new amp keeps blowing fuse

hatchet · #1 (**permalink**) 03-17-2007, 05:33 PM

I got a new 200 watt 2 channel amp thats hooked up to my door speakers only.The guy hooked it to my battery on the neg side.I also have a 300 watt amp for my subs thats hooked to my starter solenoid that never gave me a problem.but for some reason when i turn my stereo up loud the fuse will blow in my fuse box in the truck a 15 amp fuse the fuse is fuse number 8 i cant understand why it keeps blowing this fuse,it only started doing this when i got the new amp for my door speakers.WHAT i connect both amps to the starter solenoid think that would be better or no?any info will help thanks!

P.S. the trucks a 97 f 350 with a 95 amp alternator with a 1000 cranking amp battery.

Joms · #2 (**permalink**) 03-17-2007, 06:18 PM

It sounds like when it was hooked up the amp was not installed properly. There should be the ground cable that can hook anywhere...frame...cab...etc...just make sure it is a good piece of metal. There is a positive cable that should ALWAYS have power on it, most of the time this is hooked through a fusiable link directly to the battery...or in your case the starter solenoid, although I DO NOT recommend this spot! There is also a 'Remote' wire, most of the time this is blue that should also go to the amp, it should come from the radio or head end unit. When the system is turned on, 12 volts is applied to that wire to tell the amp to turn on. If there is no positive cable, just a remote wire it will cause that fuse to blow when more power is in demand. Also, if the wire is somewhat loose or there are little 'hairs' hanging out from around the screw termainal that can be touching something, ground, positive, frame, etc, it will also cause that fuse to pop...

bigredneck47240 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-17-2007, 07:22 PM

i would run the power wire to the silenoid or the battery have always done it that way and had no problems but check and make sure that everything joms said is correct too

X-OvrDistortion · #4 (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 05:30 PM

The wire should be placed on the battery. Every install I have ever seen has been this way. Why hook it to the solenoid? I am thinking that you stand a better change of making the magical smoke fairy appear.

What awg are you using? Are both the negative and positive the same size wires? Are you using a distribution block?

Make the ground cable as short as you can.

Like Joms said, check for frayed wires.

If you listed the equipment you have, it would be easier to help.

SPL Tech · #5 (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 11:26 PM

First of all the starter solenoid wire is for the starter solenoid and nothing else. Connecting the amp wire to it is getto rigging. However that won’t cause the problem you are having. But you should connect the wire to the battery. What fuse are you blowing? What does the manual say that fuse is for?