Amp gets REALLY hot

[*Ace* 10+ year member]

So I just bought a Soundstream Reference REF2.640 that is currently powering a pair of Image Dynamics CSX62's at 2 ohms. I set the gain with a DMM to 20 volts for one channel, so each channel is putting out 200 watts (amp is capable of putting out 320 watts at 2ohms). I use to run a Elemental Designs Nine.2x and it got warm but never really hot. I could always put my hand on it and it would never burn it. However my new soundstream gets hot as hell!! As in I can't put my hand on it for more than a few seconds.

Also, after about 30 minutes or so the amp will occasionally shut off. My guess is it's getting too hot and going into protect. Here is some background on the system. The gain was set with a DMM, so no clipping from the amplifier. The ground is solid, I used a dremel with a grinding bit to grind the frame to a nice and shiny, reflective finish and then bolted my ground cable to it. I do live in Las Vegas, and the temperatures get above 100 degrees just about everyday in the summer. However the amp is in the trunk of my honda civic, and I always have the back seats down with the A/C blowing so it's relatively cool in the car. The amp is mounted flat on a piece of MDF, no fans or anything.

What could the issue be? I understand some A/B amps get super hot, but I don't think it's suppose to go into protection. The only remedy I can think of is to mount it vertically with spacers so that the bottom isn't touching the mdf board. Then I would install some fans under it blowing directly on to it.

Any other ideas?

Click to read more...

 

[beat-down69 10+ year member]

what do you have you subs wired down to.

 

[VisceralSound 10+ year member]

what do you have you subs wired down to.

^Sub's would not play a part in this since the amp is hooked up to components.

More so; what does your voltage stand at?

 

[gckless 5,000+ posts]

Put some half inch spacers in there, get some airflow around it. A relay is easy to wire, and a blower fan (search sonic electronix for Stinger SGJ78) is easy to bolt down right next to your amp. I have that same one at the moment. Don't put it far from your amp, maybe half inch or less, to get the most amount of air actually under your amp. I put mine just a little too far, maybe .75-1", and some air doesn't get under it and just gets blown at the side of the amp. I would say start with that, if you don't find any electrical/wiring problems. IMO, it's a good idea to do it anyway.

 

[beat-down69 10+ year member]

^Sub's would not play a part in this since the amp is hooked up to components.
More so; what does your voltage stand at?

my bad. I honestly skiped right over that. LOL

 

[*Ace* 10+ year member]

^Sub's would not play a part in this since the amp is hooked up to components.
More so; what does your voltage stand at?

14-14.3 when playing music, also one of the first things I checked.

Put some half inch spacers in there, get some airflow around it. A relay is easy to wire, and a blower fan (search sonic electronix for Stinger SGJ78) is easy to bolt down right next to your amp. I have that same one at the moment. Don't put it far from your amp, maybe half inch or less, to get the most amount of air actually under your amp. I put mine just a little too far, maybe .75-1", and some air doesn't get under it and just gets blown at the side of the amp. I would say start with that, if you don't find any electrical/wiring problems. IMO, it's a good idea to do it anyway.

Sounds like a good idea and the fan isn't too expensive at all. I'll probably give this a try, thanks.