High Output Alternator Question, I Keep Blowing Amps!!

[Jasdip]

Hey guys,

I keep blowing out all the amplifiers that get installed in my car, luckly I bought 5 year warranty with my system...but its still a pain when an amp has to get sent for repairs or watever...They keep telling me to put in a high output alternator...does anyone know where I can get a good high output alternator at a good price?? Also, do you guys think this will solve the problem?

This is what I currently have...

2005 Civic Coupe (stock alternator and battery)

2 12" kaption SPL-1200 subs (600rms/1200peak each)
1 Pheonix Gold Tantrum 1200.1 amp
1 Phoenix Gold 1 farad capacitor
1 Pioneer Premiere DEH-P8MP head unit

Thanks!!

 

[$lick Rick]

how is the amp wired?

they might have it bridged too low or you might not be getting enough air flow and the amps overheating
but i highly doubt the alternator is causing your amp to blow if it's been wired correctly.

 

[Jasdip]

They've tried three different ways of wiring it...each time it with a 2 ohm load (which should be stable on all the amps that I have used)

1. With an 80 amp fuse between the battery and the amp
2. A circuit breaker between the battery and the amp (can't remmeber how many amps)
3. Two 80 amp fuses between the battery and the amp (two wires comming from the battery into the fuse units, then the wires from the two fuse units are saudered into one and run to the amp). This is the current set up.

The amps that I've gone through are the following, they were either repaired and tryed again or replaced:

Kaption 700.1
Kaption 250.2
Phoenix Gold Xenon 1200.1
Phoenix Gold Tantrum 1200.1 - This one with the last set up lasted the longest (about 5 months)

My Tantrum amp is now sent in for repairs

By the way, the amps is mounted on the back of the sub box and I always keep my back seats down so the amp is exposed to maximum airflow at all times..

 

[cujo613]

What gauge wiring are they running.

A high output alternator is only going to ensure that there is enough juice to power the amps, not keeping them from blowing.

Going through that many amps, either you are a throttle monkey that needs to go on some medication and quit pushing the system as hard as it will go all the time.

Or the shop you have chosen has messed something up.

By the way you say they keep wiring it with the fuses I choose the las. It sounds like the shop you have chosen is a bunch of hacks

 

[Jasdip]

It's 4 gauge wire running from the battery to the amp (and capacitor), then 10 gauge from the amp to the subs..

I do pound on the system pretty hard sometimes, but it doesn't usually blow out after a long period of pounding...a few of the times it was while i was stopped at a red light or comming to a stop at a light (lower rpm and not enough power?)

What's the "las" that your talkin about choosing over fuses?

 

[cujo613]

Adding fuses in line will not prevent the amp from blowing. Adding a HO Alternator will help with the power issue, but for the most part a HO Alternator will still put out the same amount of amperage at idle as a normal alternator.

We have a 150 amp alternator on our Honda and it puts its power out around 2500 rpm, so the low rpm thing won't be the answer.

I am not familiar with Kaption, but I have never been a fan of the Phoenix Gold Tantrum line. Not to get you mad or anything, this is just my opinion, the Tantrum line is a cheap import amplifier badged with PG's name on it. PG is far from the company that it used to be, but you shouldn,t be blowing up those amps, they are cheap imo. But they still should hold up.

With that said I still think going through as many amps as you have still leads to something wrong in the install, or the way you are using it.

going over the specs of your subs and the amps, and the impedance the shop says they wired it at, you can only be using the dual 2 ohm sub. That is the only one that can acheive a 2 ohm mono load.

If the shop sold you dual 4 ohms, the system would be wired to a one ohm load, possibly explaining why you have gone through so many amps.

My suggestion, take it to another shop and have the load test the sub wiring to see what the impedance actually is and what configuration they have them wired at. If they are the dual 4 ohm woofers, make the shop exchange them for dual 2 ohm and find another shop to work on your car.

