AudioBahn ACAP7J User manual

PLEASE READ THIS MANUAL
BEFORE OPERATING THIS UNIT.
RETAIN FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
ACAP7J
OWNER’S MANUAL

To bring the product to market that excites the consumer through sound and
vision from an orientation of integrity and customer service. We make you look as
good as you sound. We strive to take car audio to an extreme the world has never
seen, and a world that never stops evolving.
Audiobahn was established in 1997 with one long-term goal in mind, “Build
it Bigger, Badder, & Better, and the people will take notice!” We back this statement
with an engineering team that has brought home several Innovations, Design &
Engineering Showcase Awards, and a marketing team from around the world that
spends countless hours developing our no compromise products to satisfy the most
discriminating enthusiasts.
Our global manufacturing facilities feature ISO9002 ratings (the highest level
of quality control awarded in the electronics manufacturing industry), fully robotic as-
sembly lines and a state of the art, California based R & D laboratory.
Our Technical Department and entire staff look to strive above and beyond
the rest of the pack by going that extra mile to help you out. Whether you happen to
be a veteran competitor, or a beginner car audio enthusiast who does not know a
voice coil from a spider. We are all her to help you get the best system you can with
what you have.
Judge for yourself, and remember what it’s all about, “If it’s not Bigger, Bad-
der & Better, it’s not Audiobahn.” If audio is your life, Audiobahn is the brand for you!
We make you look as good as you sound. People never stop trying to get the best
product, so we will never stop making it.
The Audiobahn Way

Table Of Contents
Introduction_____________________________________________________ 3
Capacitor Introduction_____________________________________________ 4
Specications___________________________________________________ 5
Charging / Discharging____________________________________________ 6
Mounting and Installation__________________________________________ 7
Adjustments and Troubleshooting____________________________________ 8
Warning and Disclaimer__________________________________________ 9
Warranty______________________________________________________ 10-11
Notes_________________________________________________________ 12

Capacitor Introduction
3
When installed properly, your new stiffening capacitor will provide years of
dependableservice.Therearemanybenetsofaddingastiffeningcapacitor.Themost
signicantbenetisthecapacitorsabilitytoimprovebassperformanceinyoursound
system. This is possible due to the voltage stabilizing effects of the capacitor.
When an audio system needs to deliver an instantaneous bass peak, the
vehicle’s electrical system often cannot provide enough power. This means that the sys-
temvoltagedropssubstantiallytoapointthattheampliersareunabletoproducetheir
ratedpower.Thisisreferredtoasclipping.Whenanamplierclips,itwillcausedistor-
tionandcancauseamplierand/orspeakerdamage.
Stiffening capacitors are able to store large amounts of energy in preparation
of these bass peaks. When a bass peak occurs, the stiffening capacitor delivers power
tosupplementthesystemvoltageandpreventamplierclipping.Thisretainsamplier
outputpower,thusimprovingbassresponseandincreasesamplierandspeakerlife
span.
 Anotherbenecialeffectofcapacitorsistheirabilitytolterthecurrentpro-
duced by the vehicle’s alternator. This alternator current, can cause noise (alternator
whine) in the audio system. A capacitor will help reduce or eliminate this “alternator
whine” and popping.
 Werecommendusing1faradofcapacitanceforevery1000wattsofamplier
output. This is a general rule of thumb and may be adjusted up or down depending on
theefciency,currentdraw,anddesignoftheampliersbeingused.
Capacitance
ACAP7J_____________________________________2,000,000 microfarads (2 Farad)
Working Voltage
ACAP7J___________________________________________________________24V
Surge Voltage
ACAP7J___________________________________________________________30V
E.S.R.(EquivalentSeriesResistance)________________0.0016ohm@200Hz/25C
CapacitanceTolerance______________________________________________+/-5%

