posted
Eck this sucks I just installed my system "well explain it later" and Im driven down the street its getting dark so I turn my headlights off after about 10 or so minutes my amp turns of then on, off, on so I hit the power button on the cd player real fast when I get home I get out the good old voltage meter and turn the car on and take a reading at the battery "without system on" its 14.4v then I turn everything on and just turn the damn cd player up to only 2! and I get drops in voltage to 12v then I turn it up to 3! and I goes to 10v thats when the amp turns off.
What ive done so far is : -checked all grounds -checked all power connections -took a reading at all power connections "getting that big drop all over" -and got rather mad
Now ive almost ruled out a underpowered amp "its 700watts" why? because I was driving around for about 30 mins with the system turned up to around 60% and everything was fine. Any ideas on what I can check now?
posted
guess I should let you all know I have 4awg power/ground wires and 10awg speaker wire so I really doubt that could be the problem "but not ruled out"
posted
Do you also have 4awg from the chassis, to the battery ground? Proper ground return will ensure less current draw from the chassis ground. Most vehicles have a light 14AWG ground wire from the chassis to the battery ground, this is used as ground return for the vehicle's electrical system, you need to add the same gauge to ground, that you are using from positive draw. A stiffening capacitor should help your vehicle's charging circuit, you may want to check the battery fluid level (if it takes fluid). You may also have a shorted speaker wire to chassis ground. check the speaker's impedance, including to chassis ground(windows up/down, if in doors).
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Posts: 1057 | From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 'eh | Registered: May 1999
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posted
Try sweeping the meter up the power connections until you get a increase to normal voltage with the system playing. A bad fuse holder could cause this along with the other suggestions. A bad or melted connector along the power wires could be the problem too.
posted
Excelent point "Teck".. Also your battery might be headed south. I have seen this quite often. Where the alt. holds the voltage up untill a load is applied then the voltage goes out the floor!. If this is the case PLEASE invest in the largest CCA battery you can get into your car. With a 700 watt amp it will save you many head aches in the future!.
Just some advice from the peanut gallery!
Thunder. Old School Rules!
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Posts: 538 | From: Pearl, MS | Registered: May 1999
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posted
Ahh it turned out to be a bad speaker. But thanks for all the help cause I did find the wire from chassis to battery was in bad shape. So that is a 4awg wire now.
If anyone lives near Alton, Illinois "next to St. Louis" Realiabe Audio is planning on having a db drag comp here in around a month, so maybe we can all meet up
posted
Glad you found the problem. I was pretty sure that it was a ground return problem. Now all you need to do is check the battery fluid levels once a month (at least). [IMG][/IMG]
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[This message has been edited by Eli47 (edited 05-29-99).]
Posts: 1057 | From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 'eh | Registered: May 1999
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posted
Well I know this is not the topic of the original post...BUT..it is part of a follow up post. I am in St Louis. so doughboy email me again. And anyone else. I may go to that show even though I dont have a car at present to compete with..
------------------ _____________________ 1999 USAC Finals Qualifier Usac Sactioned Judge -----Judged----- 1999 Spring Break Nationals 1999 Midwest Regional 1983 Camaro-152dB old system..new system on the way. -Irc Chat Room- chat.talkcity.com ports 6667,6668,6669,7000 Room Name #auto-audio I am the room coordinator for this room. Stop by sometime and say hi...We are busy after 9:00cdt usually.
Posts: 8036 | From: Huron,Oh | Registered: May 1999
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