WA5ZNU
Sunday, January 20, 2008 Zulu
 
2 Farad Capacitor
capi70

I bought a 2F capacitor from Fry's on sale. It's not a nano-carbon or aerogel cap, I think, just a really big electrolytic. It was listed as "2.0 FARAD DIGITAL CAPACITOR . Digital LED Voltage Meter CA170 #5477179 $29.99." The capacitor wouldn't hold a charge very long, and the voltmeter (the "digital" part) didn't work. Reverse polarity made an LED glow and a beep from the attached sounder, but nothing from the 7-segment display. I took it back and got another one, but it was the same. So I removed the DVM and the capacitor holds a charge pretty well.

The DVM has an "EM78P156ELPJ-G" 18-pin DIP, which appears to be an Elan OTP 8-bit microprocessor, a variation of this one. There's a 4Mhz crystal, and a scope shows no crystal activity; the oscillator is in the uP. The 7805 TO-220 shows 5V. I suspect the uP, even if it weren't programmed, would oscillate OK so there must be some other problem.

That's probably why they were on sale. A web search on "CAPI70" or "CAP170" shows nothing, nor does "DP Audio" (on the box) or "Divine Electronics" (on the can).

Update: In the intervening years, I've received a number of great comments and email messages on this post. One comment pointed out that the voltmeter needs to be powered explicitly. Craig AE6RR contacted me and said that he's tested that comment, and indeed that's the case. Here's what he said:

I tried connecting the + terminal to the small screw on the top that appears to just hold the plastic cover on and yes the relay clicks, the display lights and the voltmeter works. Maybe you are supposed to connect it to ignition switched voltage to avoid running your battery down? The package claims "relay included" but the manual doesn't say anything about it or the voltmeter. Also, the 1K resistor supplied is too high of a resistance to charge the capacitor due to the current draw of the voltmeter circuit. It will never get to 12V.

- posted by Leigh @ 20:34 z
Comments:
Same thing happened to me. The digital display does not work.

I bought it at Fry's in Atlanta and live in Savannah. Don't know what I'm going to do, guess I'll have to just buy a different brand.

Also, I tried charging it up with the supplied resistor, it would only charge to 7 volts (over the course of about 15 minutes and then would not go above that).
 
Try using a 9v battery (round connection positive, turreted one negative) and see if it gets to 9V. You won't need to use the resistor for this test.

I think the bad digital volt meter puts a load on the capacitor and discharges it. You can unscrew the posts remove it completely, though there's nothing to hold the plastic cover on after that, so you'll need to tape it back on, which may not be aesthetic.

It's possible to buy just the meter as an after-market item but they seem to be expensive.
 
I got a CAP170 and similar results as well. The display doesn't work, I got it from Fry's on sale. I'm returning it tomorrow and picking up the $50 one. Won't charge past 9V. Manual was in broken english, what's with the crappily translated manual? Bad, do not buy.
 
YOU COULD GET THE DISPLAY TO WORK ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS RUN A POSSITIVE WIRE TO THAT TOP SCREW (THE LITTLE ONE)...
 
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