In article m, "KaeZoo" wrote:

"GregS" wrote in message
...
In article m, "KaeZoo"
wrote:

"Scott M" wrote in message
...
KaeZoo wrote:


My point was that a capacitor's purpose is NOT to assist the alternator.

If the car is running a capacitor will supply or "assist" the alternator,
which
also includes, assisting fuses, wiring , connections.

The cap tries to maintain voltage, period.

greg

The cap isn't creating power. Only the alternator can do that, by
converting mechanical power to electrical power.

The alternator generates the voltage that the cap tries to maintain. If the
cap discharges to maintain voltage in the circuit, the alternator must work
to recharge it.

The only benefit of the capacitor is that it can react to changes in voltage
more quickly than the alternator can.

It can act with more authority, but not speed.
The electricity does not change speeds. It will come out of one as fast as the other.
As I mentioned before, the cap improves upon voltage depression from lossy
resistive lines, and it smooths out transitions which the alternator can not supply,
due to given RPM, and output capability at that RPM. The alternator is also supplying other
currents, like air conditioning clutches, lights, etc. The cap is at the amp, so it has a slight
buffer of resistance between everything else.

Basically the capacitor "assists" the alternator in the same way that my
credit card "assists" my cash flow. I may be able to pay for lunch a little
faster, but I'm not working any fewer hours because of it.