Amp Safe Mode

[LTU_max]

I have a Sony 600w amp (2ch) to power my jl audio sub and for some reason it goes into safe mode when I turn up the volume. When my volume is near 100%, a little red light comes on instead of green on the amp, and it's not hot, nothing of that nature. What could be causing this? On normal volume levels the amp works fine, no problems at all. When I turn the power off with my key and turn it back on the amp is working again, but soon after it goes out. Any suggestions?

[Ovaltine Jenkins]

probably detects clipping and shuts off. You might have set your gains wrong...

[Pablito]

make sure ure ground is connected good, and make sure th gain isnt turned up too high on the amp

[Ovaltine Jenkins]

there are formulas to use to set your gains correctly..........

[LTU_max]

there are formulas to use to set your gains correctly..........

Have a link?

[f550maranello2]

what impedence are ur subs set to and also the amp.. you could be over loading the amp..

[LTU_max]

I think the sub is with the dual 2 ohm voice coils.

Amp Specs:
Minimum Impedance Bridged: 4 Ohms
Minimum Impedance Unbridged: 2 Ohms


Should I bridge my sub then? Since I have the dual voice coils at 2 ohms each (I think). I couldn't find a real answer on the impedance of my sub (JL Audio 12W3D2) and my amp is Sony Xplod XM2100GTX. Thanks for any help.

Here are a few pics of the setup:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/Lithuanian/Amp005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/Lithuanian/Amp009.jpg

[f550maranello2]

alright let me take a look hold on...

[f550maranello2]

for this to work u need to put the coils on the sub in series... to get 4 ohms

then u need to be briding the amp also...

[LTU_max]

for this to work u need to put the coils on the sub in series... to get 4 ohms

then u need to be briding the amp also...


How do I put the sub in series? Can't I just bridge it how it is now?

[Brian]

If it's like my inverter, the safe mode kicks in when voltage or amperage drops below a set safe level.
Several car stereos do the same thing.

[f550maranello2]

How do I put the sub in series? Can't I just bridge it how it is now?


no u need to put the coils in series.. there is 2 of them..

so what u gotta do is this
http://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/woofer_configurations.asp

select 1 speaker and then select 2 ohm dual voice coil..its simple..

what u are currently doing is straining the amplifier ur gonna destroy it if u dont change it..

[f550maranello2]

If it's like my inverter, the safe mode kicks in when voltage or amperage drops below a set safe level.
Several car stereos do the same thing.


ur inverter will shut off or sound an alarm because ur overdrawing current and overheating the unit....

[IIDMOII]

no u need to put the coils in series.. there is 2 of them..

so what u gotta do is this
http://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/woofer_configurations.asp

select 1 speaker and then select 2 ohm dual voice coil..its simple..

what u are currently doing is straining the amplifier ur gonna destroy it if u dont change it..

ya thats pretty much all you have to do... here is another diagram for ya
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h96/iidmoii/1_2ohmDVC_4ohm.gif

[f550maranello2]

yep that is what im talking about... just wire it up that way and make sure u dont screw up ur positives and negatives.. and make sure u bridget the amp also

[IIDMOII]

yes sir, at first i thought he had 2 subs and was like wait there is no way in hell you can get that to work on that amp...

[f550maranello2]

thats what i thought too i was like where the fawk is the other 2 wires going? uhhh where are they going?

[Xmax]

By looking at your picture, it looks like you might be running a 10 gauge or a 8 gauge, try upgrading it to a 4 gauge. I had the same problem with my amp, I thought it was the amp, but a friend told be I needed to upgrade the wires, I did for both the power and the ground and now it works perfectly. Your amp is trying to get more juice from the battery, but it can't since the wires you are using is hindering it from getting that power.

[IIDMOII]

try that if rewiring your subs doesnt work, but that wiring should be fine with the amp that you have... 8 gaugwe wire can handle an amp up to 800 watts, and 10 gauge is somewhere around 700. check you basic stuff such as the wiring not being exposed anywhere, make sure you have a good ground...

[Brian]

ur inverter will shut off or sound an alarm because ur overdrawing current and overheating the unit....
no, it was low voltage problem.

[LTU_max]

Bump....

So for wiring my sub into a series, I only need 3 wires to do the job? Also with the 2 wires going to the amp from the sub, following this diagram:
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h96/iidmoii/1_2ohmDVC_4ohm.gif
I would connect the wires into the + and - of the (BTL) on the amp like so?:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/Lithuanian/AmpArrows.jpg

Just want to make sure before I go and do this.

[BigPoppa7]

http://www.subwoofertools.com/forum/setgain.asp

[LTU_max]

In the end I did what maranello suggested, and it works perfect. Now I can have as loud as I want, without the amp giving out. Thanks man :pimp:

[f550maranello2]

see told ya im a genious..... :>

[LTU_max]

Need some more help here. I'm looking for a more powerful amp, the 250watt RMS that my amp currently puts out is weak, and I want some more power. I was thinking of getting another Sony amp (XM2002GTR). It's 1200watts peak and 500watts RMS x 1 at 4ohms. On the JL Audio web site it says that 600+ watts RMS and the warranty is void. Any suggestions on an amp?

Here's the chart:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/Lithuanian/SubwooferChart.jpg