amp really hot? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

useRc10 · 11-21-2003, 07:29 PM

I was working on the door panels in my truck and thought i smelled something burning. The amp was really hot (couldnt touch it) so i pulled it out. does anyone know what could cause this?

cheatham · 11-21-2003, 09:00 PM

A few of the things I have learned from hooking up amps:

Use a good size + and - wire. The ground wire (and it's size) is just as important as the power wire. I always use 4 gauge when running amp power wires. Sometimes it is overkill, but I have caught a carpet on fire with too small a wire and not having everything fused well. Use the correct fuses for the amp you are using. Also, be sure no stray copper is jumping from + to - this can cause fires, too. Amps can get pretty darn warm, but I haven't encountered them getting too hot to touch if everything is hooked up right.

useRc10 · 11-21-2003, 09:03 PM

well, it was professionally instatalled using big wire (not sure, would have to look) and is fused. Been fine for 2 years. Any other ideas? I'm going to take it by teh place taht installed it and see if tehy know anything

walker · 11-21-2003, 09:11 PM

Usually caused bad a faulty ground. Take the wire off of the body, use sand paper and sand till it is bare metal. Then used a little silicone grease on the connection.

SWEET7T · 11-21-2003, 10:47 PM

sounds like you may have a short somewhere... Since it has been in there for 2 years, wire insulation may have worn through. Of course this only applies if you hear whatever speaker(s) is hooked to it is cutting out (from the short).

Is your amp turned ALL of the way up?!

In the last 2 years, have you changed your interior to something or moved something that would cause your amp to not get circulation?!

If the need be, you can go to radio shack and get a 12V computer fan. I did this on an amp I had mounted inside the console in an old Jeep. Just wire the fan to your remote wire on the amp, everytime your headunit is turned on, the fan comes on and blows air over your amp. Worked for me

useRc10 · 11-22-2003, 01:19 AM

i did change the seats but they've been like that for awhile...i'll check theinsultation, but the sub was out of the truck (amp was still in there) while the truck was painted....i guess i can hook it back up and try, just dont want to burn it up

DanoDMano · 11-22-2003, 01:23 AM

I had a similar thing happen to me and it was because one of the speaker wires popped off inside the door and was graounding to the door. I had crossovers so it only blew the crossover not the amp. Sure stunk bad though...

useRc10 · 11-22-2003, 01:27 AM

dano, you may have it, i'll check tommorrow...i dont know if teh wires were covered since the sub wasnt in there...
thanks

djracer · 11-22-2003, 05:04 PM

I have installed car stereo since 1986. I was also going to suggest you check to see if the wires were touching each other or ground. If I can help you PM me or call 3346575583. Also your install was probably fine but don't asume that it was done right just because it was done by a shop. Make sure the ground went straight to metal not a seat bolt or anything.

11-21-2003, 07:29 PM	#1
useRc10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Mechanicsville, VA, 23111 Posts: 1,138	amp really hot? I was working on the door panels in my truck and thought i smelled something burning. The amp was really hot (couldnt touch it) so i pulled it out. does anyone know what could cause this? __________________ -'02 Chevy Avalanche, 5.3L, 4x4... needing a small lift and bigger tires -'72 Chevy C-10(350, bored 60 over)dual flowmasters, 3 on the tree -'85 K5 Blazer,305 NO MORE...350 is in,2" lift,33" Mickey Thompson Baja Claw Radials -dads '70 burb (red, 5-7 drop, 350...) www.geocities.com/userc10/truckhome.html AIM: Auntjoedadda

11-21-2003, 09:00 PM	#2
cheatham I need a brake! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 474	A few of the things I have learned from hooking up amps: Use a good size + and - wire. The ground wire (and it's size) is just as important as the power wire. I always use 4 gauge when running amp power wires. Sometimes it is overkill, but I have caught a carpet on fire with too small a wire and not having everything fused well. Use the correct fuses for the amp you are using. Also, be sure no stray copper is jumping from + to - this can cause fires, too. Amps can get pretty darn warm, but I haven't encountered them getting too hot to touch if everything is hooked up right. __________________ JP MEMBER OF THE DISCS UP FRONT CLUB 1971 Chevy C10

