calling all old shcool orion amp experts

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Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=112894
Printed Date: May 11, 2025 at 1:35 AM

Topic: calling all old shcool orion amp experts

Posted By: volsbanshee
Subject: calling all old shcool orion amp experts
Date Posted: April 03, 2009 at 2:56 PM

I read in another post that this was the site with the most expert knowledge about old school Orion amps. I have a question about a Amp I have. It is the 225 HCCA. I am unsure of the exact generation so I don't know if it can be bridged without the bridging module. I am attaching some pics for you to review and hopefully give me a response. I looked at the ampguts website to try and match this one up with the pics on there but could not find one that looked like it. It has the same end plate as the gen 1 amps but the board, wiring, and exterior design looks like ones after the 1st gen. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Replies:

Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: April 03, 2009 at 3:25 PM

By the Orion emblem on it, that looks to be second, possibly 3rd generation. (IIRC, GEN3 was internally bridgeable, and had recessed gain pots.) The one you have is NOT bridgeable without a BDG-400 module, and you will need the 5 pin DIN cable for it, as well.

I wouldn't try to load it beyond a 1 ohm load in bridged mode, with the stock wire - it's too small, and they tend to overheat when you do. I replaced the +12V power lead on my GEN1 with a #8, and ran it bridged into a 1/2 ohm, till I sold it to my brother. He STILL uses it, and it's running strong into a 1 ohm load! AWESOME amplifier!

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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: April 03, 2009 at 4:26 PM

The first generation of those amps had 2n6488s in the power supply. It appears that this one does have the Mosfet power supply. It is definitely a second generation amp. As Haem stated the 3rd gen amps were bridgeable without the external module. If you need to bridge this amp, the link below shows how to build a bridging module that will fit inside of a 5 pin din plug.

https://www.bcae1.com/temp/dinbridgingmodule/