sound system (subwoofer) question

[ytlee89]

Hey, what's up guys. I just have a quick questoin for those who have subs. I'm currently running 2 10s (kicker) with 1000w amp(sony) and I was wondering what kind of fuse you guys were all running because mine keeps blowing up. The store gave me like 3 sets of 30w in case they blow up again and explained how to install which was pretty straight forward. But the thing is, it blows up so easily and I'm not even bumping it...putting my volume lower than 20..... So I'm basically asking what kind of fuse should I be running with because I have a feeling the store is being a lil shady....THANKS IN ADVANCE GUYS!

[B6JoeS4]

what guage power wire a re you running and what Ohms

[Charlescrs6]

I run a 40 amp. Mine would blow at anything under 25 and I have a single 12" Alpine with a 1000w amp bridged to 4 ohms.

[ytlee89]

what guage power wire a re you running and what Ohms

i have no idea my friend lolll I just got this system and all I know is that there is fusebox and my fuse keeps blowing up so easily...the store now said that they'll give me either 75 or 80w ..do u think thats good enuff?

[B6JoeS4]

thsts pretty high. i would go with 40-50

[bcramer]

Read this:

Fueses:
All of your power wire should be fused. The fuse protecs the wire from bursting into flames should it short out. The fuses do NOT protect the amplifier and/or battery. Like crossovers, fuses aren't a brick wall. They allow more current than they're rated for short periods of time. However, if they try and pass too much current, they will get so hot that they melt, blowing the fuse. Also, fuses can become damaged and can cause power problems.

Rates for fuses durability (current equaling):
100% of rating - 4 hours max
135% of rating - 1 hours max
200% of rating - 5 minutes max

Types of fuses:
1) AGU: these are the round cylinder shaped fuses. They are the cheapest and lowest quality fuses. They are only good upto 50-80 amps max. They also have a weakpoint where the fuse connects to the barrel, making them easier to break.
2) ANL: these are the big, bad boy fuses. They can exceed 350a of current. These bolt directly to the fuse block for the best connection.
3) Maxi: these are the kind of fuses in your car's fuse box. These are also the same kind in the back of your aftermarket head unit and also in your amps.

Proper fusing techniques
1) add up all of the fuses in your amplifiers. Use a fuse 10-15% higher on the total line
2) never exceed the wires recommended maximum fuse limit. Values are for approximately 20ft.
-8 gauge: 60a
-4 gauge: 150a
-2 gauge: 225a
-0 gauge: 350a
3) estimate the length of the wire. For lenghts longer than 20', reduce fuse rating.
4) Always fuse within 18" of any battery

NEVER, EVER, replace a blown fuse with one larger than it's size. If you're blowing fuses, you have another problem that needs to be addressed, be it improper wire size, bad amplifier, or short circuit.

[juggernaut201]

i have my kicker 10 inch L7 mounted in the wall of the trunk where that little storage compartment used to be and i use a kicker 700 by 5 amp that has been great perfect power ...

[bcramer]

i have my kicker 10 inch L7 mounted in the wall of the trunk where that little storage compartment used to be and i use a kicker 700 by 5 amp that has been great perfect power ...

Did you even read the OP?

[Charlescrs6]

Did you even read the OP?

obviously not. Where do they even sell 60-300 amp fuses? At radio shack the biggest they had was 40 and that's what I went with.

[Brent27]

i have my kicker 10 inch L7 mounted in the wall of the trunk where that little storage compartment used to be and i use a kicker 700 by 5 amp that has been great perfect power ...

Did you even read the OP?

haha...i want to be a astronaut !

[03CrysBlueB6]

i suggest you have someone with experience help you out

[bcramer]

i suggest you have someone with experience help you out

If the OP can answer the questions below we can help him. The info he's given isn't enough though.

- What is the total sum of amperage on the fuses ON the amp? Meaning the fuses that are built into the amp.
- What is impedance of the subs?
- How does he have his subs wired? In Parallel or in series?
- Where is his gain set at?
- What is RMS wattage of his amp and subs?


