How do you test a stiffening cap?

nutxo · Post by **nutxo** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:27 am

?????

Post by **Bfowler** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:34 am

hook it up to a 12volt source, then try and hook an LED to it later?

good question really...

nutxo · Post by **nutxo** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:45 am

Bfowler wrote:hook it up to a 12volt source, then try and hook an LED to it later?

good question really...

can it be hooked to a battery charger for a car?

Post by **Bfowler** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:00 am

sure seems like it....i don't see why not....but i can't say that with enough certainty for you to just go do it.

gkitching · Post by **gkitching** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:19 am

Yes that will work. you might want to try something that will draw more currant than a LED though.

nico boom · Post by **nico boom** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:14 am

A 5 watt bulb will do just fine.
First let the cap soak up enough power, so that you are sure it is full.
Then connect the bulb, and watch for the time it takes before the 5W. bulb fades to zero.
Should take about 8 second for a 1 farad cap in my experience.
Though it does not say anything about the QUALITY of the cap; the good ones beeing faster/ having full capacity ,or the cheap ones beeing slower/ not having the rated capacity.
[it's just a simple test].