Amp on protect

[SetH]

In the past month, my amp has gone on protect mode until it cools down and I reset it about 6 times. I was wondering if this was just due to summer heat (I live in the midwest, been about 96 degrees recently). 5 days a week my car sits in the sun while I work from 6am-2 pm, and a lot of the time it is on the street outside my house. My amp is black, and my hatch is tinted, and I think the sun is just really attracted to it. Ive been doing things like rolling down the windows a lot when I work and things to keep it a little cooler...but basically I was just wondering if I am right in assuming it is the summer heat, or is there something else wrong with it?

 

[espydur]

how do you have it wired? if it's seeing too low of an ohm impendence than it's gonna heat up quick if you play it loud. might wanna try wiring your subs differently, turning down the gains, and/or adding a small fan. goodluck!

 

[dTERM]

A fan is a good idea...just pop in a relay and have it come on with the ACC switch. Also, how much space have you given the amp? Anything sittting on top of it? I have a black car and most of my amp is black...It has no problem pushing my 10w3's.

 

[SetH]

I have had it running for hours straight (turned all the way up) some days, and others it will go on protect after 5 mins of use. I don't know I kind of found that weird. I was considering buying a small fan like you said. What would be the best way to wire it? I did it myself, but I wasn't really aware of all the wiring options. I do have it wired where it comes on with the ACC switch tho as you suggested, dTERM. It has plenty of space around it as well. Thank you both for all the help, and I will try all your suggestions.

 

[dirtysouthtalon]

hey my amp was doing same thing it was the fuse in my case i uped it and runs fine now check that

 

[dTERM]

I used a small SPST relay off the ACC switch to connect the fan to the power cable (Use the NO side if it's a SPDT). The ACC is really a weak power line, it's prone to blowing it's fuse if you put too much load on it. The relay's are really cheap, and if you want I can slap one on a board and mail it to you for $5. I use SPDT relay's so if you wanted a fake alarm light to blink while you have the car off you can wire it to the NC side of the relay and it will only run when the ACC is off. Anyhoo, I hope you get a good solution, cause I hate not having tunes in my car.

 

[hdswanny]

how is the amp mounted? if its mounted upside down or mounted horizontal on the back seats, it might have a hard time dissapating heat. Heat rises keep that in mind.

check your wiring and ad a fan. How's you ground? is it the same gauge or bigger than your power wire? Make sure you have a GOOD ground

 

[Chris_FL]

Assuming that you have it mounted properly, a fan should resolve your problem. I had the same problem, got a fan and it 's been fine ever since.