Maintaining Enough Current

Home / the12volt's Install Bay / Car Audio / Maintaining Enough Current (

Topic Closed)

Welcome Guest :)

Members

< Prev Topic Next Topic >

Craigl28

Member - Posts: 7

Joined: September 01, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: January 03, 2006 at 2:23 PM / IP Logged

My VW Vanagon has two batteries as a standard/stock power system. I think I reached some threshhole on power current so that know the stereo system cut's-out when the volume is raised higher than 8 or 9. I think the head unit is programmed to do this if the current drops below some voltage. Therefore, it's alternating turning on, off as the voltage regains quickly and then shuts-off after dropping again.

Do you have any advice on solutions?

Thanks a lot!

Craig

menace2sobriety

Silver - Posts: 394

Joined: October 29, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: January 03, 2006 at 2:38 PM / IP Logged

do you have amplifiers, subs? if so are you using proper guage wire? up grade your alternator and do the big-3 as well, doing that will do good all around.

Search for other posts by menace2sobriety

sparkie

Platinum - Posts: 2,061

Joined: November 06, 2003

Location: Canada

Posted: January 03, 2006 at 3:18 PM / IP Logged

Your volume reached 8 or 9? On a scale of what? On a scale of 10 you are causing the amp to clip. Turn it down before serious speaker damage occurs. If you are using a diiferent scale then use a digital volt meter to measure the voltage at the audio component when the problem occurs. Use your meter probes on both the power and ground of the component to see if there is a problem on either the power or ground side of the circuit. If there is it usually shows up as a voltage drop below 12 volts with the engine running.

sparky

Craigl28

Member - Posts: 7

Joined: September 01, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: January 03, 2006 at 5:15 PM / IP Logged

The 8 or 9 is a medium volume setting for my Alpine head unit.

There was no problem prior to getting the new head unit, my Pioneer went bad but never did these symptoms dispite having two amps and one sub installed. I think the Pioneer didn't have this saftey feature of shutiing down below 12 volts.

The problem occurs even with the 2nd amp and sub's disconnected. That's why I'm asking for real expert advice from you guys.

Thanks!

DYohn

Moderator - Posts: 10,741

This member has made a donation to the12volt.com. Click here for more info.

This member has been recognized as an authority in Electrical Theory. Click here for more info.

This member has been recognized as an authority in Mobile Audio and Video. Click here for more info.

Joined: April 22, 2003

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: January 03, 2006 at 5:37 PM / IP Logged

If all y0ou did was replace a HU then you may have a bad battery or a faulty charging system. Take it in and get the electrical system checked.

Support the12volt.com

ssnds

Copper - Posts: 169

Joined: August 15, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: January 03, 2006 at 7:32 PM / IP Logged

should an alpine HU shut off like craig described? then on the other aspect i see it doing it.

i'd go with DYohn on that one. Go to say advanced auto,napa, autozone and put a meter on it while everything is turned off, meter it when the vehicle is running but the stereo is off then again with the vehicle running but with the radio on at a low level. then start increasing the volume and see what happens.

Maintaining Enough Current - Last Post -- posted image.

SSounds

xtremca2003

Member - Posts: 37

Joined: January 02, 2006

Location: United States

Posted: January 03, 2006 at 9:54 PM / IP Logged

Is it one of the high output alpines that require the main batt feed to be drawn from the battery? If so, do not hook the main yellow line to behind the radio.

Chris

xtremca2003

Member - Posts: 37

Joined: January 02, 2006

Location: United States

Posted: January 03, 2006 at 9:57 PM / IP Logged

One more thing. Does your VW have have the Monsoon system or similar. If so you may be driving the factory speaks and amps nuts, causing your alpine to see odd impedance on the speaker outs and in turn causing it to shut down. Get a DMM and ohm out the factoty speaker wires behind the deck and see if they are 4ohms or higher.

Chris

Craigl28

Member - Posts: 7

Joined: September 01, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: January 04, 2006 at 11:05 AM / IP Logged

xtremca2003 wrote:

Chris

All of the factory system is gone and the upgrade worked fine for many years with the Pioneer head unit.

I agree with everyone's advice to meter system off, low, and watch increase to medium volume real closely!

Thanks much!!!

mmmbarbato

Member - Posts: 1

Joined: February 04, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: January 18, 2006 at 5:19 PM / IP Logged

you might be at the wrong ohms on your amp

mike

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.
This topic is closed.

Printable version

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Search the12volt.com

Follow the12volt.com

Disclaimer: *All information on this site ( the12volt.com ) is provided "as is" without any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to fitness for a particular use. Any user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and use of this information. Please verify all wire colors and diagrams before applying any information.

Maintaining Enough Current

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.This topic is closed.

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.
This topic is closed.