Newb with an amp question

[cwehrer707 10+ year member]

I bought a used Visonik (I know, not the best) 1000watt amp/12 inch Kicker combo from this car audio place in Santa Rosa, Ca a few weeks ago for a good deal. I never had a problem with it, until I was driving out to work to fill out paper work, I was bumping (amp gain about 3/4, not using the bass boost) when I heard a pop. It was a fairly hot day, about 92 and my amp is mounted in the trunk next to the sub, the amp was hot to the touch but after the pop it kept working. I called the place I got it from and I was told the amp went into protect mode because it got to hot, and it'll shut its self off to prevent damage. Is this common on hot days? I searched but never really found the answer I was looking for. Sorry for the long read, and thanks for the help.

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[bgowdy 5,000+ posts]

yes. if its hot outside and the amp shuts off its protecting its internals. Did the pop come through the subs or was it like a "firecracker" sounding pop?

 

[Falcons 5,000+ posts]

3/4 gain is prolly way to high. or did they set the amp and stuff up for you? what type of visonik amp?

 

[cwehrer707 10+ year member]

It sounded like fire cracker pop. I'll have to get a pic of the amp, and they set the gains for me before the bolted the amp down.

 

[GAMEOVERCCA 10+ year member]

visonik is not all that bad for cheap stuff, but yes its normal for a amp to go in protect mode if you over heat it.

but falcon is correct 3/4 gain is on the high side man, unless you have a super bad head unit and have to have it that high, i would turn gain down. does amp come back on after it cools off?

 

[JEFFakaMAX 10+ year member]

Find someone in your area with a scope and set the gain correctly. I don't think I have ever set an amp at ¾ gain. Check your ohm load as well and make sure you are within the parameters of the amp. Be thankful for a functioning thermal protection circuit... it keeps the magic smoke inside where it belongs.

 

[cwehrer707 10+ year member]

It comes back on after its cooled off. Should I go back to the place and have the guy turn the gain down? The shop told me if I needed any adjustments done I can come back in and he'll adjust it for me. I'm running a JVC kd-khr20 for my head unit.

 

[GAMEOVERCCA 10+ year member]

yes bring it into the shop you got it from and have him tune the amp correctly for you. make sure the subs are wired for the correct ohm as well.

 

[cwehrer707 10+ year member]

I turned the gain down myself to about 1/2, I tested it with the vol at 10 with Gorilla Zoe's "Lost" and it still bumps pretty good.