MA Audio HK1997 Amp Keeps Going into Protection Mode

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=55144
Printed Date: May 16, 2025 at 12:20 AM

Topic: MA Audio HK1997 Amp Keeps Going into Protection Mode

Posted By: mthomecouple
Subject: MA Audio HK1997 Amp Keeps Going into Protection Mode
Date Posted: May 04, 2005 at 8:01 PM

here it is .. i have 3 12" audiobahn aw1251se dual 4 ohms and a ma audio hk1997 1200x1@2 ohms amp.
i have the subs wired to 2.67 ohms and the amp is 1200x1@2 ohms when i turn it up it keeps cutting out(going to protect)but at low volume it is fine..
any idea of what it could be???
4 guage wire from the battery with a 80 amp fuse grounded to bare metal in the trunk. remote from the back of the radio.
does it have anything to do with the subs only wired to 2.67 and the amp is 2 ohms???
any and all help would be greatly apreciated.. thanks

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joe

Replies:

Posted By: MHARVEY
Date Posted: May 04, 2005 at 8:16 PM

sounds like the gain is set to high, try adjusting it

Posted By: mthomecouple
Date Posted: May 04, 2005 at 8:19 PM

i tried that but it still went to protect when i turned it up

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joe

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: May 04, 2005 at 10:03 PM

This problem can be caused by many things. The two most common are gain is too high and/or speaker impedence is too low. If you have your spekers wired for 8 ohms each and the three paralleled, you have 2.67 net load on the amp, which it should handle. However, it is possible that your specific amp actually cannot handle the load. For now, let's assume that is not the issue. Next, how did you set the gain (or sensitivity as it's called on this amp)? What's the head unit? Do you have the bass boost on? If so, turn it off.

If the gain is set correctly, the next common causes for this problem include many different kinds of power issues with the car. How much load can your alternator sustain? Your amplifier draws a max of 90 amps I believe (The HK 1997 is actually rated at 1000 watts into 2 ohms, by the way. HERE's the manual in case you don't have it) so if you are using a standard alrternator it may be overloading. Mobile Authority amps also will shut down if they overheat.

Another cause could be one or more of the speakers shorting out or shorting to ground. Make sure none of the tinsel leads are touching the speaker frame when they are hitting hard.

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Posted By: mthomecouple
Date Posted: May 04, 2005 at 10:26 PM

the head unit is a alpine cda-7893..
i do have the subwoofer set to +7 on the head unit..
i have a 1984 cadillac sedan deville with a 100 amp alternator that is brand new..
would it overheat that fast it cuts out as soon as i turn it on so it really dont have time to get hot.
i will have to check the tinsel leads.. this stuff is all brand new except the head unit..
how can i check to make sure the amp is not screwed up?

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joe

Posted By: mthomecouple
Date Posted: May 05, 2005 at 10:25 AM

any body else have any ideas? i am lost in figuring this one out !!!!!

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joe

Posted By: mthomecouple
Date Posted: May 05, 2005 at 11:17 AM

could it possibly be a bad ground causing this ????

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joe

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: May 05, 2005 at 11:36 AM

mthomecouple wrote:

could it possibly be a bad ground causing this ????

Not likely. Where is the gain and bass boost set and how did you set it???

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Posted By: mthomecouple
Date Posted: May 05, 2005 at 12:06 PM

bass boost is all the way down and the gain is set about half way up..
i set it by sound quality.
when the radio is on volume 18 it is fine even after playing for 30 minutes but when i turn the volume up to 19 it cuts out almost immediately

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joe

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: May 05, 2005 at 1:43 PM

Your gain is set incorrectly. HERE is a recent post with good baseline setting instructions.

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Posted By: mthomecouple
Date Posted: May 05, 2005 at 2:01 PM

i will try that..
also i removed the subs from the box and checked the tinsle leads and they are not able to touch the baskets..
i will let you know if anything changes with the gains setting

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joe