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AUTO AUDIO BOOST CAPACITORS AND PROBLEMS IN THEDETERMINATION OF THE ACTUAL CAPACITANCE VALUE
Ronald R. Stiffler
1
 
1
Senior Scientist, Stiffler Scientific, Humble, Texas, USA DrStiffler@embarqmail.com  Abstract
—In this paper I present the test results and test methods used in an effort toconfirm vendor specified capacitance values on three capacitors with an advertisedpurpose of providing power boost to large high power auto audio sound systems. Mytesting procedures consisted of two different methods for measuring the discharge curveof the capacitors under test.
I. Introduction
During the course of an energy research project I required a number of large capacitycapacitors in the range of 2-3 Farad with a minimum voltage rating of twelve volts.In order to utilize current super capacitors I would have been required to connect togethera combination of series and parallel units to provide the capacity and voltage required.Rather than do this for the initial phase of my work I purchased from two differentvendors a number of similar units often referred to as ‘Digital Power Capacitors’.The capacitors I purchased are among a line of products sold and referred to underdifferent titles such as; Boost Capacitor, Power Capacitor, Stiffening Capacitor
TM
[1] andCar Audio Capacitors [2]. My first three capacitors were labeled as being the same valuein capacity and physically appeared similar but were different in weight and color.
See Appendix
Initially in my research work no effort was made to confirm the actual capacity of theunits as my margin of error in the research allowed for a deviation 10-15% in the capacityvalue.Problems surfaced midway in the research project when calculations for energy stored inthe capacitors did not match the energy that could be drawn from them after charging.The energy of the capacitors in the research project and the testing results presented inthis paper were calculated with the following equation.
Eq: 1
Uc = ½(CV
2
) where Uc is in Joules.My research project required the capacitors be discharged into a linear carbon resistanceand the following formula was used to determine dissipated energy.
 
 
Eq: 2
Ur = I
2
R
L
where I is the current through the load resistance R
d.
 Ur was actually derived from
Σ
(I
2
*R
d
*T) where T is the time interval in seconds of themeasurement period, providing the sum of total Joules.In order to calculate the actual capacity from test results I used the generally acceptedmethod of using the time constant with a known resistance [8]. I therefore used thefollowing equation rearranged for this purpose.
Eq: 3
t = RC as C = t/R where C is the calculated capacitance, R is the dischargeresistance in ohms and t is the time in seconds [8].I researched various papers covering both regular multi-layer and super capacitors. Oneparticular paper was ‘Electrochemical Supercapacitor Time Domain Analysis by Meansof Multi-Channel Measurement System [4]’ and ‘Cap-XX, Application Note AN1005 [5]along with Illinois Capacitor, Inc. [6]One particular paper of note was by ‘Richard Clark’, titled ‘A2546 Fusing StiffeningCapacitors
TM
[1,7] where the capacitors being described are not really of the currentsuper capacitor construction, rather a conventional build from multiplayer foils.What I was able to determine was that t=RC (Eq: 3) [8], should apply to these capacitors,including the newer super capacitors and without doubt to a conventional configurationas described by ‘Richard Clark’ [7].With this information I wrote a special computer program, Fig: 1, to control all aspects of the testing, thereby removing manual timing or calculation errors.
 
II. The Test Setup
Two different test configurations were used, both using ‘Capacitor Inspector’ Fig: 1, thesoftware program specifically written for the controlling computer CC and performingcontrol and logging. (See Test Setup 1 & 2)The CC program controlled all switching, monitoring and calculations during teachtesting procedure.
 
 
Test Setup 1:
Acronyms used in this paper referring to both test setups 1 & 2 are;CC Controlling Computer, controls switching, monitoring, logging andcalculations.PS Computer Controlled Digital Power supply.DM Computer Controlled Digital Multi-meter (Volt meter).Rd Computer Controlled Digital Electronic LoadRc Carbon resistor of a value equal to Rd.CUT Capacitor Under Test, each capacitor identified by CUTn.
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penelopepug

Thanks for posting these test results. I have heard that the ratings are grossly exagerated amongst several manufaturers of these stiffenning capacitors and this certainly confirms this. Have you taken this any further such that you have found some with accurate specifications? I understand that Tsunami are highly regarded.

reply07 / 14 / 2009
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