OP. If you had the store install it. Do not accept a higher fuse and call it good. Make sure they fix whatever the source of the problem is. If you installed it yourself, then somewhere along the line something isn't right you need to figure it out.

[ytlee89]

If the OP can answer the questions below we can help him. The info he's given isn't enough though.

- What is the total sum of amperage on the fuses ON the amp? Meaning the fuses that are built into the amp.
- What is impedance of the subs?
- How does he have his subs wired? In Parallel or in series?
- Where is his gain set at?
- What is RMS wattage of his amp and subs?


OP. If you had the store install it. Do not accept a higher fuse and call it good. Make sure they fix whatever the source of the problem is. If you installed it yourself, then somewhere along the line something isn't right you need to figure it out.

dang...i really wish i could answer those questions..b...u..t... yeah...... all i know is that ive never had this problem until today and its been like a month? ..yeah and they juss said its a simple fuse problem and told me it happens. the one that got blown was like 40a and the owner replaced it wid 32a and gave me like 2 spares so i can juss switch them by myself when they blow up agin...but on the drive back home the one they replaced blew again..which made me come to conclusion that anything weaker than 40 is not good enuff for my setting..so i guess i should go like 50....yeah thats the best i could answer for now..i guess i could call the shop and ask them those specific question...thanks tho everyone!

[Element]

NEVER, EVER, replace a blown fuse with one larger than it's size. If you're blowing fuses, you have another problem that needs to be addressed, be it improper wire size, bad amplifier, or short circuit.

From the post above

[a4b7]

check all the wiring...then just add up all the fuses on the amp(s)..and install the fuse closest to that total without going over.

[Rotond0000]

if u dont have a custom deck which i dont...make sure u have a good line converter.

[Brent27]

you might running too much power from your subs to your amp...whats the RMS on the subs ? If you subs are hitting higher then you amp can handle it could be causing a surge of power which is blowing the fuse.. Believe it or not a best buy install shop may be able to fix something like this and would be around 20-50 bucks....it may be worth it if you dont have a tech handy friend to figure out the issue.

[F.An]

I run with a 80amp fuse but when i installed the system they only had 40amp's in stock and i blow 4 of them in one weekend. Check what the amps are fused with and dont go below that.

[bcramer]

you might running too much power from your subs to your amp...whats the RMS on the subs ? If you subs are hitting higher then you amp can handle it could be causing a surge of power which is blowing the fuse.. Believe it or not a best buy install shop may be able to fix something like this and would be around 20-50 bucks....it may be worth it if you dont have a tech handy friend to figure out the issue.

Please keep your uninformed trains of thought to yourself.

[Quattro]

check wiring, sounds like it could be that. I am running my system on stock fuse...bump like a god damn mad man and have no problem

-randy

[audidrver]

i have my kicker 10 inch L7 mounted in the wall of the trunk where that little storage compartment used to be and i use a kicker 700 by 5 amp that has been great perfect power ...

that was so random. lmfao

[b6onboost]

1000w amplifier needs at least a 4 gauge amp wiring kit and a 100a fuse. 30a fuses just won't cut it. get the correct wiring and fuse and you will be fine. you might also want to consider a capacitor if you plan to push that 1000w amp hard.

/thread

[bcramer]

1000w amplifier needs at least a 4 gauge amp wiring kit and a 100a fuse. 30a fuses just won't cut it. get the correct wiring and fuse and you will be fine. you might also want to consider a capacitor if you plan to push that 1000w amp hard.

/thread

Assuming that he's running 1000 RMS wattage yeah...I doubt he is.

[B7A4Sport]

Assuming that he's running 1000 RMS wattage yeah...I doubt he is.

x2

Sony amps are unregulated power sources, meaning it only puts out what is going in, and the 1000 watt rating is the maximum it COULD put out (and even that is an overrated #). However, it's a safe assumption the OP is running a stock battery w/o capacitor, which would mean the amp isn't putting out anywhere near 1000 RMS as bcramer says. No offense to the OP, but just because an amp has a 4-digit number for the wattage output doesn't really mean anything until you know the inner-workings of the amp.

