Polk 500.1 Monoblock Amp

[NORTH 537]

I just had two amps installed into my car, and they ran both of my amps of a power cap. It was working fine and then suddenly the bass amp cut out. It keeps turning on and off. If I have the sound barely on, then the amp stays on. I've checked all the wiring and fuses, but don't see anything wrong with them. The 4-channel amp still works fine.

[bknauss]

Exactly how is the cap hooked up to the amps? If you've got two power wires coming off the cap, there's a possibility you're getting a large drop in voltage during bass hits.

[neomagus00]

that's kinda the point of the cap though... just out of curiosity, why's the fourchannel hooked to the cap? highs really don't need one, the caps in the amp are big enough... so to get to the point, did you try skipping the cap in the powerline to the sub amp? if so, and it still doesn't work, sounds like a wiring problem, though you insisted you checked it... since you describe it as staying on with very low volume, i'd say you're arcing from the speaker wire to ground, causing the low-impedance protection circuit to kick in. check your speaker wire, and if possible, or if you're not totally completely utterly positive that this isn't it, replace it... it's just speaker wire, it's not that expensive, and it could save your amp... if you didn't bypass the cap, try that and see how it works...

[MacLeod]

Unless youre driving a Ford Aspire with a 25 amp alternator or running 4000 watts, you dont need a cap.

Try bypassing the cap and if everything works fine, take it back and get a refund.

[neomagus00]

from the behavior of the amps that was described, i'm almost positive that the cap is fine - namely due to the fact that the 4 channel that's off of it still works fine. i think it's speaker wire shorting to the chassis, because those were exactly the symptoms i had when this happened to me.

on the cap - since you've got it, i rec that you keep it; once you've gotten your amps set up properly, try it with and without (maximum volume - this is when a cap helps)...

[Grimster74]

If you had them installed by a professional, why not take it back to them. Their installation should have been covered by a warranty. Just my thought.

[neomagus00]

excellent point - at this point we're just waiting... i hate waiting...

[exalted512]

Originally posted by neomagus00
excellent point - at this point we're just waiting... i hate waiting...
wow...i thought i didnt have a life...;)
-Cody

[neomagus00]

Originally posted by exalted512
wow...i thought i didnt have a life...;)
-Cody
you're safe, you still don't :D... i just have a constant highspeed wireless connection all over campus, and as i'm on the laptop constantly, and as i get bored in class often, i end up here a lot :p