Amplifier install problems, looking for some help!

[ledvedder 10+ year member]

I've installed a US Acoustics 4050 amplifier today, and it's not working. I have a Clarion CZ702 head unit. I decided to just amp the front speakers, and leave the rear speakers running off head unit power. I have the speaker wires going from the front speakers to channels 1 and 2 on the amp. I have the power wire connected to the positive battery terminal, the ground wire connected to a bolt of the floor of the car, and the remote wire running to the blue/white remote amp wire from the head unit. Also, I ran RCA cables for the front and rear speakers from the amp to the head unit. I may run the rear speakers amped in the future, so I figured I'd run the RCA cables for them also. I kept the old speaker wire that came from the front speakers connected to the wires from the head unit. When I turn everything on, I just get sound from the rear speakers. The power and ground lights on the amp do not come on. Any thoughts?

Amp manual - http://audioclinik.com/manuals/usa.pdf

Head unit manual - http://www.clarion.com/us/en/MungoBlobs/106/777/CZ702_EN.pdf

Click to read more...

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

I've installed a US Acoustics 4050 amplifier today, and it's not working. I have a Clarion CZ702 head unit. I decided to just amp the front speakers, and leave the rear speakers running off head unit power. I have the speaker wires going from the front speakers to channels 1 and 2 on the amp. I have the power wire connected to the positive battery terminal, the ground wire connected to a bolt of the floor of the car, and the remote wire running to the blue/white remote amp wire from the head unit. Also, I ran RCA cables for the front and rear speakers from the amp to the head unit. I may run the rear speakers amped in the future, so I figured I'd run the RCA cables for them also. I kept the old speaker wire that came from the front speakers connected to the wires from the head unit. When I turn everything on, I just get sound from the rear speakers. The power and ground lights on the amp do not come on. Any thoughts?
Amp manual - http://audioclinik.com/manuals/usa.pdf

Head unit manual - http://www.clarion.com/us/en/MungoBlobs/106/777/CZ702_EN.pdf

A quick and easy test to perform on the powering up of an amp I always do..Nice amp by the way,a little monster.Take the amp to the battery,take some 12 ga speaker wire/scrap that you have, and hook the ground up,and pos long enough to reach both batt terminals,and one wire from the remote to the poss connection/jumper wire, touch the poss/to poss, and neg to neg on the batt terminals,give it approx 20 seconds to see if it lights up, if not, then you have a power issue to begin with of the amp..Its worth getting repaired..Thats an excellent amp/Zed made, and delivers alot of clean power,such as most 75-100 watt amps today..it only need a 4o amp fuse to run it.Try that out first.Only takes like 15min to do,and pretty easy as well

 

[dynamcpunk 10+ year member]

First thing to check is the fuses on the amp and fuse on the power wire. Is the metal that the ground wire is on bare or is it painted?

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

First thing to check is the fuses on the amp and fuse on the power wire. Is the metal that the ground wire is on bare or is it painted?

Meh..Take that amp to the car battery first to rule out the amps powering,then trouble shoot..Great idea to check the fuse though/or just change it anyways

 

[gckless 5,000+ posts]

Have you tested to see if you are getting voltage at the power terminals of the amp? Is the remote turn-on putting out power? Your ground may not be great either. But the problem is power, so look there and do some testing.

 

[ledvedder 10+ year member]

First thing to check is the fuses on the amp and fuse on the power wire. Is the metal that the ground wire is on bare or is it painted?

Any ideas where the fuse is on this amp? I checked the fuse on the power wire, and it's good. It's a brand new 4 gauge wiring kit from Knukonceptz.

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Any ideas where the fuse is on this amp? I checked the fuse on the power wire, and it's good. It's a brand new 4 gauge wiring kit from Knukonceptz.

No fuse on the amps, just inline fusing..Even though that inline fuse may look good, it may be bad..Id just test it out at the car batt,and go from there.If it powers up at the batt, then you know you have an issue with 3 wires-Power/ground/remote..there is nothingelse left..3 wires.

 

[ledvedder 10+ year member]

A quick and easy test to perform on the powering up of an amp I always do..Nice amp by the way,a little monster.Take the amp to the battery,take some 12 ga speaker wire/scrap that you have, and hook the ground up,and pos long enough to reach both batt terminals,and one wire from the remote to the poss connection/jumper wire, touch the poss/to poss, and neg to neg on the batt terminals,give it approx 20 seconds to see if it lights up, if not, then you have a power issue to begin with of the amp..Its worth getting repaired..Thats an excellent amp/Zed made, and delivers alot of clean power,such as most 75-100 watt amps today..it only need a 4o amp fuse to run it.Try that out first.Only takes like 15min to do,and pretty easy as well

Just tried this, and it powers on at the battery using the speaker wire test.

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Just tried this, and it powers on at the battery using the speaker wire test.

Then you have an issue with that main fuse/inline fuse at the batt to supply the amp,a bad ground wire,and check again to make sure you did not accidentally hook up the solid blue wire rather than the blue/white.Ive accidently done before more than once in a hurry

 

[>>SQL<< 10+ year member]

I am confused - are you running the wires from BOTH your amp and the headunit to the speakers?

Do you have a test light?

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

[quote=>>SQL

Do you have a test light?

I think you have something there, but he still does not have any power to the amp where mounted,All speakers should wire directly to the amp, and signal from the rcas,and speaker wiring from the HU not used with amplifier.With exception of using High level inputs rather than rcas,follow HU install instructional booklet for detailed wiring information

 

[ledvedder 10+ year member]

I got it working. Ended up being a bad ground. I have the fronts wired to the amp, and the rears wired to the head unit. I just left all the wires connected at the back of the head unit. Now, I just have to get the rear speakers running from the amp, because the fronts now completely overpower the rears.

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

I got it working. Ended up being a bad ground. I have the fronts wired to the amp, and the rears wired to the head unit. I just left all the wires connected at the back of the head unit. Now, I just have to get the rear speakers running from the amp, because the fronts now completely overpower the rears.

Hell ya!! Ill bet that little 50x4 watt amp is impressive???LOL.Sounds Great man!!,happy to hear that

 

[ledvedder 10+ year member]

Yep, it definitely brings more clarity to the components up front. Hoping I can get the rears hooked up to it soon, to bring back a little bass.

 

[ledvedder 10+ year member]

Wow, it's amazing how much difference this amp makes! If I have the radio fairly loud, and I fade to just the rear speakers, you can hardly hear them. I definitely have to get them hooked up!