Music Cutting Out

brichter14 · Addict Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 705

Hi, so after a while of riding my amp starts to shut off and back on totally at random. Sometimes it will be off for 1 second and sometimes it will be 5 minutes.

I am using a 600 watt (max) sony xplod and using only one battery. I thought it was the fuse jiggling so i got a new fuse and that didnt fix the problem. Would having only one battery cause the amp to shut off? Maybe its overheating but i dont think it is because its in almost open air, just under glove box, at the passengers feet.

Any ideas?

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

Whats your voltage at? I had a problem where the voltage regulator on the alternator was out so the voltage was too high and the amp would cut out when we were riding.

brichter14 · Addict Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 705

ill have to check

how do i do that?

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

Your dash should have a voltage gauge. If it doesn't (or if you want a more accurate reading) you need to use a multimeter across the battery terminals.

The value shouldn't be higher than 14 volts. If it is you need to get that checked out because high voltage can do damage to other electrical components also.

BrentC5Z · Posted: Jun 12, 2008 7:30 am Post subject:

Put a volt meter on the hot wire to the amp. Measure the voltage at multiple RPMs. If the boats voltage regulator is faulty, it may allow the range of alternator output to exceed the amp's protection circuit range. 14.4 volts is usually the highest amperage the regulator allows.

brichter14 · Addict Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 705

ok ill check that out. thanks

jonyb · Addict Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 844 City: Paducah

What speakers are hooked up to the amp and what's the impedance? If the amp is loaded down with a low impedance, that'll also cause the amp to shut off intermittently. Also, getting hot can do that too.

Jensen · Posted: Jun 13, 2008 12:00 am Post subject:

brichter14 · Addict Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 705

4 insignia's , i got them on clearance at best buy for 30 bucks a pair... and whats impedance? lol

jonyb · Addict Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 844 City: Paducah

Impedance is the ohm's.

Is it a 4-channel amp, 2-channel amp?

brichter14 · Addict Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 705

four channel

jonyb · Addict Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 844 City: Paducah

It could also be that one of the speakers is blown. That throws a dead short to the amp making it go into protect mode.

brichter14 · Addict Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 705

all the speakers work

jonyb · Addict Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 844 City: Paducah

so does this problem happen when you first turn it on or after it's played for a while? Boat running or not running? Unhook one pair of speakers to see if it still does it. If it does, plug those back in, unplug the others and try again. That'll tell you if it's a speaker problem or amp problem. Have you checked the wires for shorts anywhere?

brichter14 · Addict Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 705

it happends after about an hour of driving. The amp isnt on unless the boat is running(only one battery).

jonyb · Addict Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 844 City: Paducah

Just try unhooking one pair at a time like I mentioned to see if that does anything.

brichter14 · Addict Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 705

you think powering all four speakers is too much on the amp? what does unhooking 2 do?