Help please... math problem/question

[Intercooler 10+ year member]

I have been trying to dig into why my amp shuts of every once in a while with the volume up but cuts back in when I back down. I think it is the amp! I think it was sized to small from jump! I have a DVC 4 Ohm SE-12" that I am feeding with a Kicker 600.1 that does 600@ 2 Ohms. Exactly how much power is this? I am thinking I need a 1200 or larger to eliminate this problem (head-room). I looked around for a calculator on this or formula and can't find one.

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[Lakota 5,000+ posts]

Maybe you're pushing the amp too hard and it's going into protect?

 

[Intercooler 10+ year member]

Maybe you're pushing the amp too hard and it's going into protect?

How would I cure it or figure that out?

 

[Boulderguy 10+ year member]

2 ohms, you're getting 600w. What gauge power/ground? Sounds like the amp isn't getting enough juice. A larger amp won't solve the problem.

First thought, check your amp ground & make sure it's good.

 

[Intercooler 10+ year member]

It's good. My car only has a 70 Amp alternator so I know I am asking more than it can probably do. My voltage with it up is low 11's to a high 10.9 when really cranking.

 

[Team Hammer 10+ year member]

If the Amp is confined it will over heat. Try putting it on riser's, and get a computer fan 12v to cool it.

 

[M@nJo 10+ year member]

i have the same generation civic as you with the big-3, optima yellow top and 2ga ran; my electrical never drops down to the 10's even if i max out my equipment (1600wrms amp + 408wrms 4/ch amp) with the OE 70A alt.

check all connections. make sure the ground is bolted to bare metal (get sandpaper if u have to). then check through the amp setting tutortial on this forum.

 

[Intercooler 10+ year member]

i have the same generation civic as you with the big-3, optima yellow top and 2ga ran; my electrical never drops down to the 10's even if i max out my equipment (1600wrms amp + 408wrms 4/ch amp) with the OE 70A alt.

check all connections. make sure the ground is bolted to bare metal (get sandpaper if u have to). then check through the amp setting tutortial on this forum.

What size wire are you using for your big 3? Is your yellow top up front in the stock location? I currently do not have the big 3 on, stock battery setup and I think 4 ga. feeding my system.

Even when cranking it doesn't get warm to the touch. It is on a platform and gets air all around.

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

Sounds like it's your voltage. My amps don't like anything below 12v, so I could imagine yours dont like being in the 10's... do some electrical work like the big 3, and a new battery, maybe. Also, check your gains.

 

[Boulderguy 10+ year member]

It's good. My car only has a 70 Amp alternator so I know I am asking more than it can probably do. My voltage with it up is low 11's to a high 10.9 when really cranking.

You've answered your own question here - low voltage will put your amps into protect, probably b/c of the small alt. You may be able to get by with a better/addt'l battery, or it could be about power wiring.

 

[hoss 5,000+ posts]

i agree with the above, low voltage.

be careful with this, low voltage will lead to that amplifiers demise. it sounds like its got a protection that is cutting it off before it gets into the danger zone. but definitly fix that problem...

 

[Intercooler 10+ year member]

Plan on doing the big 3 here real soon before cranking on it hard. How about the 4 gauge? Think that is making a big problem here? I don't know much about batteries but would putting a yellow top up front in place of the stocker do much?

 

[Team Hammer 10+ year member]

Check The voltage output when running at the battery. Then check it when its off. Be sure to check the voltage at the amp at the sametime.

 

[Intercooler 10+ year member]

I appreciate all the help here!

I will borrow the good DVM from work tomorrow and record my readings so we can see where things are messed up. I can play it 95% of the time up pretty good with no problems but I some songs when I get aggressive it cuts out. I see it more often when I am running the defroster also. Sounds like power, just need to figure out what will have to be changed to make it right.

 

[Thnking 10+ year member]

I appreciate all the help here!

I will borrow the good DVM from work tomorrow and record my readings so we can see where things are messed up. I can play it 95% of the time up pretty good with no problems but I some songs when I get aggressive it cuts out. I see it more often when I am running the defroster also. Sounds like power, just need to figure out what will have to be changed to make it right.

Whats the input voltage range of the amplifier?

I looks like a classic improper setting of your gains. Your amplifier isn't going to shut off with voltage around 11.