Charging
4
WARNING!!!
Before making or breaking any electrical connections, please make sure to
read the following instructions on how to properly charge and discharge the capacitor.
Not following the charge / discharge instructions can lead to permanent damage to the
capacitor, which is not covered under the manufacturer warranty.
Charging
 Aftermountingthecapacitorinitsnalposition,attachthegroundtotheca-
pacitor and the chassis grounding location. Next hold the supplied bulb between the
(+) positive battery lead and the (+) positive terminal of the capacitor. If using a bulb, it
shouldlightupforashorttime(normally15-30secondsorso)andthengoout.After
waiting for the capacitor to charge, remove the bulb or resistor and immediately attach
the power (+) cable to the capacitor. The best way to ensure the cap is charged best is
to keep the bulb attached until you touch the main power (+) wire to the capacitor, then
remove it.

Discharging
5
If you plan to store your vehicle or plan on not using the system for a long
period of time, we suggest to remove the capacitor. Anytime you disconnect the capaci-
tor’s power wire from the battery, you need to properly discharge the capacitor. This is
done by using the same supplied bulb as you used for charging the capacitor. Take the
bulb and place the ends across the negative (-) and positive (+) terminals of the capaci-
tor. This will cause the capacitor to safely discharge so it can be stored away.

Installing And Mounting
6
For maximum performance, the capacitor should be installed as close to your
amplier(s)aspossible.Theideallocationisonewhichallowsforshortwiringruns
whilekeepingthecapacitorssomewhatisolatedfromtheheatcreatedbytheamplier
system. The positive (+) power wire should be kept as short as possible and be con-
nectedtotheamplier’sbatterysupplyinput.Werecommendthatahighperformance
distribution block be used to create a splice into this cable (see Fig. 1). You may also
use the capacitor itself as a distribution block by adding multiple power wires to the
terminals located on the top of the capacitor.
 Nofusesshouldbeinstalledinthewirebetweenthecapacitorandtheamplier
system (make sure there is an appropriate fuse at the battery in the main power supply
cable). The ground cable for the capacitor should also be made as short as possible
and be connected directly to the vehicle chassis at a bare metal location. Do not ground
thecapacitordirectlytotheampliergroundterminalorgroundcable.Thecapacitor
and all other components in the system should be grounded using separate ground
cables. It is ok to ground them to the same point on the chassis or frame, just not con-
nected directly to eachother. (see Fig. 1) The positive (+) and negative (-) wires for the
capacitorshouldbethesamegaugeastheamplier’spowerandgroundcables.
Max 24 inches to
amp reccomended
for power wire

Troubleshooting
7
Should you encounter a problem with your capacitor, you can follow the steps
below to make sure that it is working properly.
1. Follow all power (+) and ground (-) connections to and from the capacitor.
Make sure there are no kinks in the wire and no cuts either. If there is a problem in the
wiring, make sure to use new wire and place the wire in a good location where it will not
be roughed up and abused.
2. If using a capacitor with a digital display, you can visually check the capacitor
to see if it is functioning correctly. After charging the capacitor with the provided bulb,
remove the bulb and attach the power wire. If the volt-meter changes slowly, then the
capacitor is properly holding the charge. If the display rapidly decreases and shuts off,
then the cap is not properly holding a charge.
 3.Inthecasethatyoundthatstep2showsyourcapacitorisnotholdinga
charge, you may want to take the capacitor to an authorized dealer to have them run a
capacitance test on the capacitor.

Warning And Disclaimer
8
Investigate the layout of your automobile thoroughly before drilling or cutting any holes. Take care
when you work near gas tanks, gas lines, hydraulic lines, and electrical wiring. Do not use the power ampli-
erunmounted.Attachthesystemsecurelytotheautomobiletopreventdamage,particularlyintheeventof
an accident. Do not mount the system so that the wire connections are unprotected or are subject to pinching
or damage from nearby objects.
The +12V DC power wire must be fused at the battery positive terminal connection. Before making or break-
ing power connections at the system power terminals, disconnect the +12V wire at the battery end. Con-
rmyourradio/headunitand/orotherequipmentisturnedoffwhileconnectingtheinputjacksandspeaker
terminals. If you need to replace the power fuse, replace it only with a fuse identical to that supplied with the
system. Using a fuse of a different type or rating may result in damage to this system which is not covered by
the warranty.
Disclaimer
Specicationsaresubjecttochangewithoutnotice.
ForthemostupdatedSpecicationscallAudiobahn,
your local Authorized Audiobahn Dealer,
or check the Audiobahn web site.
www.audiobahn.com