11-21-2003, 09:03 PM	#3
useRc10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Mechanicsville, VA, 23111 Posts: 1,138	well, it was professionally instatalled using big wire (not sure, would have to look) and is fused. Been fine for 2 years. Any other ideas? I'm going to take it by teh place taht installed it and see if tehy know anything __________________ -'02 Chevy Avalanche, 5.3L, 4x4... needing a small lift and bigger tires -'72 Chevy C-10(350, bored 60 over)dual flowmasters, 3 on the tree -'85 K5 Blazer,305 NO MORE...350 is in,2" lift,33" Mickey Thompson Baja Claw Radials -dads '70 burb (red, 5-7 drop, 350...) www.geocities.com/userc10/truckhome.html AIM: Auntjoedadda

11-21-2003, 09:11 PM	#4
walker Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: north of Phx AZ about 30 miles Posts: 698	Usually caused bad a faulty ground. Take the wire off of the body, use sand paper and sand till it is bare metal. Then used a little silicone grease on the connection. __________________ Andy,Phx AZ '67 C-10 (Ahhh, done at last. Well there is that disk front end I want to put in and...) "23 C-Cab-sold '48 Ford 8N tractor(still working) '67 Scout(Now on the road) '70 MG B.-sold

11-21-2003, 10:47 PM	#5
SWEET7T Try spinnin 4 rear tars Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 757	sounds like you may have a short somewhere... Since it has been in there for 2 years, wire insulation may have worn through. Of course this only applies if you hear whatever speaker(s) is hooked to it is cutting out (from the short). Is your amp turned ALL of the way up?! In the last 2 years, have you changed your interior to something or moved something that would cause your amp to not get circulation?! If the need be, you can go to radio shack and get a 12V computer fan. I did this on an amp I had mounted inside the console in an old Jeep. Just wire the fan to your remote wire on the amp, everytime your headunit is turned on, the fan comes on and blows air over your amp. Worked for me __________________ SWEET7T 1970 C10, 2wd, LB, 307/TH350/3.08. PS, PB Last edited by SWEET7T; 11-21-2003 at 10:50 PM.

11-22-2003, 01:19 AM	#6
useRc10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Mechanicsville, VA, 23111 Posts: 1,138	i did change the seats but they've been like that for awhile...i'll check theinsultation, but the sub was out of the truck (amp was still in there) while the truck was painted....i guess i can hook it back up and try, just dont want to burn it up __________________ -'02 Chevy Avalanche, 5.3L, 4x4... needing a small lift and bigger tires -'72 Chevy C-10(350, bored 60 over)dual flowmasters, 3 on the tree -'85 K5 Blazer,305 NO MORE...350 is in,2" lift,33" Mickey Thompson Baja Claw Radials -dads '70 burb (red, 5-7 drop, 350...) www.geocities.com/userc10/truckhome.html AIM: Auntjoedadda

11-22-2003, 01:23 AM	#7
DanoDMano Pronounced "Pew-al-up" Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Puyallup, Washington Posts: 845	I had a similar thing happen to me and it was because one of the speaker wires popped off inside the door and was graounding to the door. I had crossovers so it only blew the crossover not the amp. Sure stunk bad though... __________________ Classic GM Trucks of Washington Club Member 1970 FS chevy,350/350, Edelbrock cam and intake. Holley 650 carb,HEI,AT,Tangier Orange, 18's, Power Locks, Truck Photos

11-22-2003, 01:27 AM	#8
useRc10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Mechanicsville, VA, 23111 Posts: 1,138	dano, you may have it, i'll check tommorrow...i dont know if teh wires were covered since the sub wasnt in there... thanks __________________ -'02 Chevy Avalanche, 5.3L, 4x4... needing a small lift and bigger tires -'72 Chevy C-10(350, bored 60 over)dual flowmasters, 3 on the tree -'85 K5 Blazer,305 NO MORE...350 is in,2" lift,33" Mickey Thompson Baja Claw Radials -dads '70 burb (red, 5-7 drop, 350...) www.geocities.com/userc10/truckhome.html AIM: Auntjoedadda

11-22-2003, 05:04 PM	#9
djracer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wetumpka, Al, U.S. Posts: 8,891	amp problem I have installed car stereo since 1986. I was also going to suggest you check to see if the wires were touching each other or ground. If I can help you PM me or call 3346575583. Also your install was probably fine but don't asume that it was done right just because it was done by a shop. Make sure the ground went straight to metal not a seat bolt or anything. __________________ Kevin Special Thanks to All who have helped on the TRUCK! My Pass Time Show http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p...Chapter1-0.mp4 So Far my best Times are: Motor only: 6.44 1/8 @ 104.13 10.39 1/4 @ 125.83 Nitrous Times: 5.785 1/8 @ 118.65 with a 1.336 60ft 9.168 1/4 @ 142.58 with a 250 shot dead out of the hole!



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