[bLaCk IcE]

OK this is the deal I have a 300 touring. I am running a pionner 4channel amp for my mids and highs, and a 2 channel punch500 to two 12's punch p2s(8ohm speakers-bridged down to 4ohm). The problem is my punch amp just cuts off. I think its just lack of power going to the amp. Also, after that cuts off, i can hear my mids and highs seem to lower in volume slowly. I would have to raise the volume higher that usual. Dash lights do dim alot. I have 4 gauge cable split to two 8 gauge cables using a distribution block to the amps. What do you experts think I should do? Would getting a farad capacitor do the job with what I have? Or would I have to get an optima battery as my 2nd battery. Or even more costly, will i have to upgrade my alternator and get either or a farad cap or battery. I thought this car would handle this extra stuff better than I experienced, cuz I had bigger systems in my old lil honda civic that handle this needed power better. I searched the audio forum here to decide, but didnt find an answer for my case. If any1 has suggestions, please feel free to help me out.

 

[mexi]

you need to have 4awg going to the main amp and a 8awg for the mid..id upgrade to a optima group 31 battery and that should help alot...reground the battery with bigger wire and see what happens...good luck

doesnt sound like the amps that you have. should pull enough amps to shut it down...so i would see if i dont have an amp problem also...

 

[slawkins31]

Several suggestions:

1. Get a 1 farad capicitor.
2. Use 4 guage wire for all wiring
3. Look at the amp when it is playing, my amps have a CLIP light that comes on. Sometimes your head unit cannot handle the power of the amps and either the head unit will "clip" (cut-off) or the amp can do it. What I did on mine to relieve the problem was to turn off all loud functions or "SLA" functions on the head unit and let the volume control the loudness. I also turned down the gain on my mids and highs amp and again let the volume control it. This solved my problem of the amp cutting off while songs were hitting.

Recommendation: Try step 3 first, then go to your others. Also, in the long run, you will be glad if you have a capacitor, your batter and alternator will thank you at around 40 or 50k miles.

 

[4herb2tas0tik]

2 channel punch500 to two 12's punch p2s(8ohm speakers-bridged down to 4ohm). The problem is my punch amp just cuts off. .

just a thought...if you have 2- 8ohm speakers bridged to 4ohm's and then you hook the amp up as a mono amp it dosent see 4ohms it see's 2ohm's<i think.. it might see 3ohm's<, because its in mono setting...so if iam right, the punch amp might not be stable at a 2/3ohm load..that would cause it to shut off to protect it self...just a thought...herbs

 

[mexi]

2 8ohm speakers will make 4 ohms in parrallel....

 

[4herb2tas0tik]

2 8ohm speakers will make 4 ohms in parrallel....

and then when you put the amp into mono setting it see's what??
2ohms?...i do know this when you hook amp up as mono it chnges the ohms again...but i dont know what the answer is..wessexeliance would know the answer to this

 

[slawkins31]

and then when you put the amp into mono setting it see's what??
2ohms?...i do know this when you hook amp up as mono it chnges the ohms again...but i dont know what the answer is..wessexeliance would know the answer to this

its a 2 channel amp, those amps are not 1 ohm stable, unless he is trying to run it at mono, which can cause the amp to over heat and cut off in 5 minutes or so

 

[4herb2tas0tik]

its a 2 channel amp, those amps are not 1 ohm stable, unless he is trying to run it at mono, which can cause the amp to over heat and cut off in 5 minutes or so

BINGO!!...thats what i was thinking he did...>?

 

[mexi]

2 single voice coil 8ohm subs will not read any lower than 4ohm wired in parralle.......but what do i know.......
if it wasnt briged it would be 8ohms stereo ....brige it and you have 4ohms mono...not 2 not 1

 

[4herb2tas0tik]

2 single voice coil 8ohm subs will not read any lower than 4ohm wired in parralle.......but what do i know.......
if it wasnt briged it would be 8ohms stereo ....brige it and you have 4ohms mono...not 2 not 1

hey mexi,i understand the 2 -8ohms =4ohms....but if you have a 2 channel amp and you wire it in mono...iam 100% sure the amp no longer sees the 4ohm load..it will see a different ohm load because youve gone into mono..thus making more power thus blowing the fuse protector...
kinda like this lets say, 200watt in stereo and 400 watts in mono at 4ohms..
well if drop your ohms in mono, your 400watts will be 800watts at 2 ohms which is UNSTABLE for that amp..it weill cut off and re set it self..but like i said i know when you have 4 ohm load and you switch to one channel mono the amp is not going to see a 4ohm load..i wish someone with some exp chimes in...HEY WESS i need some help..

 

[IGOTTASRT8]

ohm ohm ohm so peaceful ohm ohm ohm :439:

 

[slawkins31]

exactly. You can have a 4 ohm load from the two subs but if you wire those in a series and only put one negative in and one positive in the other channel, it will bring a 1 ohm load to the amp, causing it to overheat QUICKLY or blow a fuse

 

[4herb2tas0tik]

ohm ohm ohm so peaceful ohm ohm ohm :439:

lmaoooo...hey slaw thanx for the assurance..i knew i was somewhat right..
ohmmmm...ohmmmm...ohmmm :hypnotize

 

[mexi]

well we will just go back and forth on this..you will figure it out i have been in car audio for 12 years...trust the amp is seeing 4 ohm...

 

[el_duderino]

Tw 8 ohm VCs are indeed a 4 ohm load.

A bridged amp "sees", per channel, 1/2 the load you show the bridged pair.

1/2 of 4 is 2.

The amp is "seeing" 2 ohms per channel.

The amp is 2 ohm stable per channel. However, at 2 ohms per channel it will draw more current and will require more current capability through its power and ground wires. If these wires are not large enough, the voltage will drop (Ohm's law) and then at some point the amp will shut off.

So if it's shutting off, it's probably a voltage drop thing. Put a voltmeter across the power and ground terminals and watch the voltage when the map shuts off.

There are other possibilities... but none should be examined until this one is verified.

 

[mexi]

2ohms per channel is right....two ohm stereo in other word that is correct...which is the same as 4 ohms mono...and is what 2 8ohm svc subs will give you....

 

[bLaCk IcE]

Several suggestions:

1. Get a 1 farad capicitor.
2. Use 4 guage wire for all wiring
3. Look at the amp when it is playing, my amps have a CLIP light that comes on. Sometimes your head unit cannot handle the power of the amps and either the head unit will "clip" (cut-off) or the amp can do it. What I did on mine to relieve the problem was to turn off all loud functions or "SLA" functions on the head unit and let the volume control the loudness. I also turned down the gain on my mids and highs amp and again let the volume control it. This solved my problem of the amp cutting off while songs were hitting.

Recommendation: Try step 3 first, then go to your others. Also, in the long run, you will be glad if you have a capacitor, your batter and alternator will thank you at around 40 or 50k miles.

Thank you everyone for your inputs, I greatly appreciate it.

Slawkins31, i will try that step 3 trick, and hopefully it will help. I have a Pioneer head unit DEH-p6700mp and it has those functions you were talking about.

Mexi i will also do the cabling you suggested. One question though, when you said to upgrade to an optima battery did you mean to change my old battery to that one? or did you mean to add the optima battery as a second battery?
And elduderino I will do the test and get back 2 you guys.

Oh yea, my speakers are wired in parallel.

Thanks again everyone! Hopefully my issues will get solved

 

[mexi]

change the stock one to the group 31. it has more ca and reserve time on it. it should do alot better for you....blue top on if you can find it....yellow top will work too tho.