How to Hook Up a Capacitor to an Amp

Capacitors store power for quick release in electronic circuits. They're extremely useful in power supplies for regulating and smoothing out power flow, ensuring the circuits of an electronic device get the power they need when demand is high. External capacitors are often added to car amplifier circuits so that the amp receives a steady supply of power when demand is high, as when a system with subwoofers is being driven at a loud volume setting.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Car amplifier
• capacitor
• power and ground cables
• wire cutters/strippers
• ring terminals
• screwdriver

1. Disconnect the power cable running to your amplifier from the car's battery.

2. Cut the power cable running to the amplifier at a spot about 2-3 feet from the amplifier. Strip the wire so that 1/2 inch of bare wire is exposed and crimp a ring terminal onto the wire at both sides.

3. Connect the power cable to the capacitor on the terminal marked "+". The exact type connector varies according to the brand of capacitor, but it's common to have to loosen a screw, slide the ring terminals onto the post, and then tighten down.

4. Cut a length of ground cable long enough to reach a grounding point on your car's body. The spot where the amp is grounded is a good option, or you may choose another spot where you can connect to bare metal.

5. 
   wiring diagram (illustration by NL)

   Place a ring terminal on both ends of the wire, and attach one end to the capacitor and another to the ground location. Your capacitor is now connected to the amplifier.

Resources

• Ring terminals
• Capacitors