My lights still dim on drum beats.... Like I said before I have a 1/2 farad RF Cap with an amp that runs 250 amps RMS. Can I use a Volt meter to check it.. Is there another way??

 

First, I'm assuming you mean 250 Watts rms, not Amperes. I also assume that the total peak output that your amp can handle is about 500 watts. Based on that, a 0.5 Farad capacitor should be enough.

To test your capacitor, first you need to charge it. Next, disconnect it from both power and ground. Check the voltage across the positive and negative terminals, it should be close to the source voltage. Be extremely careful not to cause a short circuit across the terminals when the cap is fully charged! Leave it alone for a while and come back and check the voltage again. It should not drop significantly. Sorry, I can't tell you exactly how much, you'll have to call the cap manufacturer to get the exact numbers. Compare your measurements against somebody else's cap if you can.

Discharge it before reinstalling with a low wattage 12V bulb or other suitable resistor.

The most accurate way to test a cap is in a lab with an osciloscope, regulated power supply with function generator, and a variable resistor, but most people don't have access to all that.

 

 

I'd like to see you do that with a capacitor that big! It'd take several seconds to charge that cap even running a few amps of current. smaller caps that's be fine for, but large ones don't work well that way..

a good way to check if they're working is to simply disconnect it and check the voltage. hook up a test light or lightbulb to it and see how long it takes before the bulb goes out. if it's just a couple seconds, there's something wrong with the cap, but if it seems to take forever, then it's fine. (My 1F cap will take about 2 min to discharge through a 5W engine test light)

 

 

Just lick your fingers and grab hold!

On second thought, don't...

 

Depending on how long you can hold it there wil let you know how good it is!