Well i'm starting to get pretty pissed with blowing fuses so im gonna decide to post here.
Well, i've got two Alpine type R's (4ohm) and a kenwood Kac X812D amp, i've got the subs wired to 8ohm each. the gain on the amp is on 1/4 and the bass on the amp is set to 0, If i turn the volume close to all the way up, with the sub volume level on the deck at anything above -1 it will blow a fuse in the amp. I've got my rear speakers amped also and im using the same power wire for the amp im using for the subs. Is there any reason the amp keeps blowing fuses? i've got an extra battery in my garage im wondering if it could be because a lack of power going to them?, the volt meter reads 10.6volts while running before it shuts off.
2003 White Cavalier LS Sport Coupe
sorry i forgot to post that, i'm running 4 gauge wire
2003 White Cavalier LS Sport Coupe
10.6V before shutting off?
Well that just might be your problem. When your voltage drops, the amp has to draw more current to produce a given number of watts. The extra current draw could definitely cause your fuses to pop.
Have you done your BIG 3? Are you running underdrive pulleys (could be another reason behind your large voltage drop)? Did you set the gain to your amp with a DMM, or just ballpark it?
The first thing I would do is upgrade your BIG 3 and set your gain properly using a multimeter. You may or may not need a second battery, but you need to cure that voltage drop problem (ie adding a second battery or HO alt if you keep dropping below 11V).
GAM (The Kilted One) wrote: if you think you're that much better than them because you're "correct" I hope your progeny don't turn out as screwed up as yourself.
Yeah its most definitly going below 11v, i'l try adding the second battery today and see how that goes. If it still is blowing fuses il post again.
2003 White Cavalier LS Sport Coupe
i did not set it with a multimeter yet, i can't get it working long enough to use one... i just tried hooking my other battery up i used 4 gauge wire and ran both of them in parallel then one 4gauge wire to the amp from the second bettery, i used a small ground wire because i ran out of 4 gauge i think its like 10 or something (i know its inansane small) but anyway it read 11.5 volts when i turned it on. when the car was started it read 11.7 Did i do something wrong? or is it that my ground wire it just too small.
Thanks
2003 White Cavalier LS Sport Coupe
Hmmm, what voltage were your batteries sitting at with nothing turned on?
11.7V with the car started is really, really low. With little/no load you should be at 14+ with the car running.
I'm beginning to think maybe your alternator is the problem. Check the power and ground connections at your alternator to make sure something hasn't come loose or has corroded. If everything looks good, I'd take your alt in and get it tested. You should be sitting with much higher voltage when the car is running.
GAM (The Kilted One) wrote: if you think you're that much better than them because you're "correct" I hope your progeny don't turn out as screwed up as yourself.
Savage, you're looking at the problem from the wrong side. The voltage isn't causing amplifier problems. The amplifier is causing voltage problems.
He said that the amp was turned on when the voltage reading was taken. I'm sure he's taking the readings at the amp and the difference in voltage is caused by excessive current along his power wire.
Possible.
But seeing that the amp still turns on and plays music has me skeptical that it's the amp. But you could very well be correct.
Stitch, do you have a multimeter at your disposal? What you need to do is eliminate some possibilities.
If you do, test what your battery is sitting at with nothing turned on (car or stereo). Disconnect the power/ground, turn-on etc from your sub amp, and test again to see if there's a difference. Then turn the car on to see what your electrical system is sitting at (with the stereo off, sub amp disconnected). If you're still super low with the amp completely disconnected from your car, then it's probably not your amp. If your car sits at a normal 13.5-14.5V when running, and all that's changed is that your 1 amp is disconnected, then it very likely has something to do with your amp (wired or setup incorrectly, internal problems, insufficient electrical etc).
Basically you're just experimenting to see what (if anything) causes the change in your voltage. All you're doing is trying to eliminate potential causes of your voltage drops.
GAM (The Kilted One) wrote: if you think you're that much better than them because you're "correct" I hope your progeny don't turn out as screwed up as yourself.
I do have a multimeter and when the car is on with nothing running its 12.7 the car started with nothing running is 14.5-14.6 the car not started with amp on is 12.5 but when the bass starts even just playing at low volumes it goes down to 12.3 and stays there. with the car started and the amp on playing low volume it sits around 14.3 until it gets turned up.
2003 White Cavalier LS Sport Coupe
i bet your clipping like a champ. clipping can cause over current situations because with voltage drop, amperage raises to keep the same wattage, and that could be the problem.
Lanman31337 - Cavfire wrote:i bet your clipping like a champ. clipping can cause over current situations because with voltage drop, amperage raises to keep the same wattage, and that could be the problem.
With induction motors this is true. It's not true in the case of amplifiers. Lower voltage causes lower current ( I=E / Z ) which causes lower power ( P=I*E*pf ).
Well what can be done to stop clipping? I've tried adjusting the gain and everything.... even on the lowest setting i'm having problems.
2003 White Cavalier LS Sport Coupe
