new amp thread(LONG)

[goodstuff 10+ year member]

OK. I am getting a jl 6450 (6X45). I have some questions/ concerns.

Can I use a short piece of 8 ga from the amp to the ground block or should I use a longer 4 ga directly from the amp to where the ground block is grounded? trying to avoid buying another distro block if I don't have to...

Is this amp going to kill my alternator? I have a 93 accord ex. I'm guessing the alt is rated at like 60-70 amps. I read that this amp can draw as much as 72 amps. I am trying to avoid putting an HO alt in because I am going to get a new car in about 6 months. I have been running a kenwood 45X4 and a legacy bass amp rated at 400 but more like 250 rms. The kenwood is coming out to make room for the JL. I am going to be running two sets of polk 4x6 plates and a component set if that makes a difference. Can I just keep the volume low to avoid drawing to much power?

I was always under the impression that it was better for an amp to be mounted horizontally ie laying flat, than vertically or at an angle since heat rises and the heat will rise up and off the amp instead of being vertical and having the top half of the amp end up being much hotter than the bottom half. but I have been reading some conflicting stuff that says it's not the best way? Anyone?

Can I wire the comps in series on channels 5+6 to make them mono? tweeter said I could do this...I dont trust anything they say...I do have a reason for doing it that way...not enough time to explain why but is it safe to do?

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[goodstuff 10+ year member]

anyone?

 

[headless 10+ year member]

I'm far from an expert but i think i can help with some parts..

Can I use a short piece of 8 ga from the amp to the ground block or should I use a longer 4 ga directly from the amp to where the ground block is grounded? trying to avoid buying another distro block if I don't have to...

8ga should be OK for your ground if it's short (1-2 feet) and you don't crank the volume...but personally, i'd go for the 4ga. Running things on the edge is a bad idea generally.

Is this amp going to kill my alternator? I have a 93 accord ex. I'm guessing the alt is rated at like 60-70 amps. I read that this amp can draw as much as 72 amps. I am trying to avoid putting an HO alt in because I am going to get a new car in about 6 months. I have been running a kenwood 45X4 and a legacy bass amp rated at 400 but more like 250 rms. The kenwood is coming out to make room for the JL. I am going to be running two sets of polk 4x6 plates and a component set if that makes a difference. Can I just keep the volume low to avoid drawing to much power?

Keeping your volume low will keep power draw low, yes. If you do the big-3 and you don't get horribly dimming lights, you're a-ok. When your lights start to dim...stop raising the volume //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

I was always under the impression that it was better for an amp to be mounted horizontally ie laying flat, than vertically or at an angle since heat rises and the heat will rise up and off the amp instead of being vertical and having the top half of the amp end up being much hotter than the bottom half. but I have been reading some conflicting stuff that says it's not the best way? Anyone?

Well, consider that hot air rises...and that convection (moving air) is one of the best ways to cool something...and IMO it would be best to have any amplifier with cooling fins mounted vertically, with the fins vertical also...that way the air rising from the bottom would help cool the top as it passes by. I actually found a manual for my old punch 60 a week or 2 ago and discovered that they recommend this, too.

Dunno about wiring your amp in series.

 

[hcoronado 10+ year member]

hi there,

I am running 3 jl amps 2 of them being 500/1's and of them being 300/4 off a 60 amp alternator and i have no problems running them off of it.

I do get a little dimming but with the big 3 done, it helps a lot and the dimming is going to stop as soon as I install my HO alt. (hopefully)

I have a question as far as how many speakers you are planning on running of this amp.

you can bridge 2 channels to run the component set and the other two channels left you can run them stereo mode to run the 4x6 plates. I think that the main key here is setting the gains correctly.

good luck!

 

[goodstuff 10+ year member]

nice. That makes me feel alot better. I don't know why my posts never get answered right away without me asking twice but anyways...My bass amp sure isn't a 500/1 so I think I should be ok as long as I set the gains correctly as you said...this is also important since the speakers are going to be getting nearly twice the power that they should.

yeah I am planning on running the two sets of polks in stereo on channels 1-4 and then wiring the comps in series on 5+6. I have been doing some work to my car and I noticed that my negative ground cable was all frayed and corroded so I replaced it so I have done 1 of the big three actually like 1 1/2 because the chassis to neg battery was also on that wire.

So the 300/4 is a 75 per channel amp? So your running a total of 1300 watts rms?

I think I'm around 700 watts.