Power capacitor/ power caps

[necronomicon]

Hello all

Is there any real point putting a power cap  (1200uf/ 10volts) on a tamiya tl-01 running an mtroniks eco20 ESC and 23 turn motor, would i notice any difference in performance. Just read this article: http://www.schumacher.clara.net/powercap.htm and power caps sound like a good upgrade.

I see they sell special 'power caps' from about 5-20 pounds, but there are suggections that a standard electrical capacitor, wired across the power lead correctly is just as good?

anyone got any experience with power caps at all please

thanks in anticipation

Neil

[Guest joelvardy]

I've got one on my TA-05 and you can tell the difference when under hard acceleration,

before when you accelerate it is not a constant sped but now it is smooth (but fast).

[Wrc action]

Yes they are superb and really great under hard acceleration - I have had one on my touring cars for a fair while and plan to have one on my rally car as well.

They work by lowering the voltage drop under acceleration, therefore by pushing electrons around the circult and through the motor so performance is improved. This also lowers the power consumption as well as operating tempratures.

hope this helps and they come recormended from this TC member.

cheers Ryck

[necronomicon]

Thanks for replies, I am still a bit unclear as to whether power cap OK to use with reverse speedo, as some sources say yes fine, others say no only use with forwards speedo, before I solder it on, I want to be sure so i dont blow the speedo (mtroniks eco20).

Any experience guys, thanks again

Neil

[MikeT]

 

They work by lowering the voltage drop under acceleration, therefore by pushing electrons around the circult and through the motor so performance is improved.

Are you sure Ryck? I'm not 100% certain, but i assumed that when the voltage dropped under acceleration, the capacitor discharged and brought the volatage back up?

Mike

[MikeT]

 

They work by lowering the voltage drop under acceleration, therefore by pushing electrons around the circult and through the motor so performance is improved.

Are you sure Ryck? I'm not 100% certain, but i assumed that when the voltage dropped under acceleration, the capacitor discharged and brought the volatage back up?

Mike

[necronomicon]

I think you are both saying the same thing: LOWERING the voltage DROP, is the same as bringing the voltage back up when the battery can't supply it quickly enough under hard acceleration.

I understand the concept, but was interested if it really made any difference!

[MikeT]

Oh, yep [:$]

When the capacitor discharges it produces an EMF ( Electro-Motive Force ) which will push electrons ( Negative ) around the circuit ( Amps ).

At LOW RPM, the resistance of the motor is very LOW, which puts high demand on the cells, which creates a voltage drop from the cells, so having a capacitor helps to combat the voltage drop with its EMF.

Sorry Ryck, you were right fella!

Mike

[terry.sc]

Opinions on whether they are worth fitting were discussed here.

http://tamiyaclub.com/CS/forums/thread/19009.aspx 2 years

later I still use them and wasn't convinced they didn't do anything.

Don't bother buying the prepackaged "Power Caps", although supposedly

tuned to the manufacturers ESCs they are just electrolytic capacitors

available for 99p from electronics suppliers. Definitely don't bother

with "Electric NOS" as advertised on ebay, they are just the same cheap

capacitors with a fancy label stuck on.

 

You can use

them with reversing ESCs as well. Schottky diodes should not be used

with reversing ESCs as they will be destroyed and quite often kill the

ESC as well.

[Bodis]

All sounds good in theory, however i would have the capacitor constantly connected to the battery to stop the inrush current when the battery is connected to the car. I would try something like this

http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/endecaSearch/par...jsp?SKU=9692010

I would pay close attention to its temperature, as for this kind of application, you would probably exceed its current ripple rating.

[DJTheo]

On a TL01 with its many gears you would propably get bigger effect by using better ball bearings or degreasing them and oiling them with light oil. My explanation why caps in the sizes they are used don't really bring anything on the link of terry still hasn't been knocked down by anyone and as long as I don't see any rational proof of why should they give a significanty advantage, they fall to me in the same category as blue eloxated parts, in real cars such placebos at least give an advantage by making the driver driving with a lighter wallet LOL

Btw, its like in real car "magic" tuning parts for pennies, if they would give an advantage don't you think the motor or ESC manufacturers wouldn't have included them by now where they try with so much buddget to get a minor improvement every season? []

Cheers 

[necronomicon]

Thanks for all replies on this subject now guys, i will read the thread from 2 years ago as well, cheers. I made up one ready to fit then decided not to bother for the moment. My creative DIY focus has switched to LED kits for cars now instead!

thanks

Neil