So I am installing a new stereo in my truck (I have done custom, high-end installs for years) and am including a power cap as I always do. These caps are standard in the mobile audio world to keep your headlights from dimming and to keep your alternator from being over-worked.
Question: Why are these things so big? I mean, the 10F super cap is just slightly bigger than a "standard" cap where as this one is almost the size of an oatmeal can at only 2 farad.
Just for some additional info, this particular install has a final output of around 1600 watts total.
Supercaps are made to be used as comparatively long-term power sources, in the same way that you’d use a small battery. Their high capacitance-to-volume ratio comes at a price - primarily that they’ve got a low charging voltage tolerance, and in general aren’t as tough.
That huge cap you’ve got there is probably an electrolytic type, with a much higher voltage tolerance. Electrolytics can handle reasonable voltages (you can get HV versions too though), but you have to make them pretty big to compare to a supercap in terms of capacitance. They’re also quite easy to manufacture, and they can take more of a beating - a must for automotive applications, as I’m sure you’ll agree =D.
this is a 12V cap btw It is usually used in cars audio system for the bass system to don’t kill the engine/battery when a big bass drops is comming… I think, it has to charge really fast because drums could be at fast BPM…
btw 
