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Old 07-26-2007, 02:27 AM   #1
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Default Help wtih Overheating amps

I have 2 MTX amps. (a 564 and a 942) They both tend to overheat if run for several hours. I am wondering if I am not giving them enough power. I am considering running a seperate power lead to each from the battery but dont want to if it is not the problem. Anyone know how to fix this problem?
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Old 07-26-2007, 04:50 AM   #2
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what size power wire are you using and where are they installed at.
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Old 07-26-2007, 04:32 PM   #3
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+1 to what SouthPole asked.

In addition to "where in the vehicle are they mounted", and "what size power wire are you using"...

1.) What impedance are you running them at?

2.) Is your gain set correctly?

3.) How hard are you pushing them to get them to overheat?

4.) Have you modified the heatsinks at all? Painted them, covered them with anything?

5.) How large is the ground wire(s)? How long is each ground wire? Where are you grounding them at?


My Thunder684 and Thunder1501D run a bit on the warm side, but they've never overheated on me. Even in the middle of a southern-Arizona summer when pushed hard. I'm running the 684 at 2 Ohms stereo (minimum allowable limit), and the 1501 is running at 2 Ohms mono (advised minimum limit). They're both mounted flat on the trunk floor, they share a single 0 AWG wire, split to two 4 AWG's.
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Old 07-27-2007, 12:06 AM   #4
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when i had a crappy amp, i used a computer fan to cool it, since it got hot.

www.sidewindercomputers.com has a large selection of fans, all of which are 12v
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Old 07-31-2007, 03:56 AM   #5
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The amps are mounted on the back of the back seats.

Ground is 4 gauge to a bolt on the hinge for the trunk lid

they get hot regardless of how hard I push them.

I think the gain is ok. It is not all the way up

subs(alpine type R) are current at 8 ohms resistance with the amp bridged.

power is a 4 gauge split out to an 8 gauge for the 564 and 2 8 gauge to the 962.
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Old 07-31-2007, 08:35 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Black94sc2
The amps are mounted on the back of the back seats.

Ground is 4 gauge to a bolt on the hinge for the trunk lid

they get hot regardless of how hard I push them.

I think the gain is ok. It is not all the way up

subs(alpine type R) are current at 8 ohms resistance with the amp bridged.

power is a 4 gauge split out to an 8 gauge for the 564 and 2 8 gauge to the 962.

everything that is wrong with what you said.

Is the hing sanded down. too. i would find a better ground.

Can the amp accept 4 guage?

y 8 ohms? most amps can handle 4 ohms bridged.

Most the most important one. and the one that is probelly causing the problem is the gain.

you say it is not all the way up. but at 8 ohms it would be down not up if i am not mistaken. i lost the formula for finding out the gains

but honsetly it could also be the 2 8guage wire.

do you have a digital muti meter.?
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Old 08-01-2007, 01:07 AM   #7
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The mounting on the back of the seats is fine.

As long as they each have their own 4 AWG wire for a ground, that should be just fine. Also, make sure your ground connections are metal-to-metal, no paint. Use a steel bristle brush and clean all the paint off the ground area.

If they're overheating when you're listening to the music quietly, something is wrong. If they're getting warm to the touch when you're listening to quiet music, that's somewhat normal. Amps do make heat, it's just something they do. Heating up to the point of failure though, isn't normal.

Set the gain as best you can. If you don't have an oscilloscope, use your ears and a good testing CD.

With the Type-R's bridged to the 942 at 8 Ohms, that's plenty safe. I'm assuming you've got the DVC 2 Ohm version of the subs? Or did they make a SVC 4 Ohm version?

While a single 4 AWG wire powering both a 564 and a 942 will work, it's on the skimpy side. I'd say run each amp its own 4 AWG wire, that should help out.

Oh yeah... Check this link out, it should help you quite a bit.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LonehunterKU
Though I wouldn't wait the 7k that they claim to increase your oil life to. Hell its a Saturn it wont have oil after 7k miles.
*Note To Self*
Spend less on car, more on guns.
*/Note*
-Randy
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