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Nope Posted by Ari [Email]  (#2847) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Ari) on Tue, 6 Feb 2001 12:50:05
In Reply to: Capacitor for Charging Gremlin? Att: Electronics People, Devin [Profile/Gallery]
, Mon, 5 Feb 2001 14:21:32
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You already have a big capacitor. It's called the battery. Any capacitor you would add that could even get close to the current sourcing capability of a charged car battery would be the size of a truck.
Wiring doesn't increase in resistance. Connections do. It sounds to me like your problem is in the ignition switch. You can add capacitors from now until the end of time, but if the switch isn't passing current, it won't work. Ignition switches are known to be a problem.
The car already has a solenoid. The ignition switch does not take the full current of the starter. The ignition switch supplies current to a solenoid which is built into the starter. The solenoid serves as a big relay - it connects battery power to the starter when the ignition key is turned. If you turn the key and hear a robust 'click' from the solenoid (in the area of the starter), then you know the ignition switch is OK, but the solenoid has problems. Why, you ask, if the solenoid clicks, could it be bad? The solenoid has big electrical contacts to switch big current to the starter motor. If those contacts pit and carbon up, you'll hear the click of the solenoid moving, but current can't flow through the terminals. It can be an intermittent problem.
If the car is hard to start when hot, it could be the ignition switch, solenoid, or battery contacts. Resistance increases with heat. The ignition switch is mounted roughly over the catalytic converter, which gets mighty hot.
If you turn the key, and hear a big click from the engine compartment, suspect the solenoid. If you turn the key and DON'T get a loud click, suspect the ignition switch. Of course, you want to make sure the battery contacts and cables are in good shape. Pull off and clean the clamps on the inside where they make contact - brighten them up with some fine sandpaper. Make sure the cables are in good shape - if you see a white or green powder between the individual strands of wire, replace the cables.
I just did a quick calculation, and a typical 300 amp-hour car battery is the equivalent of a 90,000 farad capacitor. Typical capacitors are measured in microfarads (one-millionth of a farad). I have seen 1 farad capacitors - they were the size of a large coffee can, and were used in a pulse laser used for fusion research.
, Mon, 5 Feb 2001 14:21:32, Tue, 6 Feb 2001 12:50:05 <-- Viewing This Message
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