my amp keep shutting off on me...help

[playboyace35 10+ year member]

My amp keeps shutting off on me every time i turned the volume up. Am i not getting enough power to the amp?

here is my setup

Hifonics Brutus amp 1606 - 1600 watts rms @1 ohm, 1100 @2 ohm, 550@ 4ohm.

2 12" Alumapros 500 watts rms each @4ohm

-----------------

JL Cleansweep

Kicker Amp 4channel ZX.650

a/d/s 346cs 6.5 component speakers

Diamond Audio 6.5 Hi End Coaxial D661i speakers

---------------------------

the power wires from the battery to the distribution block is 4 gauge. Then the distribution block splits the 4 gauge into two 8 gauges. One of the 8 gauges goes into the Sub amp, and the other 8 gauge goes into the speaker amp. Do i not have enough power because of the split?

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[ThatChevyGuy 5,000+ posts]

whats the voice coil config on the twelves? and 8 gauge is way too small.

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

I would say starving the amp for current is possible.

8awg feeding an amp trying to make between 800-1,000w generally isn't the best way of doing things...

 

[playboyace35 10+ year member]

whats the voice coil config on the twelves? and 8 gauge is way too small.

its 8 ohms, and the shop wired it so it can be ran at 4 ohms

 

[playboyace35 10+ year member]

I would say starving the amp for current is possible.8awg feeding an amp trying to make between 800-1,000w generally isn't the best way of doing things...

so should i just say screw the distribution block and just INDIVIDUALLY wire two 4 gauges to each amp?

Or should i get 2 gauge wires and get a distribution block that goes from 2-4 gauges?

What is the best option for me? IF this is the problem.

 

[kross 10+ year member]

its 8 ohms, and the shop wired it so it can be ran at 4 ohms

It can be, but is it? In other words, which of the following configurations are you running?

1600 watts rms @1 ohm, or

1100 @2 ohm, or

550 @ 4ohm

You're also running a Kicker zx650.4?

The Kicker will draw somewhere around 90 amps at full power (14.4v, 650 watts, 50% efficiency).

The Hifonics will draw (14.4v, 90% efficiency):

1600 watts: 123 amps

1100 watts: 85 amps

550 watts: 42 amps

Those amperages are only estimates, based on 50% efficiency for class AB amps, and 90% for class D. We don't know the actual efficiencies of those amps.

If your total amperage is only 132 amps (for the 550 watts configuration), then 4-gauge from the battery to the back will be barely acceptable. If you want to run more power (by upgrading your subs), the 4-gauge is not acceptable.

8-gauge wire is only good for up to about 55 amps, so it isn't acceptable to use 8-gauge after the distro block for either of those amps, since they both draw more than 55 amps.

I think you need a single run of 1/0 from the battery to the back, which will split into two 4-gauge wires to your amps. A good rule of thumb, is look at the fuses on the amps, and size your wire accordingly.

-- Kevin

 

[playboyace35 10+ year member]

It can be, but is it? In other words, which of the following configurations are you running?
1600 watts rms @1 ohm, or

1100 @2 ohm, or

550 @ 4ohm

You're also running a Kicker zx650.4?

The Kicker will draw somewhere around 90 amps at full power (14.4v, 650 watts, 50% efficiency).

The Hifonics will draw (14.4v, 90% efficiency):

1600 watts: 123 amps

1100 watts: 85 amps

550 watts: 42 amps

Those amperages are only estimates, based on 50% efficiency for class AB amps, and 90% for class D. We don't know the actual efficiencies of those amps.

If your total amperage is only 132 amps (for the 550 watts configuration), then 4-gauge from the battery to the back will be barely acceptable. If you want to run more power (by upgrading your subs), the 4-gauge is not acceptable.

8-gauge wire is only good for up to about 55 amps, so it isn't acceptable to use 8-gauge after the distro block for either of those amps, since they both draw more than 55 amps.

I think you need a single run of 1/0 from the battery to the back, which will split into two 4-gauge wires to your amps. A good rule of thumb, is look at the fuses on the amps, and size your wire accordingly.

-- Kevin

Sorry for the confusion, but yeah it is running at 4 ohm. I guess from what your saying is that i should run either an 1 or 2 gauge wire from the battery to my distro block and then split it to two 4-gauges to each of my amp. That should fix things up right?

BTW, you said its unacceptable to use the 8-gauge wires as of now, so that means this setup is the cause of my problem right?

(should i invest in a capacitor?)

 

[playboyace35 10+ year member]

Hm, can i not use a distribution block and just hook two individual 4 gauge wires from the battery and each of the amp? or is that just a waste of wires?

 

[tru_44 10+ year member]

get 1/0awg and run distro with 4awg outs

 

[playboyace35 10+ year member]

get 1/0awg and run distro with 4awg outs

haha okay i get it now