Capacitor Wiring

[TJay]

What are they used for on a Kitfox?

[Av8r_Sed]

In our charging systems, the stator produces AC output which goes to the regulator/rectifier. The ouput of that is DC plus an AC voltage on top of it. A capacitor is often used to filter out higher frequency AC ripple on the rectified DC supply. It helps keep the electronics happy and audio quiet.

[TJay]

In our charging systems, the stator produces AC output which goes to the regulator/rectifier. The ouput of that is DC plus an AC voltage on top of it. A capacitor is often used to filter out higher frequency AC ripple on the rectified DC supply. It helps keep the electronics happy and audio quiet.

Thanks, I was thinking to myself, there really cant be much on a kitfox that pulls enough power on start up that you to need the extra stored power of a capacitor but if it acts as a filter too that makes more sense.

[TJay]

So how do you wire these things up, Do you run the hot wire to the positive side then continue from the positive side to the electronics buss? And ground side to ground, or does power go in one side and come out the other?

[Av8r_Sed]

They go the first way you described, in parallel across the power and ground. If you wired it in series, all you'd get out of it would be AC and none of your electronics would work.

[GWright6970]

Is there are preferred "connector" or "terminal" that one uses to connect the wires to these two little metal tabs sticking out of it's top?

Excellent thread! Thank you!

[jiott]

I believe those small metal tabs are for a soldered connection. Don't they have a small hole in them to attach the wire before soldering?

[GWright6970]

Jim, there are NO holes on the ends. They are just very skinny; just two tabs sticking out of the capacitor. The tab ends are pointed and slightly turned.... weird!