Amplifier problems, I've had it.

Dark-Magus · 11-12-2004, 07:55 PM

OK, brand new amp, new wires and all. i had a problem with my old amp that it wouldnt power the subs because i kept getting the overcurrent light. so i gave it to my uncle to look at and he said there was nothing he could do with it. so i bought a new amp, new wiring and put it all in, all connections good, grounded properly fuses good. protect light comes on, then goes off, along with the amp, which never fully powers on. subwoofers are sony, HU is sony, and amp is a Volfenhag ZX-8400. I GIVE UP, i cant take it anymore, i'm about at the point of taking the car somewhere and having them do it. PLEASE help me

Lee3333 · 11-13-2004, 03:39 AM

I have 2 Saturns-a 1999 SW2 and a 1993 SL2. The 99 has an old Bazooka amp powering an 8 inch Infinity Kappa sub, and it works fine. On my 93, I have had a variety of systems with no problem like you are having. A couple of my systems used 3 separate amps. All were relatively low power. My prior set up used an Alpine V that was about 200 amps with a Carver 200 amp for the sub. Now I am using an Aura 5 channel that pushes 350 total @ 4 ohms.

I am using 2 gauge wire from the battery to a fuse block. How thick is your main feed?

tristanlee85 · 11-13-2004, 04:04 AM

Actually, what sub's do you have?

Coldsolderjoint · 11-13-2004, 05:42 AM

did you test the subs out?

Dark-Magus · 11-13-2004, 06:16 AM

Subs are good, tested them in another car. Amp requires 8 guage wire, thats what i have. i am going to recheck the ground in the morning, seems to be the response i got from a few people is the ground.

Robert-sl2 · 11-13-2004, 06:53 AM

yeh, def check the groung. the next thing is to check for a short someplace, most likely culprit is the speaker wires shorting on the back of the subs in the box, on either side of a connection panel on the box, or on the amp end.

Dark-Magus · 11-13-2004, 04:22 PM

UPDATE:
I have power! the fuse HOLDER was at fault.

now i have no sound from the subs, tried different wire (externally) and different rca cables, but no thump. now what lol its like its not meant to be.

and i wanted it done for my date today

Robert-sl2 · 11-13-2004, 07:50 PM

did the fuse on the amp blow? Are the levels up (gain etc) and are the RCA/Sub outs enabled on the head unit?

So your plan is to gain the girl by impressing her with your loud car??

good luck on that one dude

Satyllac · 11-14-2004, 04:00 AM

Alrighty, since I can't seem to find much *worthwhile* information on the Volfenhag ZX-8400 amplifier... All I know is it's a two-channel bridgeable amp that probably puts out around 400 WRMS per channel at 2 Ohms, and 800 WRMS bridged at 4 Ohms, if it's lucky.

1) How many subs do you have? Are they DVC?

2) What is the impedance of each voice coil?

3) How do you have the subs wired? (All series, all parallel, a combination? Explain how they're wired... Draw a diagram in MSPaint if you feel up to it.)

Lee3333-
You're using 2 AWG wire to push a 350 watt amp? I've heard of overkill, but that's just ridiculous... 8 AWG would do just fine. Unless you meant 350 WRMS per channel at 4 Ohms... Then I might recommend some 0 AWG.

And I think you meant "an Alpine V that was about 200 watts", not "amps" If each amplifier pulled 200 amps, and you had two amplifiers hooked up, your alternator would kick you in the face, spit on you, then proceed to commit suicide, all within the confines of your engine bay.

Dark-Magus · 11-14-2004, 04:03 AM

UPDATE 2:
All works fine, i had neglected one of the settings on the amp.

now i just gotta go buy a capacitor :P