can someone explain to me what the specs on a capacitor mean and what you want? I would like to know just for future reference. I just got a RF 400.4 from my friend. Do I need a cap if installing a 4 channel? I plan on getting a mono and a sub (prolly gonna run around 200watts) sometime soon. I bet I would need a cap then. can you guys help me? thanks.

 

It's always a good idea to install a capacitor for an audio system,
especially if you got subs. Capacitors are required when your amps try to crank out the bass, but your car's electrical system can't supply enough power. The telltale signs that you need a cap is when your headlights dim, get poor performance from your system, etc. The general rule of thumb is to use a 1-farad cap for every 1,000 total watts (all amplifiers combined). So if you got
a 1,500 watt total power in your system, you will need a 2 farad cap or 2 1-farad caps (and so on). Capacitors store power, and they deliver it when your system needs it the most; this occurs during transition phases such as when subs hit hard to pound out the bass. Make sure you have proper ground cable and the appropriate connectors. Hope this helps.

 

Make sure you get a 20v cap. Looks like all you will need is a 1 farad. Also the cap will help for sound quality and your dynamic power, musical peaks.

 

how do you add up power? like i have the alpine deck that is 60x4 max. so that is 240. that is going to my fosgate amp which is 50x4 (200, 400@2ohm) now say the deck is gonna do full power. so that is 60. now do you add on the 50 watts (per channel) from the amp or does the amp power "take over" the deck power? do you know what I am talking about? so would the net output power be 50w (per channel) or 110w (per channel)?

can you tell me how much power I have total right now? i have the 60x4 deck (240w), and a 50x4 (200w) amp. is that gonna be 440watts net total? i'm just a little confused on how you add up the power in a system. thanks.