Also, x2 to bcramer's comment about that one guy keeping his uninformed comments to himself....the OP needs experienced help, not speculation; if he listened to that, he might get himself in more trouble than he already is. I highly recommend AGAINST taking it to Best Buy to diagnose the issue. Find a local home/car audio shop nearby, who will most likely be able to answer your question without charging you.

[b6onboost]

true. but even if its only 500w RMS with 1000 peak, he still needs more than a 30a inline fuse. At that power level an 8 gauge kit with a 60a fuse would suffice.

Assuming that he's running 1000 RMS wattage yeah...I doubt he is.

[minameismud]

Find a local home/car audio shop nearby, who will most likely be able to answer your question without charging you.

i know little more than the average person on here about car audio systems, but i do know a bit about general electrical stuff. x2 on B7A4Sport's suggestion, and x876432918612345 on the suggestion that you NOT put a bigger fuse in than was originally installed. if you do put in a bigger fuse, you're risking spontaneous combustion, ie. FIRE.

[polonez]

I used to be a car audio installer. At peak your current draw at 12v is around 33amps but probably more because of the efficiency. I would say you are hitting 40amps at times. I would run the biggest fuse u can find for an inline. usually it is 60. Niether fuse will protect your amp. thats what the fuses inside the amp are for. It will protect your car from fire when there is a short. and if u short out to the frame ,the 60amp will pop no problem.

Edit: 8Ga wiring is more than plenty. Shops try to sell you thick crazy wires just to make money. usually its just overkill. A capacitor in this system would definatly be overkill and waste of money.

[Kid Red]

I'd use the size of fuses that Sony recommends with the amp? 3 @ 30w seems small for a 1000w amp. Sony has a 500w amp that takes 2 30w fuses and Sony recommends a 8g for that. I'd say for 1000w you'd want 4g wire from what I understand, maybe even 1g.

Are the speakers the correct impedance for the amp?

[Brent27]

Please keep your uninformed trains of thought to yourself.

how is that uniformed ? overloading an amp is a common problem by people buying shitty amps that can't handle the power coming from the subs or setting the gain too high....


next time you want to be an ass for no reason take it out on your dog/cat....

[polonez]

1/0G for a sony amp lol........4ga is definatly not needed.. remember these sony amps are 400rms at the best of times.... 8guage and a 60 amp fuse will be perfect...

I'd use the size of fuses that Sony recommends with the amp? 3 @ 30w seems small for a 1000w amp. Sony has a 500w amp that takes 2 30w fuses and Sony recommends a 8g for that. I'd say for 1000w you'd want 4g wire from what I understand, maybe even 1g.

Are the speakers the correct impedance for the amp?

[bcramer]

how is that uniformed ? overloading an amp is a common problem by people buying shitty amps that can't handle the power coming from the subs or setting the gain too high....


next time you want to be an ass for no reason take it out on your dog/cat....

Okay, I'll break it down for you.

1. Subwoofers do not produce any power.

If you can legitimately explain to me how a subwoofer would back feed an amp I will buy you your favorite cookie.

2. Someone buying a shitty amp and having the gain too high will clip the amp and they will either:

A. Ruin their subs

B. Ruin their amp

C. Both A and B.

3. Neither items 1 or 2 will cause a fuse to continually blow.


So, I'll say what I said before. Keep your uninformed thoughts to yourself. Do a little reading on the subject and then maybe offer some input when you understand it.

p.s. I wasn't an ass and I like my dogs. Sorry.

[B7A4Sport]

how is that uniformed ? overloading an amp is a common problem by people buying shitty amps that can't handle the power coming from the subs or setting the gain too high....


next time you want to be an ass for no reason take it out on your dog/cat....

Omg...............bcramer, let's go halfs on a new helmet for Christmas for this guy.

[bcramer]

Omg...............bcramer, let's go halfs on a new helmet for Christmas for this guy.

HAHA I've been patiently waiting an explanation of how a subwoofer produces power that can harm the amp...

My paypal account is waiting to purchase cookies haha.

[B7A4Sport]

I think this helmet is a good fit :

[bcramer]

I think this helmet is a good fit :

Hahaha...

B7A4Sport: 1

Brent27: 0