explanation on how to install a Car Audio Capacitor. The purpose of this capacitor is to help reduce the tendency of dimming lights and electrical draws as some amplifiers require large amounts of amperage. This upgrade may be effective in helping with the possible issues.

To see how to install a second battery instead of a Capacitor, click here:

Click here to see the unboxing of the capacitor used in this video:

The upgrade tutorial was performed on a 2005 Dodge Magnum. We used 4 gauge wiring within this installation.

As always, like, comment and subscribe!

Parts Used (Amazon Associate Paid Links):

*Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases*

[StupidEarthlings]

Love how EVERY cable it red, make for a more entertaining install.. 😂

[ProvoBeastAudio]

Get 5% discount on all car audio items at www.sonicelectronix.com with coupon code ProvoBeast at Checkout. See the description for more details on the video!

[michaelenochs]

I noticed my cars electrical system was improved by installing one of these. I installed a car stereo, then added subs and a 2000 watt amp, then a capacitor. I used to have a radar detector that showed the vehicles volts. If I remember correctly, it was like 12.8 volts on the display, then it jumped to 13.4 volts for like, ever. I always felt like it helped my car battery by not draining as much. Unfortunately, I'm here today because one of the bolts on the old capacitor stripped and I don't think my amp is working properly because of that. So I bought a new capacitor and here I am. Thanks for the video!

[quitmanlott]

This is a good video, it will help a lot of people. But there are two little things I saw wrong with this system in the video. The large capacitor and battery in back are wired into the system in the exact same way for a good reason. Think about it.
*** Often, the battery is in the front of the vehicle, and the amp is in back. Installing a large capacitor or battery near the amp allows you to use a smaller gauge cable from the battery in front, to the capacitor or battery connected to the amp in back. This cable from the front only needs to be large enough the keep the system in back charged. The large cable is still needed between the amp, and capacitor and/or battery in back. The capacitor and/or battery in back are there to supply the extra power needed during intensely high electrical current draw moments. As you can see, using a battery with a good amount of cranking amps or a large capacitor, close to your amp, accomplishes the same purpose; they are both acting as a buffer. If you only use this system when the engine is running, having both the large capacitor and battery in back is overkill. Unless one or both are too small of a buffer for the amplifier's needs, a battery in back close to the capacitor, only increases the system's energy storage capacity. I am a military trained electrical technician.

[blakebrannam]

Thank you so much! I swear this is the Only helpful video on YouTube that actually explains it well.

[eastondensley]

Hands down best installation video, appreciate it!!! Gets right to it!

[desmondmarshall]

Great video, especially the resistor tutorial. I am installing two capacitors today.

[fatmanshoots]

I done it this way before and in my car (e46) it will still dim the lights and bass feels like it’s losing power. I found that it’s best to go straight from the battery to the fuse, the fuse to the Capacitor, then then capacitor to the distribution block. After installing that way all the problems went bye bye lol nevertheless still a great video just helping out the bmw community if they Experiencing the same problem I was having.

[box_boi_howard]

I have a question? I set up my capacitor the same way yours is set up. After speaking with a technician and they said that it’s wired incorrectly. That the power wire from the battery should go straight to the capacitor and then a power wire from the capacitor to the distributor which is going to the amps. What is the difference between what they are telling me to do and what we have installed right now?

[JaggerJaxTV]

The end of the video is unclear, not sure if you hooked up 2 power cables to the capacitator or just 1? Since you showed the looped before, battery to capacitator and then to the amp. But it doesn't show on the vid.

[appleSUX]

Thax for this video, extremely helpful. Question, for 3 amp setup/installation, does it matter what capacitor size to use? I see several sizes from 1UF 2000w, 2.5UF at 2500w, 5UF at Not sure what size capacitor to use in our new installation. (FYI, my old 1985 truck does not have a very powerful alternator, so I need as much help with power as I can for this all-new audio installation set up).

What size fuse do you recommend using coming from the battery to distribution with 3-amp setup? Or from Capacitor to distribution?

Also, the old stereo system with 2 amps that was installed by a stereo shop on this same truck, you could hear engine noise as you accelerate and shift(its a stick-shift truck) all through the speakers, very annoying sound. Not really sure what was causing that to this date. All that system is gone and we're installing all new speakers, Amps, Wires, stereo, sub...ALL NEW, do we need to add a device or do anything to our installation to stop that engine noise sound? Thax

[Ant-mjwf]

I noticed you set up the capacitor before the fuses did that affect the storage or had no effect at all?

[Joe_]

I'm thinking of adding a capacitor to the batwing fairing on my motorcycle. Can I run positive and negative from the battery to the capacitor in the fairing and then from the capacitor postive and negative of the amp? That way I only need to run 2 - 8awg wires to the fairing.

[wideglide]

With it hooked up to battery positive does it drain the battery when the car isn’t on? Also when I charge mine as soon as I disconnect the wires from the capacitor it imidiatlystarts draining and then blinks low. Did I not leave the charging wire on long enough?

[wadehensley]

So is this capacitor supplying for the whole system? Would seem that if it's just for the subwoofer amp that you'd run from the distribution block to the cap, then from the cap to the sub amp.

[speakersubject]

What is the set up here? Two amps, with a positive cable going off the shot into a negative distribution block. I’m confused, can you help me understand the set up please?

[artrod]

Why do i get a pop sound on the door speakers right after the capacitor shuts off, after the few seconds when turning off the ignition switch, it didn’t do that before installing the capacitor, capacitor was installed as directed based on this video

[heatwavesound.djezee]

Does the capacitor ever turn off... and if not Does it drain your battery

[shafikbanialmrjehkassar]

If u have ur Battary near why should u put the ground on the body ???

[skeetskeet]

I installed my capacitor like you said but I blew my starter relay, and car wouldn’t start. Any ideas why this happened? I also didn’t connect my capacitor to the ground on my car, I connected it to the ground on my amp.