Why did it fry?

[blgaudio 10+ year member]

I just sold a guy a Audiobahn A16000v mono block amp. It was a brand new amp, well besides me hooking it up for possible buyers to try it out. Always worked perfect for me never had a problem. Today the guy I sold it to hooks it up and he said as soon as he turns the key on the amp powers up and starts blowing smoke. So I go check it out and can still smell the smoke its fried something internal. I figured being a newer amp that it would have positive negative reversal protection, circuit protection, all the goodies so what could he have possibly done? He has for some reason run O gauge wire from batt. to before the amp and then stepped it down to 8g. before it hooks up to amp. Same thing done on the ground. Would this have something to do with it? It was hooked up right when I arrived not to say he didnt switch it. Could him having the subs wired at wrong ohms fry it? I just dont want this to look bad on me so I'm trying to figure out what happened. Thanks for all help in advance!

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[lilmaniac2 5,000+ posts]

wired to low could fry it, wired backwards could fry it, putting the rca's in the output side could fry it.

 

[Trey803 5,000+ posts]

low voltage?

 

[blgaudio 10+ year member]

I did notice it was only reading about 11v on the voltage meter of the amp. And he said that the subs where wired at 4ohms.

 

[skittlesRgood 10+ year member]

I did notice it was only reading about 11v on the voltage meter of the amp. And he said that the subs where wired at 4ohms.

he said. but could be wrong. double check. he must have done something wrong. a new amp doesnt just fry for no reason.

 

[Grinder1989 5,000+ posts]

he said. but could be wrong. double check. he must have done something wrong. a new amp doesnt just fry for no reason.

It might if it's an Audiobahn....

 

[blgaudio 10+ year member]

Ha thats exactly what I told the guy. If the subs where at the wrong ohms would it fry? Should have went into protection right?? Oh yeah left that out it is stuck in protection mode now.

 

[blgaudio 10+ year member]

It might if it's an Audiobahn....

I knew someone would say that eventually lol

 

[Trey803 5,000+ posts]

sounds like you tried running it at too low voltage. All amps will fry under this circumstance.

 

[blgaudio 10+ year member]

sounds like you tried running it at too low voltage. All amps will fry under this circumstance.

I'll tell him...thats what I thought as well...Any hope for it?

 

[Grinder1989 5,000+ posts]

Seriously, low voltage and incorrect wiring are the number one causes of amps blowing up. I'd check all the wiring, power, ground, speaker wires etc.....if everything checks out good, then he screwed it up and is lying or that amp lives up to it's reputation.

 

[Saint211 10+ year member]

Well I wouldnt say theres no reason, I've seen amps bad out of the box and fry upon hook-up, sometimes even with decently trusted brand names. But still very uncommon. The best manufacturers test every amp, but the massive companies sometimes cant feasibly test every single one.

 

[Saint211 10+ year member]

But yeah judging by what you're saying this guys install skills sound suspect.

 

[blgaudio 10+ year member]

He had someone rip it apart and the coils were fried in it. He said he had it wired at 4ohms but if I calcultated it right it is wired at 1ohm which easily explains why the smoke was a flyin.

 

[revrider1 5,000+ posts]

I have only blown one amp in my life and it was a Bahn, reason was Low Voltage...