Electrical Gurus Needed - Audio Amplifier Question (1 Viewer)

[S4Cruiser]

I'm scratching my head here so I need to get some thoughts/advice from you guys (and gals).

I'm in the process of trying to install an Audiobahn 2 channel amplifier to a set of 6x9s. I'm using an Alpine head unit.

I installed the head unit and speakers a week ago and they work fine but not loud enough so I'm adding the amp. I got the amp all hooked up and then I have no power to the truck at all (no lights, ignition, etc). If I unhook the power lead for the amp (from the battery terminal) then I get power back to the truck (lights, started, etc). This made me think there might be a dead short in the amplifier. So I reconnected the amp power wire to the battery but left it disconnected from the amp and no power to the truck.

I redid the connections for the inline fuse for the amp power wire (still disconnected) to the amp and now I have power to the truck. Rehook the power wire to the amp and now power to the amp (turns on), power to the trruck and tunes . I thought all was well...so I cleaned up my wiring (zip ties, routing, etc) then rehook everything up to the battery/amp and now I'm having the same problem .

I'm lost...do you think the amp could have a random dead short or do I have other mystery demons hinding in my truck's wiring. Any troubleshooting ideas would be awesome.


-Jon

 

[dgangle]

I would suggest undoing everything you did (disconnect everythign eletrical that you added) and see if the problem goes away. If it does then I would suspect the amp and/or head unit.

 

[spdwaver]

Take the above advice, then if it still has problems, take the amplifier to a stereo shop and have them test the amplifier's circuits. It could be that power is somehow touching the chassis (heat sink); if the chassis is bolted directly to the body, then power is being sent through the ground, which may cause the issue.

 

[S4Cruiser]

Take the above advice, then if it still has problems, take the amplifier to a stereo shop and have them test the amplifier's circuits. It could be that power is somehow touching the chassis (heat sink); if the chassis is bolted directly to the body, then power is being sent through the ground, which may cause the issue.

I think this is the case. I'm at a shop now getting the amp tested....which I hope is the problem.

Thanks for the help so far.

 

[S4Cruiser]

So the stereo shop said the amp was fine. Brought it back, hooked everything up and it works. Then went to tighten the battery terminals, try the radio...no power.

So I put on a new positive terminal connector and I'm good now. Upon further inspection of the old terminal connector, I found a crack through the lead wrap that I assume was causing some type of a random short.

I was beginning to wonder about my sanity there for a minute as I've installed tons of stereo systems...

I'll take a pic later of where I mounted the amp just for the hell of it.