Audiobahn Consumer
Product Warranty Policy
Audiobahn products are manufactured with the highest quality components and some of the most advanced
technology available. Because of this we recommend that you have your new products installed by an Au-
thorized Audiobahn Dealer. (A list of Authorized Audiobahn Dealers can be found on our web page).
Warranty Period: One year from the original date of purchase.
Warranty Coverage: This warranty covers manufacturer defects only. The warranty is applicable to the
original purchaser, and is non-transferable. You must provide a receipt from an Authorized Audiobahn
Dealer that shows the location of purchase, price paid, and date of purchase.
(Products purchased by consumers from an Authorized Audiobahn Dealer outside the United States are
coveredonlybytheDistributorofthatspeciccountryandarenotcoveredbyAudiobahn).
NOTES:
Complete subwoofer enclosures (Audiobahn will replace defective subwoofers, plexiglass, or neon only. Do
not send the entire enclosure, unless the enclosure is defective itself. You must receive prior authorization
and an RA# before sending in any complete enclosure).
AUDIOBAHN DOES NOT WARRANTY ANY PRODUCTS NOT PURCHASED THROUGH AN AUTHO-
RIZED DEALER.
(A list of Authorized Audiobahn Dealers can be found on our web page).
AUDIOBAHN WARRANTIES DO NOT COVER THE FOLLOWING:
• Any product not purchased from an Authorized Audiobahn Dealer (including Internet dealers)
• Damagecausedbyabuse,misuse,accident,water/ood,ortheft(includinganycosmeticdamageto
the body of the product)
• Damage caused by improper installation
• Any cost or expense related to removal or reinstallation
• Any unauthorized services
• Any product that has the serial number removed, altered, or defaced
• Subsequent damage to any other components
• Pinched, cut, or stripped wires / terminals
• Any product that is new, and/or found to be in working condition
• L.E.D. indicators on electronics (Audiobahn will only replace L.E.D.(s) found to be defective at the time
of purchase)
Warranty
9

WARRANTY Continued
10
How to receive warranty service: Contact your local Authorized Audiobahn Dealer, or call Audiobahn at
[phone] betweenthehoursof9:00AMand5:00PMPST.
If you are having problems with your system, we recommend you check the product carefully and thoroughly
toconrmthattheproducttrulyhasamanufacturerdefect;asopposedtoabuse,orothercomponentsinthe
system caused the failure. This might include having an Authorized Audiobahn Dealer look at the product
toconrmthesourceoftheproblem.Anyproductfoundtohaveamanufacturerdefectwillbereplacedwith
a new piece of the same or similar model, or repaired at the discretion of Audiobahn. Any product found to
have no manufacturer defect will be returned to the sender at their cost.
You must acquire a Return Authorization Number (#) prior to returning ANY product to Audiobahn.
That Return Authorization Number (RA#) must be prominently and clearly marked on the outside of the ship-
ping carton, or product delivery will be refused (no exceptions will be made).
Please note: All shipping and handling (to and from) charges will be the sole responsibility of the consumer.
Please record and keep your Return Authorization Number (RA#) in the event that further communication is
required.
Return Authorization Number (RA#): ______________________________________
Date product was sent: ______________________________________
Contact Information
Audiobahn Headquarters
7050VillageDriveBldg.G
Buena Park, CA 90621
Phone(714)452.1476Fax(888)880.8469
PacicCoastTime:9am-5pmMon.-Fri.
[email protected]

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