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Amp power troubles

Discussion in 'Car Stereo Amplifiers' started by Ice Cold, Jul 18, 2009.

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  1. Ice Cold

    Ice Cold Full Member

    I went to get my new system installed

    Diable Audio Technologies - hellfire 1000.1 mono block running two alpine type r 10's.

    It worked out great for a little while and then I blew a fuse in the wiring kit. The guys knew rite away, but didn't have the fuse they wanted to use and threw in something a little bigger to be temporary. My amp fried. They replaced it and fixed the wiring and now they are telling me the current going to my amp is dropping too low and I need a new battery. My amp turns on but it sounds like it's trying too hard because it's only partially pushing the beats :[.

    I have a 97 toyota tercel with die hard gold battery. Stock alternator most likely. Stock alternator wire. I believe I have a 6 gauge or better running to the amp.

    So my question is.... does this sound right and if so, what should I get?....
     
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2009
    Ice Cold, Jul 18, 2009
    #1
  2. Lazy Eye

    Lazy Eye Full Member

    I would do the big 3 upgrade, and get an optima yellow top battery.
     
    Lazy Eye, Jul 18, 2009
    #2
  3. pedro quiroga

    pedro quiroga Well-Known Member

    6 gauge is just barely big enough for that amp. maybe the wires to the subs got crossed. try rewiring them.
     
    pedro quiroga, Jul 18, 2009
    #3
  4. elitecarsound

    elitecarsound Full Member

    min 4ag power cable and check all earths eg the battery to ground to
     
    elitecarsound, Jul 19, 2009
    #4
  5. Kvo_8

    Kvo_8 Full Member

    that amp is beast and needs a good 4 gauge
     
    Kvo_8, Jul 19, 2009
    #5
  6. cccullen

    cccullen Full Member

    for 1k watts? i would go with at least 2ga wires... upgrade your wiring under the hood as well to the big 3.

    did you change your battery yet?

    I really want to hear some reviews on the diablo amps..
     
    cccullen, Jul 19, 2009
    #6
  7. Ice Cold

    Ice Cold Full Member

    I replaced the battery and it was working pretty good for a while...
    After a week or so though the bass turned off and my amp started smoking. I don't know if i'm having the power problem and its killing amps.... I don't know if they just can't wire it right. I don't know if the amp is what's doing me dirty, but so far everyone else that's said they have the same amp is enjoying it without my problem...........

    If adding a optima yellow top to my car seems to have helped my power problem.... should I be looking at something else for a solution or could it still be a power problem?

    I have no idea what I should do or say when I go back to the shop to make sure they fix my problems =/.

    Someone else told me maybe if the gain was too high the amp was drawing too much and fried.... does that happen? I always thought gain was like volume.....


    Anyway. If it's the power i'm ready to do something like a big 3 upgrade to fix it......, but I just want to be sure I do the rite thing. I had to save money for this system.. I didn't really save extra expecting things to go so wrong for me.... Most people I know didn't have to go back to a shop more than once to have everything running okay...

    If anyone has any ideas please speak up. I appreciate all the help @_@

    edit: Anyone know what shops might charge me to do that big 3 upgrade for me? I'm sure it'd atleast help my battery life =/
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2009
    Ice Cold, Jul 26, 2009
    #7
  8. cccullen

    cccullen Full Member

    Do the big 3 upgrade yourself... It's not hard at all, i was able to do it myself. If I can do it myself then anybody can do it. lol

    Gain is not a volume knob... you can really hurt your gear by turning up the gain too high...

    If i were you, i'd set my gains with a DMM...

    here's a video on how to set your gains using a DMM...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm4aaC87ARg
     
    cccullen, Jul 26, 2009
    #8
  9. Ice Cold

    Ice Cold Full Member

    Do you have a vid or something like that for the big 3 upgrade?

    When you say "you can really hurt your gear by turning up the gain too high" does that mean it could hurt the amp itself as well? I am asking because that would mean my friend could possible be right. I'm looking at the video rite now too so, if it answers that for me lol I am so sorry for asking something you already helped me learn.

    Thanks for the quick answers too =)
     
    Ice Cold, Jul 26, 2009
    #9
  10. cccullen

    cccullen Full Member

    yes, it could hurt the amp and it will for sure hurt the subs or speakers... gain turned up too high will clip the signal which is a very bad thing...

    hmm, i'll try to search for a video but i'll paste a link so you can read about it for now.

    http://www.caraudiotalk.com/audio-forum/showthread.php?t=3987
     
    cccullen, Jul 26, 2009
    #10
  11. cccullen

    cccullen Full Member

    cccullen, Jul 26, 2009
    #11
  12. Ice Cold

    Ice Cold Full Member

    I'm gonna check those out... hm... how much time should I set aside to do it? How long did it take you?

    Hopefully once they fix everything for me i won't have anymore trouble with this @_@
     
    Ice Cold, Jul 26, 2009
    #12
  13. cccullen

    cccullen Full Member

    It took me about an hour or hour and a half i think. the part that took me the longest was not the actual connecting, it was the prep for the wires.. Took me a while to put the ring terminals on and solder them.
     
    cccullen, Jul 26, 2009
    #13
  14. pedro quiroga

    pedro quiroga Well-Known Member

    the big 3 is easy. make sure you use a good thick wire. at least 4 gauge. thicker if you can find it.

    took me about 2 1/2HRs. that was with prepping and crimping. make sure you disconnect the batt too.
     
    pedro quiroga, Jul 26, 2009
    #14
  15. Lazy Eye

    Lazy Eye Full Member

    I'm thinking about doing it in my Durango now.... how much would the wire cost?
     
    Lazy Eye, Jul 27, 2009
    #15
  16. pedro quiroga

    pedro quiroga Well-Known Member

    not too much i would think.. what size wire would be looking at doing?

    i used ring terminals from lowes cause they were huge and cheap, but best buy sells 4 gauge rings(4 of em) for 4 bucks. those are 4 awg tho. so if you go bigger....
     
    pedro quiroga, Jul 27, 2009
    #16
  17. pedro quiroga

    pedro quiroga Well-Known Member

    i only used like 8 feet of wire.
     
    pedro quiroga, Jul 27, 2009
    #17
  18. Lazy Eye

    Lazy Eye Full Member

    well my amp is pretty power hungry and my lights dim pretty bad I would probably wanna go with maybe 2awg? what do you think?
     
    Lazy Eye, Jul 27, 2009
    #18
  19. pedro quiroga

    pedro quiroga Well-Known Member

    sure. 2awg will deff work.
     
    pedro quiroga, Jul 27, 2009
    #19
  20. Lazy Eye

    Lazy Eye Full Member

    ok I need to get some money and I'll do it.
     
    Lazy Eye, Jul 28, 2009
    #20
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