Does my car need to be on to charge my capacitor?(I think it does i am just making sure)?

Question

So i connect the positive end of the power wire from my battery to one lead of the 12v light bulb. Then from the other lead of the bulb i connect that to the positive side of the capacitor correct?

Answer 1

NO

WHEN INSTALLING A CAPACITOR FOR THE FIRST TIME JUST CONNECT YOUR POSITIVE WIRE TO THE CAP THEN CONNECT THE RESISTOR AKA CHARGING BULB BETWEEN THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL OF YOUR CAP AND THE NEGATIVE WIRE FOR 30 SEC  TO A MIN OR UNTIL THE BULB GOES OUT, THEN REMOVE THE BULB FROM BETWEEN AND CONNECT THE NEGATIVE WIRE TO YOUR CAP AND IT SHOULD BE READY TO WAKE UP THE NEIGHBORS !!

Answer 2

not only the car needs to be in the "ON" position, but the engine has to be running, when the engine is running, the alternator is working and charging your battery and charging your cap simultaneously.  if the car is not running, the cap might drain your  battery and car might not start and destroy the battery life.

Answer 3

I never ran my engine while charging my caps. I have a 3 and a 5 Farad Cap.

Answer 4

Don't have the car running when you charge the capacitor.  It can charge sufficiently using just the battery power, and it's safer with the engine off.