Car Amplifier temp

[BenzOnline]

How warm/hot are aftermarket amps supposed to get?

I recently intergrated (tapped) my sub and amp into my w202 stock system.

After a 2 hr drive with the system pretty low, the aftermarket amp was pretty warm. Is this normal?

[mikemover]

Originally Posted by BenzOnline

How warm/hot are aftermarket amps supposed to get?

I recently intergrated (tapped) my sub and amp into my w202 stock system.

After a 2 hr drive with the system pretty low, the aftermarket amp was pretty warm. Is this normal?

You might have more luck posting this in the audio forum, but...

Most new amps have built-in shutoff protection that will turn it off if it gets too hot.

However, there are things you can do to help....Make sure nothing is against or covering the amp, particularly any heat-sink areas. If it has heat sink rails, mount the amp so that they are vertical, not horizontal, so that the heat can dissipate better (Heat rises).

There are also noiseless cooling fans you can buy at most places that sell high-end car audio stuff.

Some heat is normal, though.... Especially in the summer months.

Mike

[G-Benz]

Some questions:

What is the power output of the amp?

What is the impedance? If you are loading 1 ohm in an amp designed for 4, it WILL get real hot!

What gauge wiring are you running for power?

[BenzOnline]

Clarion Amp - 400W Max - powering one 12 inch sub using 8 gauge wiring.

Amp is mounted on top sitting flat on the sub box...only place I could mount it properly. It has good ventilation.

[mikemover]

Originally Posted by G-Benz

Some questions:

What is the power output of the amp?

What is the impedance? If you are loading 1 ohm in an amp designed for 4, it WILL get real hot!

What gauge wiring are you running for power?

Good point.... I just assumed he was running it within the specified ohm load.

What is the ohm rating on the sub you're using? The amp you're using is probably only rated down to 2 ohms, possibly 4. I'm assuming you have the amp bridged......

Sounds like you've got it mounted in a good place, so as long as your ohms aren't too low, and it's not cutting out or shutting off, you're probably OK.

Mike

[mikemover]

I also thought of another possibility.

Are you using a "line-out" from your factory stereo, or is it an already-amplified signal from the regular speaker outputs that you're sending to the amp? Some amps have specific inputs for pre-amped signals, some do not.

I'm not really familiar with Clarion stuff, nor am I familiar with a factory w202 stereo system, so I don't know exactly what you're dealing with.....

If you're running "power into power", then that could be the source of excessive heat.

Mike

[BenzOnline]

The signal is coming from the rear shelf speakers in the car. Not sure the ohms but I beleive its 4ohms.

The sub doesnt cut out or cancel or shut off at all....plays and sounds very well.

Was just concerned about being more heat than there was when I had it hooked up to my 15inch sub but in that situation it was going straight to the Pioneer deck sub input in my old car.

[mikemover]

Originally Posted by BenzOnline

The signal is coming from the rear shelf speakers in the car. Not sure the ohms but I beleive its 4ohms.

The sub doesnt cut out or cancel or shut off at all....plays and sounds very well.

Was just concerned about being more heat than there was when I had it hooked up to my 15inch sub but in that situation it was going straight to the Pioneer deck sub input in my old car.

So your signal is going from the CD player, to the rear speakers, then to the new amp, then to the sub?.....

If so, that's NOT a good idea.

Mike

[BenzOnline]

its "tapped" into the stock speakers and getting the remote turn on from the MB OEM deck which supplies to sound. So the speaker wires going to the amp are yes coming from the rear speakers. I know many people who wired it this way with no issues.

[G-Benz]

Your amp is designed to take a "passive" or low-level signal...typically via RCA inputs.

"Active" inputs send a pretty hot signal to the amp. You CAN get away with this if your amp has a level adjustment screw to reduce the signal input that will more closely match a passive signal. That is not enough to cause a heat problem though.

Poor ventilation is a major cause, as is low impedance loads. Some companies can design a amp that runs relatively cool, but they usually are equipped with huge heat sinks or auxiliary fans. High powered amps w/o fans will be HOT no matter what!

If your amp isn't tripping fuses or setting off the protection circuits frequently or at all, then you are probably fine.

[BenzOnline]

I havent played it at high high volume for more than 10 mins but after a 2 hr drive with it a normal listening volume it didnt trip or do anythiing...worked and sounded excellent.

A reputable shop hooked it up to the OEM system.

[mikemover]

Originally Posted by BenzOnline

I havent played it at high high volume for more than 10 mins but after a 2 hr drive with it a normal listening volume it didnt trip or do anythiing...worked and sounded excellent.

A reputable shop hooked it up to the OEM system.

You're probably OK then.

But I have never liked the idea of coming off the rear speakers, then to an external amp, then to a sub....

G-Benz, would this not be lowering the ohm load on the head unit? Possibly making it run at a lower ohm level than it is designed for?.... Hmmm....I'll have to research this a bit more....

I also always prefer to send a line-level signal to an external amplifier, even if the amp does have "speaker-level" inputs, and/or an adjustable gain reduction control. A lot of noise/distortion can be added by the head unit's amplified signal, and/or by the gain reduction circuit.

Mike

[BenzOnline]

The amp has alot of adjustments. Bass boost is off....the dB are set to the 2nd lowest and the gain is in the middle.....it pounds and drags the bass riffs very low...20hz.

I'll keep an eye on it but I dont play it at extreme volumes.

[mikemover]

Originally Posted by BenzOnline

The amp has alot of adjustments. Bass boost is off....the dB are set to the 2nd lowest and the gain is in the middle.....it pounds and drags the bass riffs very low...20hz.

I'll keep an eye on it but I dont play it at extreme volumes.

I'd say you have nothing to worry about, then.

Enjoy.

Mike

[BenzOnline]

Sounds good thanks!