Install an Auto Stereo Capacitor
A car stereo amplifier relies on a steady and consistent stream of power to operate at its full potential. In a high-wattage audio system, you may find that the alternator of your vehicle can't provide enough power to the amp when it's drawing maximal power. You'll notice your lights dimming, and the music will be distorted. A capacitor can help improve amplifier performance by providing a buffer for you amp--storing electrical energy and releasing when needed by the amplifier.
Instructions
1. Set your car's parking brake and open the hood to allow access to the battery.
2. Disconnect your amplifier's positive power lead from the battery, using the tools appropriate to the clamp you used when installing the positive power lead. The exact tools you'll need depends on the clamp you installed. Place the power lead's clamp well away from the positive battery terminal to avoid an accidental shock.
3. Pick a spot on the positive power lead that's about two to three feet away from the amplifier, and cut the power wire with a pair of wire cutters.
4. Remove half an inch of insulation from either side of the cut you made in the positive power lead. Use wire strippers to remove the insulation.
5. Slide the back end of a power ring terminal over the bare wire on one side of the cut wire. Place your crimp tool around this end of the terminal and crimp the power ring terminal onto the wire by pressing firmly on the handle of the crimp tool.
6. Repeat the process in Step 5 with the other side of the cut positive power lead. When done, you'll have a ring terminal on either side of the cut in the wire.
7. Loosen the nut on the positive "+" post of the capacitor. Most capacitors use a wing nut which you can loosen and tighten with your fingers. Some will use a nut that requires a wrench--choose the appropriate sized wrench if this is the case, and loosen the nut by turning it to the left.
8. Slide both ring terminals onto the positive post of the capacitor, replace the nut and tighten the nut by turning it to the right until the ring terminals are tightly secured.
9. Measure the distance from the negative "-" post of the capacitor to the grounding bolt you used for the amplifier's ground cable.
10. Cut a length of ground cable to match the length in Step 9. Remove half an inch of insulation from either end of the cable, and crimp on ring terminals as described in Step 5.
11. Loosen the nut on the negative terminal of the capacitor and slide the ring terminal on. Replace the nut and tighten.
12. Loosen and remove the grounding bolt for the amplifier. Slip the other end on the capacitor's ground cable onto the bolt, replace it and tighten.
13. Reconnect your amplifier's positive power cable to the battery.
Tags: positive power, power lead, positive power lead, ring terminal, ground cable, post capacitor