just got a 1 farad tsunami cap and i was wondering how to charge it i bought it used so i have no instructions

You're going to need a transistor to charge it. They sometimes include them when purchased new. Have any friends that are hardcore electronics guys?

where would i go about gettin a transistor? hardware store or am i going to have to go to some kind of specialty shop? also any one have a quick step my step on how to go about charging?

is it a transistor or a resistor? i'd say hit up any stereo shop most likely they will have one laying around to charge the cap all you have to do is hold one endof the transistor/ resistor ( which ever it is) to the capacitor and the other end take the power lead that will be attached to the cap and touch them. turn on the breaker or put in the fuse and let hold the connection for I believe its 15 to 20 seconds, then you can take the trans/ resistor out of line and make the perminent connection, might be a good idea to have someone help you so you dont short the power wire to any metal and start a fire or light show

You can also charge it by using one of those 12 volt test lamps...run the test lamp in series to one of the cap leads..the light will glow brightly, then gradually dim as the capacitor charges....

Oops, I'm pretty sure you're right...it's a resistor. Like 88mag said, some capacitors come with a simple light bulb when you buy them new so you can properly charge them. All you need to do is place your power and ground to the battery's positive and negative terminals and run the light bulb inline with it. I've never actually done it this way, so I'm not 100% on how it works.

should be a similar effect, the light absorbs the " shock" of power goin to teh cap the first time. I Think one of the main reasons for the charging is to prevent the big spark and pop that you'd get if you just applied power to the cap. I can see the possibility of a brand new cap rupturing or exploding because it hasnt been cycled yet and doesnt know what to do with the power getting banged in there all in one shot. wither way the resistor or the light should do the trick.

I am an electronics engineer....not bragging, but I just thought I would say so....No, I am not a nerd with a pocket protector....hehehh...

These devices are like a short circuit until they are charged...If you use a fused circuit to charge them, they often blow the fuse..

Tinman relays the concept very well...

Also, Antne77...good work, is correct in his latest post.....


Mike

ah ha, well there ya have it. cant get mre knowlegeable than that hehe

Now what value resistor and what wattage do you use with to charge this cap? I'm sue that has to be some awesome current flow for the first second if you hook it up as a short. The bulb sounds good though. Would be cheaper too than buying a high wattage cap.

On my cap I was told to put a volt meter across the terminals of the cap and hold the resistor in place till I got a 12-14 volt reading..

thanks for all the input guys- do they make test lights big enough to hook up to 4 gauge power wire?

You'll want to use a 20 Ohm to 50 Ohm, 1-watt resistor to charge it up - here's a link to a good guide:

http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/scripts/rightnow.cfg/php.exe/enduser/popup_adp.php?p_sid=BBxOc76i&p_lva=50&p_li=&p_faqid=153&p_created=1049433410

PM me if that doesn't work.


Ryan

wow that was perfect- this site is great so many people just jumpin to help each other, thanks everyone

Glad I could help - and btw make sure not to hold the resistor with your hand like it says in that guide. Only one of us needs to learn that the hard way :)

It's really not critical.
20 ohms will be fine... 20 ohms across 14 volts will be 700ma and won't even be enough to blow a 1a fuse.
You could charge it through a TWO ohm resistor and only pull 7 amps... but that could be enough to overheat the cap's internal connections.

As far as time, you can't overcharge it unless you exceed the rated voltage... you won't do that in a vehicle. It will store voltage until it matches the supply voltage and hold there.

Hook it up and go grab a coke.

How many amps will you pull if you piss on an electric fence? Tell me how to use ohms law to figure that one out....

thanks in advance :lol:

How many amps will you pull if you piss on an electric fence? Tell me how to use ohms law to figure that one out....
Zero.

Unless you are kneeling in a puddle and the end of the unit is only an inch away from the fence and you REALLY have to go. :)

lol that hurts just thinkin about it