RE SX 12" question

[jmorr34_lsu 10+ year member]

I have had the RE SX 12" for almost 2 years now. I have it hooked up to a Diamond Audio D5 1200.1.

They both have been great to me, except when I turn the bass up for an extended period of time, the amp cuts out sometimes; even after maybe a minute of having it turned up really loud(and I mean really loud, I can still have it turned up loud with no problems). I am not sure why though.

First I was wondering, is that too much power for that sub? ( i know its 2 years later and I am asking that question, but I guess not since its still alive, but just wondering)

Also, I have it in a 3ft^3 ported box tuned to 32hz. Is that setup good enough to enter competition? I have never really thought about it, but my roommate just upgraded his audio and wanted to enter competition, so it got me thinking as well.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks guys.

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[blackgeltabs 5,000+ posts]

The amp maybe clipping and going into protect mode.

 

[jmorr34_lsu 10+ year member]

The amp maybe clipping and going into protect mode.

What would cause it to do that? (not sure what clipping is)....When it cuts off though, it is for a few minutes. Sometimes I can turn the car off, turn it back on and its back on.

 

[PatFitz9 10+ year member]

if the amp is to powerful for the sub, the amp wouldn't shut off. I agree with ^^ that sounds like the amp is trying to save itself. did you set your gains with a DMM or is it just cranked up?

 

[PatFitz9 10+ year member]

What would cause it to do that? (not sure what clipping is)....When it cuts off though, it is for a few minutes. Sometimes I can turn the car off, turn it back on and its back on.

an amp going into protect mode can happen for a couple of reasons. basically it shuts off to prevent any damage to itself.

 

[jmorr34_lsu 10+ year member]

if the amp is to powerful for the sub, the amp wouldn't shut off. I agree with ^^ that sounds like the amp is trying to save itself. did you set your gains with a DMM or is it just cranked up?

just cranked up...i havn't messed with the controls on the amp itself in 2 years...kind of sad but I just havn't paid that much attention. I usually just adjust it on the head unit itself and I have a gain knob up front as well.

 

[blackgeltabs 5,000+ posts]

What would cause it to do that? (not sure what clipping is)....When it cuts off though, it is for a few minutes. Sometimes I can turn the car off, turn it back on and its back on.

Yup amp is going into protect mode for some reason, see if it has a protect light on it and the next time it does this check to see if the lights on.

 

[blackgeltabs 5,000+ posts]

just cranked up...i havn't messed with the controls on the amp itself in 2 years...kind of sad but I just havn't paid that much attention. I usually just adjust it on the head unit itself and I have a gain knob up front as well.

has it done this for the last 2 years?

If it hasnt then your battery/ maybe getting weak and not giving it the power it needs when cracking it causeing the amp to go into protect mode.

 

[jmorr34_lsu 10+ year member]

it may have started about a year ago

another thing...when i turn the gain up on the knob up front, I can almost hear a sound sometimes coming through the sub as i do it(not sure if that matters to the above situtation , but i thought i would just throw that in....that happens not too often though)

 

[blackgeltabs 5,000+ posts]

Thats the bass boost knob, aka distortion knob. Your cranking your amp to hard it sounds like and its going into protect from clipping. Im going to find the JL gain setting tutorial try that and you shouldnt have any problems.

Also does your amp have both gain and bass boost knobs?

 

[blackgeltabs 5,000+ posts]

Its the second flash tutorial

 

[psych0ticnemes1 5,000+ posts]

eek //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/nono.gif.eca61d170185779e0921b0faa9704973.gif

set your gain correctly with a dmm, when you crank your gain, you are clipping it (distorting the sound) damaging your amp

 

[jmorr34_lsu 10+ year member]

Thats the bass boost knob, aka distortion knob. Your cranking your amp to hard it sounds like and its going into protect from clipping. Im going to find the JL gain setting tutorial try that and you shouldnt have any problems.
Also does your amp have both gain and bass boost knobs?

it has gain, subsonic freq. adjust, lowpass freq adj, and Phase 0-180 which is currently not pushed it.

 

[jmorr34_lsu 10+ year member]

where can i get a dmm or can i just go to a shop and get it tuned...how much would that run usually?

what about heat wise...i have the amp mounted to the back of the box between the seat. Could it just not be breathing properly?

 

[blackgeltabs 5,000+ posts]

a cheap dmm is around $20 maybe? Some of your friends fathers probably have them, or if there is an automotive major or a EE major the labs there will have them.