Mono Amp Graveyard

[1crzymf]

I have a 2004 Suburban. The setup consists of 1/0 gauge wire from the battery to the rear, a Pioneer App Radio, Audiocontrol EQS, Hifonics ZXi150.4 4-Channel Amp, Lanzar Opti6.1 6.5" Components, and a pair of Lanzar Opti1232D Subwoofers. The problem is that I'm going through mono amps like water through a drain. Three to be exact--two Hifonics Collosus and a Lanzar Opti2000D. I've checked the power and ground wiring and the wiring of the subs, and have found no fault. The first Collosus lasted a few weeks before I smelled smoke. The second Collosus lasted an hour. I changed bought a new battery and ditched my aged Batcap 400. I replaced them with a Deka battery under the hood and a Kinetic HC600 out back. After this, I installed the Opti2000D. It lasted maybe a week. I noticed toward the end of its life that my normal 14 volts that I had at the rear dropped to 13.3 - 13.6. Also, the amp would go into protection mode if a bass heavy note would drop. In all three cases, the amps gave up the ghost when driven hard. I'm conservative with the gains, never going past halfway on the knob. Also, with the final amp, I noticed that the cones of my subs were hot. The 4-channel amp has never given me any problems, and the only common denominator with the mono amps are my subs. Could the subs be sending my mono amps to an early grave? What are your thoughts?

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[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

nope small alt is prolly the culprit

 

[bgowdy 5,000+ posts]

hm... not sure. ive never heard of a sub blowing a amp

 

[DB-Audio 10+ year member]

the only way i could think of why your subs would be doing it is if the coil is to low for the amp to handle other than that idk its probably your lack of electrical for the amp

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

Well most blown amps are from excessive heat build up usually due to low voltage. I would say it's dropping too much, especially on the lows.

 

[bgowdy 5,000+ posts]

**** so 13.3-13.6 is to low for the opti2000's

 

[Timmothy Web 10+ year member]

voice coils do go bad without blowing. and can blow some amps that cant take it... ill take those amps too....

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

**** so 13.3-13.6 is to low for the opti2000's

It shouldn't be, but I have a feeling something is going unnoticed.

 

[quackhead 10+ year member]

pull the subs and check the wiring connections inside and/or on the subs. I was just wondering if there might be a stray strand or something causing a dead short...just a guess. I had a '02 Burban with a much smaller system (4ga run) >2000 watts. I did the big 3 after the alt cable burnt in two. I did not experience any equipment failure though..and I had a HiFonics BXI 1205D on the subs. With the set up you described, your factory alt should be able to keep up.

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

Something is definitely messed up. You shouldn't be blowing amps like that unless you are dropping down to like 10v.

 

[bgowdy 5,000+ posts]

It shouldn't be, but I have a feeling something is going unnoticed.

i didnt figure that would be to low... sounds like there may a bad coil somewere, like said above or ground isnt done well.

 

[1crzymf]

The manual for the Opti2000D recommends at least 13.8. I pulled the subs and inspected the wiring inside an out prior to installing the amp.

 

[1crzymf]

At the very beginning, when I first installed everything, I had a JL Audio 1000/1 installed, and had no problems. However, I only used that setup for a few days.

 

[Timmothy Web 10+ year member]

the cut off voltages for most amps is about 10v. do u know if your truck has more the one ground? some have 2-3 different grounds to separate the electrical circuits.

 

[1crzymf]

Not sure, but I think it has two griounds under the hood. I have a solid ground out back for the equipment--stripped to the bare metal.