is my wiring the problem?

[fire919 10+ year member]

first of all this is all i had, just to be clear-(spool of 18gauge standard wire)

i just got a 4-channel amp that is fairly new(alpine mrv-f345), (rated 75rms x 4 @ 4-ohms) and couldn't wait to hook it up. Anyway as u might have guess i used my spool of 18 gauge to wire my 4 speakers @ 4-ohms, problem is i'm not paticulary impressed with sound output...expecting much louder!...and when i do turn volume up all the way my amp shuts off. I use 4 gauge power and grounds.....so now for my question, is my speaker wire's causing this issue. and what gauge wire should i use if it is.

Click to read more...

 

[Maxipads 10+ year member]

Check your grounds, and upgrading that wire to at least 12 wouldnt hurt either.. How are your gains set? Does it go into protect?

 

[FenixAudio 10+ year member]

i would not suspect 18awg wire to sut down an amp...just limit the sound quality. if the amp is shutting down you need to meter the power conections on the amp to make sure your not loosing voltage. i wouls also suspect that you have a voice coil thats grounding or a connection on the output side of the amp going to ground somewhere. if you can not find a nik in the wire or which speaker might have a voice coil issue then take all the speakers off the amp and re connect each one to see which puts the amp into protect(only after verifing thats not the 12v or remote turn on lead thats the issue.)

If you meter the input side and you are turning off becasue you are getting a voltage drop then trace the power lead from the battery or put your meter on a solid ground and test again. if it is below 12 v reground PROPERLY. go to metal not a bolt.

any questions email me john.mease@fenixaudio.com

check out my site if you have time. Catalog

 

[fasfocus00 5,000+ posts]

OP don't waste your money on 12 gauge speaker wire for 75 watts, that's just not needed. check you grounds and your gains. speaker wire will only shut your amp off if it's getting grounded.

 

[fire919 10+ year member]

i have an 150A anl inline fuse @ the battery, that is [bATT]----4gauge----->[150A]-----4gauge---->[AMP]....does that contribute to the problem.

 

[y2kbugger 10+ year member]

If you can uses a muli meter and measure the resistance, with the power off, for battery neg to amp neg

 

[fire919 10+ year member]

Ok so i 4got to mention that i'm a Noob, but if u tell me how i can certainly do it. I have a multi meter...what do i set it to, where do i connect the prongs, and what reading i'm i lookin for vs what's a bad reading

 

[Maxipads 10+ year member]

Is your ground touching bare metal or the frame with paint still on it??

 

[fire919 10+ year member]

painted metal.....will sand off i c if problem persists

 

[DammitJames 10+ year member]

surprised no one even asked if your speakers are wired correctly if your running the amp at too low of a load it can cause this problem too..

 

[FenixAudio 10+ year member]

well i figured that if he had a 4 ch and 4 spks that a retarded monkey could wire it correclty. if he did it backwards it would just be out of phase.

 

[DammitJames 10+ year member]

well i figured that if he had a 4 ch and 4 spks that a retarded monkey could wire it correclty. if he did it backwards it would just be out of phase.

but if its wired to too low of a load it could cause the amp to have a heart attack lol

 

[outsideshot23 10+ year member]

i have an 150A anl inline fuse @ the battery, that is [bATT]----4gauge----->[150A]-----4gauge---->[AMP]....does that contribute to the problem.

no.. this is how its supposed to be fused if your going to run them... its definately a wire rubbing somewhere... check your wired going into your amp and make sure you dont have any little fuzzys hanging out touching other connections.. im sure its not hte problem but everything else has been mentioned...