Originally posted by fastball
Caps are kind of overrated, IMO anyway.... If the alternator can pass the full load test, it will work fine on your amp. Those caps are really for competition, to show off, or for an older car with a weak alternator.
AcuraFanatic, your car should be fine without a cap.
Fastball, not neccesarily true about caps being overrated and for show.
You do have a valid point that most vehicles can support all onboard components and that is how they are tested.
I can show you an amp rated at 25 watts x 2, 50 watts total. The current draw on this amp is a continuous 50 amps. We measure this ourselves on a test bench with Precision Power technicians, its not a fuse rating or manufacturer rating. That is over half of the typical 90 amper altenators on most new vehicles.
In the past I think I read the ratings to operate a vehicle it takes about 15 amps for the air conditioning, and another 15 for the automatic transmission, Im not sure what the distributor and motor required, but assume 15 as well. Thats 45 amps without headlights or radio.