amplifier problem

Hello,

Ive just fitted two amps one to power my 6x9s and one 600w amp to power my sub, i had the exact same system in my old car. The problem which has seriously been frustrating me, is that when i turn my engine on without starting in the accessory position only the amp powering the 6x9 works the other amp goes into protection mode. However if i start the key in accessory mode then turn the engine on both amps will work fine.

I have checked all the wiring, and i am pretty sure its due to either power,ground or remote wire. also i have recently mounted the amplifier onto a wood boared preventing it from touching metal however this has not solved the problem

any help would be much appreciated Thanks!

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Mpice

How do you have the main power distributed to the amps?  is there a distro block, are the remote turn ons coming from the same power lead(Is it an aftermarket deck, or factory radio), and are both amps grounded in the same spot?  If the sub amp goes into protect only when you don't have it in the accy position, i'm thinking that the remote turn on lead for the sub amp might be the problem!! 

I don't see how mounting to a board instead of metal can change anything!  IMO, I think it actually helps to have it mounted to metal as when the amps heat up some of that heat can be dissipated/transferred to the actaul metal mounting spot!  there isn't too many good spots in vehicles to mount them in a metal spot without it looking kind of ghetto though! 

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...half of the truth can be worse than a lie. <----Roger Russell said that..

Sounds like your battery voltage may be low.  Have you measured it?

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Are you using a factory radio with the remote wire of the amp being powered by an accessory wire?  Or are you using an aftermarket deck with the amp remote wire turning the amp on?

Yeah i have a distribution block which reads 12.7 engine off, and 14.3 engine on. i have measure the volts coming into the sub amp which read 12v engine off 12v engine on. the remote wire is reading 10v engine off 12v engine on.

The remote wire is coming from the after market deck, into to the amp that works then into the sub amp, so yeah i am only using one remote wire to turn on both amps, is that a problem??

Both amps are grounded in the same spot ring terminal secured on top of each other connected to the vehicles chassis.

Thank you for your quick reply s

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Mpice

It is a timing issue, it is probably caused by a turn on pop that is created by the radio at the wrong time, causing the amp to go into protect.  To remedy this problem, simply insert a switch of some sort in the remote wire, so you can temporarily interrupt power to the remote terminals of the amps.  After you get the car started, if the amp is in protect, simply turn the switch off and then back on.   Good Luck

i am an idiot wrote:

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It is a timing issue, it is probably caused by a turn on pop that is created by the radio at the wrong time, causing the amp to go into protect. To remedy this problem, simply insert a switch of some sort in the remote wire, so you can temporarily interrupt power to the remote terminals of the amps. After you get the car started, if the amp is in protect, simply turn the switch off and then back on.   Good Luck

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Surely by turning the stereo on and off would work as a switch fro the remote wire, or do u mean inserting a switch on separate 12v cable running straight to the amp?

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Mpice

Sorry   I wasn't paying attention.  I thought you were using your factory deck and were getting remote from an ignition source.  Simply turning off your radio will do the trick.  However, if you have one of the new radios that take like 3 minutes to come back on, (seems like it takes that long)  you could use the same wire you have going back there now, and simply cut it and insert a switch in series with it.  You could use a Normally closed momentary pushbutton switch.  simply bump it and release it. 

Ive fitted a toggle switch to a 12v wire, so i can turn the amp on independently, however when the engine is running, i have to flick the switch about three rimes before it stops going into protection mode and powers up. any ideas what this means, i am determined to get to the bottom of this problem!

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Mpice

I don't know how this might work...but try running another turn on wire!  i don't see how the 1st amp can be causing a problem....but it might, you never know!  All the connections check out fine, and "i am an idiot" know his stuff so the only other thing that i can think of is maybe your amp is getting ready to crap out!! 

Also try using the sub amp as the 1st amp to be turned on instead of it being second!!

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...half of the truth can be worse than a lie. <----Roger Russell said that..

Have you been having any trouble with your charging system, especially overcharging?   If it comes on everytime you turn the key to accessory, and only gives you trouble when the engine is running, overvoltage on the remote wire could cause this problem.   With the engine running, use a volt meter and check across the remote terminal and the ground terminal. Let me know what you find.

yeah i had my suspicions that it could be a power overload, however its 10v engine off and 12v engine on (Remote wire), that sound about right to me??

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Mpice

matthew perkins wrote:

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yeah i had my suspicions that it could be a power overload, however its 10v engine off and 12v engine on (Remote wire), that sound about right to me??

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Like I said earlier, that sounds like you have a bad battery and/or charging system.  It should be closer to 12V engine off and 14V engine on.  Many amplifiers will shut down at 10V.

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like i said earlier it only turns off if the engine is running, not in acc position, then it works fine.

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Mpice