Amp getting rather hot

[cookie96]

I have a Memphis 16- SR1250 amp. 250 watts at 2 ohms. 150 watts at 4 ohms. I have two SR 10s. single voice coil. 200 Watts RMS at 4 ohms. The subs are in separate boxes. They are hooked up to the separate terminals on the amp. I am using 8 gauge power/ ground wires and 10 gauge speaker wire. Gain is 3/4 way up. My amp will get hot to touch after about 20 minutes of decent use. Amp is mounted face up on one of the sub boxes. I don't know anything about subs, so I was wondering if the impedance was wrong and causing my amp to get hot. Head unit: Kenwood KDC-148 Any suggestions?

Click to read more...

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Subwoofer Wiring Diagrams, Two 4 ohm Single Voice Coil (SVC) Speakers

Here is a wiring diagram of a pair of SVC 4 ohm subs.Should be wired as such for 2 ohm load and ect.

You may need to turn the gain down a bit.I always recommend raising the amps off the mounting surface just a little bit with like 4-6 washers on each mounting tab to get some air helps alot,sometimes adding a fan, as I do on just about all my installs in my own vehicles.Every little bit helps.I havent checked on the specs for that amp as if you are supposed to be running 4 ga or 8ga. that may also be an issue

 

[cookie96]

I'm using the correct gauge of wire. I'm just wondering if I'm over powering my amp by having each sub in separate terminals. The subs are completely separate and are not wired together

 

[cookie96]

16SRX1250 - Memphis Car Audio

this is the amp, however I have a bit older of a model

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

I'm using the correct gauge of wire. I'm just wondering if I'm over powering my amp by having each sub in separate terminals. The subs are completely separate and are not wired together

Its a Mono amp and it should bridge internally.You may have to turn your gain down to about the 1 Oclock position set your HTZ around 60-120 for those subs(my opinion),and no bass boost/set to zero,no loud button on with the radio,or bass level up past 5,and dont use your bass boot knobb all the way up, just use it on occasions. All amps are going to get warm or hott running them..Thats to be expected,especially on an A/b amp that will generally run hotter in most cases other than a class D depending on how the gains are set.You can try one terminal for both subs@ the wiring diagram i sent.It shouldnt make a difference,.If the amp has gotten too hott and shut down on you , then you need to lower the gain and the settings on your hu,and the bass knobb(Use at a minimum).If you are worried that it gets too hot, raise that amp up and get a fan..Though Id still lower that gain just a bit

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

16SRX1250 - Memphis Car Audio
this is the amp, however I have a bit older of a model

I still dont see the specs for wiring ga , but for that small of an amp, im sure that 8ga is quite suitable

 

[cookie96]

Okay. I'll fiddle with the gain tomorrow. questions: when you say "bridge internally" What do you mean? Also, at my current config, how many ohms is that? Also, if I were to wire the the subs to one terminal instead of both, would that change the impedance? thanks. The amp has never gone into protect mode. I don't know much about car audio, so getting that warm may be normal.

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Well its a Mono/Bass amp only..Several mono/bass amps only have one set of speaker terminals,but now have been coming out with two sets to make it easier to connect/giving space for multiple wiring/ to connect subs to the amp and both external post connect internally to one post/bridge internally.On your SVC 4 ohm subs...Poss=+ to each other and Neg= - to each other should give you a final 2ohm load, You can use just one post on the amp this way, or 1 Poss=+,and 1 Neg=- to each post on that amp with ea ch SVC 4 ohm sub, and you should still have a 2 ohm load sir.Good that it has never shut down on you,or go into protect. Thats a great sign.Meaning that that amp is serving you without overloading

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Do you have or have access to a DMM(digital multi -meter)? You can check your subs to see if you may have a bad sub?See if they are both setting at 4 ohms each

 

[cookie96]

Yes, I do have a multi meter. The way my subs are hooked up: Each box has a terminal on the back. Red and black for pos/neg. I have the pos and neg from one sub going into the pos and neg on one terminal of the amp. Same thing for the other sub, it's hooked up to the other terminal.

 

[cookie96]

I think I am understanding what you're saying. Even though they are plugged into separate terminals, it's like they are wired parallel. Which means it's wired at 2 ohms, which means I'm getting the most out of my amp. Correct?

 

[avs20 10+ year member]

Wire it like the first picture here Subwoofer Wiring Diagrams, Two 4 ohm Single Voice Coil (SVC) Speakers

This will give you a 2 ohm load.

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

I think I am understanding what you're saying. Even though they are plugged into separate terminals, it's like they are wired parallel. Which means it's wired at 2 ohms, which means I'm getting the most out of my amp. Correct?

Yes sir that is correct, as long as each sub is reading @4 ohms each. You may be just running that amp for all she is worth/expecting more than what she shells out/.You can get an Alpine MRV,or MRP 500.1 mono amp all day long for $100 bucks or so used up to $130, that sometimes less on sale that will serve quite well also, give you some head room,.But if the Memphis is serving well for you..Run it

 

[cookie96]

Yes sir that is correct, as long as each sub is reading @4 ohms each. You may be just running that amp for all she is worth/expecting more than what she shells out/.You can get an Alpine MRV,or MRP 500.1 mono amp all day long for $100 bucks or so used up to $130, that sometimes less on sale that will serve quite well also, give you some head room,.But if the Memphis is serving well for you..Run it

I only have $150 bucks invested in that system. I installed it myself. Put some crappy Cerwin Vega coaxils in my door panel a few months prior. I'll try putting some washers under my amp so it will stay off of the carpet on my sub boxes. Hopefully the amp will do its job and go into protect if it gets too hot. May also run hot cause it's already 90 degrees down here in Bama

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

I only have $150 bucks invested in that system. I installed it myself. Put some crappy Cerwin Vega coaxils in my door panel a few months prior. I'll try putting some washers under my amp so it will stay off of the carpet on my sub boxes. Hopefully the amp will do its job and go into protect if it gets too hot. May also run hot cause it's already 90 degrees down here in Bama

Pretty Cheap /invested setup,It works! ya some washers under there will get some air under there and help out alot. Ive been doing that since the late 80s and have had great experiences from doing something as little as that keep things operating a bit cooler and lasting longer