aargh! have i killed my amp? Options

[hardcoreproducer]

ok so i installed a 1 farad power cap when i joined the ground up there was a small spark, now when i turn my head unit on, the amp power light comes on then goes off quickly and theres no sound into my sub

i bypass the power cap in case its that and it does the same

is my amp fried or is it just protecting itself? none of the overload or phase warning leds come on just the green power light albeit for half a second

it was working fine previously

all the speakers that come from the head unit work fine, just the amp/sub not working now

This post has been edited by hardcoreproducer: Jul 24, 2008 - 3:50 PM

[CaliJeff]

the small spark is normal, its the same as if you connected one of the terminals on when the other terminal was already connected. Do you have a fuse which goes from the capacitor to the amp, and from the battery to the amp? Most of the time, you WILL be able to smell when the Amp burns out.

[DEATH]

This why you are supposed to make all connections with the battery negative disabled [tho I never do either] and there is nothing against using more than one fuse in a system. As a matter of fact my newer Fosgate power splitters I just picked up for the multiple amps have indivdual fuses located just before the amp as well as the main one under the hood.
I've heard that inside is just a fusable link that can be replaced by soldering that should have protected the actual amp but IDK if that's true or not. At this point the amp is toast so I see no reason not to take it apart and find out.

[hardcoreproducer]

no i havent got a fuse between the cap and the amp. there was no smell. i charged the cap with the supplied resistor as well.

the amp is still getting something though due to the green led's brief illumination (which happens when it gets the power ariel signal incidentally)


This post has been edited by hardcoreproducer: Jul 24, 2008 - 3:58 PM

[GriffGirl]

Try a different ground, perhaps you have a bad ground and the amp is shutting off before overload. If it were completely fried I don't think the light would come on at all. Where are you grounding it now?

[hardcoreproducer]

Try a different ground, perhaps you have a bad ground and the amp is shutting off before overload. If it were completely fried I don't think the light would come on at all. Where are you grounding it now?

to the bodywork under the boot carpet (yes it has had the paint scraped off )

i know the ground is good as it was working fine before i put the stupid stiffening cap in. is there any way i can reset the amp, its a sony xplod 1000watt

[D-Man]

sony x-plode? that's your first problem

#2, (and i mean no offense) but did you wire the cap correctly? Did you remove the cap and try running the amp stright again?

This why you are supposed to make all connections with the battery negative disabled [tho I never do either] and there is nothing against using more than one fuse in a system. As a matter of fact my newer Fosgate power splitters I just picked up for the multiple amps have indivdual fuses located just before the amp as well as the main one under the hood.
I've heard that inside is just a fusable link that can be replaced by soldering that should have protected the actual amp but IDK if that's true or not. At this point the amp is toast so I see no reason not to take it apart and find out.

x-infinity about multiple fuses. There is no rule in the book that says you cant have 500 if you want. Fuses are FTMFW dude, for real!
DEATH: Just because an amp dont work, dosen't mean it's trash. Common man, i was willing to fix you old POS last night if you hadn't run out of beer

[hardcoreproducer]

I will try removing all connections and re-wiring and see if that helps, thanks for the advice people, will report back tomorrow

[hardcoreproducer]

yay, all fixed

disconnected everything, took the fuse out the amp

re-grounded the capacitor and re-charged it using the supplied resistor

then reconnected the amp, ground then live then remote then the speaker/rca's

then replaced the fuse and all was good

it seems you can't connect the cap to the same ground as the amp, they need seperate grounds or the amp trips out due to the load

thanks for all your help people, it was much appreciated

now time to fit the infinity reference components......

[CaliJeff]

good to hear. Did you relocate your battery to ur trunk yet?

[hardcoreproducer]

good to hear. Did you relocate your battery to ur trunk yet?

no i haven't, what advantages does this give? oh yeh i just got another amp a 600watt jbl (the orange+clear ones) would i need to upgrade the alternator/battery to run my 4x 6.5" speakers off it?.

[GotToyota]

yay, all fixed

disconnected everything, took the fuse out the amp

re-grounded the capacitor and re-charged it using the supplied resistor

then reconnected the amp, ground then live then remote then the speaker/rca's

then replaced the fuse and all was good

it seems you can't connect the cap to the same ground as the amp, they need seperate grounds or the amp trips out due to the load

thanks for all your help people, it was much appreciated

now time to fit the infinity reference components......

That's weird, I used the same ground location for my amp and cap, and it worked just fine.

-Matt

[CaliJeff]

Well the capacitor helps with the extra voltage, but a higher amp alternator wouldn't hurt. Is it necessary? No, but like i said, it helps! For the advantages of relocating the battery, it makes your engine bay look better

[SoDo]

[quote name='D-Man' date='Jul 24, 2008 - 5:25 PM' post='696071']
sony x-plode? that's your first problem

^ the truth. Sony car audio = bad. Check your fuses. check to make sure that the remote wire isnt loose. Get a multimeter and test your every wire and connection. You would smell burning metal if your amp fried. You should be able to find your problem or just get a quality amp. Good luck.

This post has been edited by SoDo: Jul 28, 2008 - 12:08 AM

[hardcoreproducer]

yay, all fixed

disconnected everything, took the fuse out the amp

re-grounded the capacitor and re-charged it using the supplied resistor

then reconnected the amp, ground then live then remote then the speaker/rca's

then replaced the fuse and all was good

it seems you can't connect the cap to the same ground as the amp, they need seperate grounds or the amp trips out due to the load

thanks for all your help people, it was much appreciated

now time to fit the infinity reference components......

That's weird, I used the same ground location for my amp and cap, and it worked just fine.

-Matt

by same connection i meant i joined it the same way as the positive rather than running seperate wires off the cap = amp

i always thought sony were a good brand, better than the low budget stuff anyway.

[DEATH]

always thought sony were a good brand, better than the low budget stuff anyway.

It is - best bang for the buck. Just don't get them from Walmart - somehow the quality isn't the same I've noticed.

[D-Man]

Ya know how Wal*Mart edit's their CD's? Well Wal*Mart stereo equip works on the same concept, just a different medium.