Well i finally finished my audio install today, once the Image Dynamics subs arrived. Ended up as a pretty bad night, ill try to explain everything in detail and not leave anything out. I am running two amps, one for the speakers (wired direct), and one for the amps (two 10's). 4ga cable from the battery with a 100a fuse, into a dist. block (40a each side) where i ran 8 ga to each amp. Then a 4g ground for the subwoofer amp, and normal 8 gauge from the other one. For the past week i've left the fuse out of the side that powers the sub amp, and only ran off my speakers. Tonight installing the subs, i was listening to my music as normal. But once i had everything installed, instead of being smart and shutting the system down, inserting the fuse for the subs, and then restarting, i dropped the fuse into place, it sparked a little and was fine. Thought nothing of it, removed it once i discovered a wiring mistake(in sub box), and continued to adjust some wiring in the speaker box. Once i had the wiring all set up and ready to go, i dropped the fuse in again, this time thinking i'd get the same result. Well this time it sparked, and shut down the speakers. Head unit (AVIC D3) still works as normal, shows it's playing a song, etc. Checked all the fuses, 4ga from the battery, 40a (x2) at the block, 30a (x2) in each amp, and ALL fuses under the dash, including the 10a in the back of the AVIC. What gets me, is that the "thermal" light is illuminated on both amps. The amp for the subs was cold because i was not using it, so i know it's not a heat problem. Im assuming it's some sort of voltage problem, or a blown fuse (somewhere?) I'm lost here because i do not know what to do. Im taking 5 people to a concert about 150 miles away on saturday, so im hoping to hell it's not a broken amp(s), something more simple. Please pull through for me FTE. Thanks.

 

Do you have a mutlimeter kris? What do the instructions say in troubleshooting section about the thermal light?

 

Yes i have a multimeter. Didnt go for the instruction booklet but i did read that if the amps are under powered (< 11vdc) they will not run. Ran the truck for a few mins, no change.

 

How many volts do you have at the power split.

 

Are the amps fan cooled? I had a pioneer premier once that overheated and turned itself off until it cooled enough to come back on. I doubt by what u said happened they actually over heated though.

Some electrical equipment has an actual "THERMAL" in it, like a mini fuse kinda, when it is cooked though its usually internal and has to be opened up and new ones soldered in, all electric motors have thermals in them.

 

just go over the wiring really careful, i would completely disconnect the amps power and ground and then put them back on. also check with your DMM the voltage going to the distroblock and then the voltage going into the amp. also make sure the amps are grounded bare metal not paint.

i would also pull out all the fuses with the battery - disconnected and make sure none are blown either on the amp wire or distro block.

 

Thanks guys, traced it to a bad ground. Both amps were grounded to the same spot on a small small bolt (one that holds the junk tray down behind the seat), changed them to seperate ones, the seat belt bolts and its good now. Damn the bass hits HARD, the mirror fell off once already!

 

Glad it was a simple fix....hope that it scared you enough to NEVER drop those fuses into a "hot" circuit again....you are lucky to not have to replace those internal thermal fuses.

 

Good stuff, glad you didnt really hurt anything, the fuse advice above is a good one. Even though its DC 12 volts there is still alot of current running through there. Kris every once and a while just check those grounds and make sure they are of sufficient size for what your doing, if they get too HOT, they WILL catch something on fire. The GROUND is more important than the HOT in this case

 

please post some pics of the audio install!!!!!!!!

 

just wondering, what size are the amps your running, 4ga wire seems a bit small for most of the stereo work ive ever done, and 8ga is what i use inside my sub boxes to the speakers... anyway, glad you got everything working for you.

 

Glad you have got it all up and running. You'll have to keep us posted on how you like it all after you've had it in for a while.

 

what size subs/sub box can we fit in the back of the CC under the seats?

 

You can squeeze 2-3 10"s behind the seat. Not enough room to do anything decent under the seats.

 

Here are pics of the install, just click on the picture to go to my Webshots.



Just in case you didn't know, 4 gauge is twice the size that of a 8 gauge wire. (diameter not area im assuming). I got them fused at 40 amps for each amplifier and if it blows fuses i can upgrade to 50a's i have.