 

[Jasdip]

I remember them showing me the impedence on the subs and it was 2 ohm...so i doubt thats the problem...i'm going to take it to some other shop and have them look at it....but right now I got no amplifier since it's sent in for repair again

They told me that if it can't be fixed, I will get the "value" of it back...do you think the tantrum 1200.1 will have the same "value" as the Xenon 1200.1 which was the newer series? Because when I went from the tantrum to the xenon, i wasn't given anythin back for the decreased "value" of going to an older discontinued amp..

 

[civhatch92]

seems like a difficult problem. a high power alternator shouldnt affect blowing your amp. I got a 160watt alternator off ebay for my system and it works great. I also installed a fuse close to the batterys and then one between my capacitor and amp. you must have it wired wrong?

 

[Jasdip]

seems like a difficult problem. a high power alternator shouldnt affect blowing your amp. I got a 160watt alternator off ebay for my system and it works great. I also installed a fuse close to the batterys and then one between my capacitor and amp. you must have it wired wrong?

Well, it was "professionally" installed by Audio Video Unlimited...and it has worked for a period over a couple months straight before....if there was a wiring issue, would it work for that long before messing up?

 

[desiscrubs]

it can....i reallly think it has to be your wiring. look up diagrams to install, and check the work of the "professionals"...many times you can pick up what they did/are doing wrong. just my 2cents...heck, i would just get a diagram, make sure you have the appropriate products (amp w/enough watts, etc...) and just do it yourself (with a friend who knows a little!!)...post if you need some help...peaceout

 

[Jasdip]

it can....i reallly think it has to be your wiring. look up diagrams to install, and check the work of the "professionals"...many times you can pick up what they did/are doing wrong. just my 2cents...heck, i would just get a diagram, make sure you have the appropriate products (amp w/enough watts, etc...) and just do it yourself (with a friend who knows a little!!)...post if you need some help...peaceout

ive checked wiring diagrams and im pretty sure its wired correctly....but do you think it would make a difference if i ran 1 gauge wire from the battery to the amp rather than the 4 guage?

 

[cujo613]

nope, wouldn't make a difference.

Are all the grounds in the vehicle changes over to 4 gauge like the battery ground

and get someone to check the impedance of the box

 

[Jasdip]

Do you guys think wiring my system at 4ohms instead of 2ohms would solve my problem?? I know it will reduce the output, but will it stop the amps from blowing out? I'd rather have a bit less output then lose my amp for 6-8 weeks each time it blows!!

 

[$lick Rick]

Do you guys think wiring my system at 4ohms instead of 2ohms would solve my problem?? I know it will reduce the output, but will it stop the amps from blowing out? I'd rather have a bit less output then lose my amp for 6-8 weeks each time it blows!!

yes, that will probably save your amps

 

[TiiM iiS l3eAsT]

Do you guys think wiring my system at 4ohms instead of 2ohms would solve my problem?? I know it will reduce the output, but will it stop the amps from blowing out? I'd rather have a bit less output then lose my amp for 6-8 weeks each time it blows!!

is your amp rated for 2 ohms? i know some amps can only handle 4 ohms......im pretty sure putting it to a 4ohm load will help and maybe solve your prob.....it wont be as loud but i guess if it fixes your prob then thats a plus

 

[Jasdip]

is your amp rated for 2 ohms? i know some amps can only handle 4 ohms......im pretty sure putting it to a 4ohm load will help and maybe solve your prob.....it wont be as loud but i guess if it fixes your prob then thats a plus

It's a pheonix gold tantrum 1200.1....it is 2 ohm stable..

 

[uwishucould158]

cheap amps.

 

[Jasdip]

I was told it was a $1500 amp

 

[Genuine Rolla]

try another amp if you are able to and see if the problem is still persisting. thats the only thing left if the wiring is correct.

 

[1999stockaccord]

I'm begining to wonder if they sold you the wrong subs, like snoopy said if they are a daul 4 ohm, then teh ohm load would kill amps rather quickly..

other than that, have you checked where the power comes through the firewall? it could have rubbed over time and grounded out. Where is it grounded?

This "professional installation" sounds more and more like a hacked up job, might want to try having another shop trouble shoot it