Dear God Somebody Help Me With My (Electrical) Power Problem!!!

[deejay21]

I've finally saved up some hard-earned cash and blew it all on new audio components. The problem that I'm having is with the power. I'll explain.

Previously, my Spyder had a stereo installed with Eclipse 8" subs in the back, a RF 300s powering them mounted under the driver seat, and a Blaupunkt Digital Amp powering the other audio components (doors, 6x9's, tweets). I replaced the subs after blowing them to sh*t with Kicker 04 s8l7's. Then I had to replace the amp, since the Kickers are 450 rms apiece and the 300s could only run 300 watts bridged. I got a RF 851s, which puts out enough power to make them work.

Today I tore apart my car because I had to relocate the much larger amp to the trunk. I ran all of the wiring in what I think is a correct manner, but here is where I think the problem comes from. I had to use a 4 AWG kit for the 851s. The kit I got also came with a fuse box with multiple outputs. Rather than run two power wires from the battery to both the 851s and the Blaupunkt, I split the wire halfway and plugged everything into the fuse box. This box has 2 fuses on it, as does the actual power wire at the terminal. So, all in all I have 3 fuses for this system (1 I'm not sure I need). I haven't hooked up the 851s yet (ran out of time, had to go to work), but while driving I noticed a significant drop in power from the car. Basically it felt like it was almost dying, especially with the lights on tonight on my way home. After turning the lights off, the idle increases back to normal. Please somebody help me and let me know what the hell I've done wrong! Thanks in advance.

 

[Flat Tire]

sounds like it's trying to constintly drain your power...did you hook up the power wire wrong? perhaps a bad ground?.... or maybe you need a cap to help store some back up juice for it?

 

[pinknuggit]

Is that amp a mono class D or 2 channel class AB. That's one of the biggest drawbacks to using class AB stuff is the current drain.
What kind of battery do you have? how is the charging system on your car?

There's alot more to consider than just the amps draining power. I would upgrade your:
-Alternator to fusebox wire
-Engine to frame ground
-batter to frame ground
That's known as the "big three", and it helps out the ground system in your car. Use 4gauge wire for that.

Are you on your stock battery? You might need to buy an Optima Red Top. If you get an optima and your lights dim with the bass, you will need to get a higher amp alternator.

DO NOT GET A CAP!! It will make things Worse, especially if you have a weak stock battery and a weak stock alternator.

 

[BlackNWhiteRS]

Alright, first off this "splitting the wire" has me worried you should have ran the 4ga wire to the fuse box in the back of the car, and then ran one wire from one output on the fuse box to one of the amps and another output to the other amp. The you would need to run a ground wire for each amp to a bare metal piece of your chasis, both wires should be connected to the same ground spot.

Also,
You need to have one fuse in the power wire between 6-12 or so inches from the battery terminal.

LEt me know if you did soemthign differently, because it sounds like you did....

 

[deejay21]

That is how I had it wired - today I looked at the second smaller amp (Blaupunkt) and its power wire had come loose. Tomorrow I'm going to actually hook up th epower wire to both amps as well as ground them both to see if it just needed to be hooked up. I guess my main concern was the fact that there are basically 3 fuses involved (1 by the battery, 2 at the fuse block which splits the wires), because I don't know how this would affect current. Also, is the fact that I am using 4 gauge wire also drawing away too much current from the battery for the alternator to keep up with the electrical?

 

[deejay21]

Also, pinknugget can you give me more detail about the big 3? How much wire do I need? Do I need other equipment? Also, I'm running the stock alternator with what I must assusme is the stock battery. Any suggestions? And yeah, I'm 99% it's an AB amp.