Sub going in and out?

[optimusp517]

I've had the system for a while, but recently since last month my sub hasbeen going in and out.

Here's the symptoms:

-going in and out intermittenly, sometimes out for a long period of time
-currently there's no sub
-been told it could be a fuse, but could it be cause it comes back and goes out

Where would you recommend me to check first?

[netcsk]

It's just a bad connection most likely.

Look at your amp when the sub is working and notice the power on light being lit. Now when it stops working, look at the lights again and see if the power on light and the protect lights are off, or if the protect light is on.

Check all of your connections (specifically the remote turn on wire -- the usually blue wire that tells the amp when your sytem is on).

[StereoInstaller1]

OK, so basically, the protection circuit in an amp has 3 things that will shut it down.

1. Temperature
2. Incorrect impedance
3. Incorrect voltage

So, start by measuring your impedance, then measure your voltage...then the temperature. If all 3 are within spec, check your connections, AT BOTH ENDS OF EACH WIRE!!!

If all of the above fails, replace or repair at your leisure.

Look at your amp when the sub is working and notice the power on light being lit. Now when it stops working, look at the lights again and see if the power on light and the protect lights are off, or if the protect light is on.

Great suggestion. Just be aware that many amps use this as simply an indicator that the remote wire is live...not an actual power indicator. I can't think of a good example right now, but I have been screwed many times by that.

GL, HTH,
Luke

[Garageaholic]

either that or you have a bad ground or your speaker wire is grounding out to the frame of the car soemhow.. that's what happened to me..

[browntown]

either that or you have a bad ground

Did you scrape the paint for a good metal to metal contact for your amp's ground wire?

[Garageaholic]

Did you scrape the paint for a good metal to metal contact for your amp's ground wire?

yeah, it happened years ago and that's what it was. a bad ground. Definitely something for our guy to look into...

[SeanS]

I just experience the exact thing thinking I had a loose connection, then found out it was due to overheating the amp. Appearantly if you push the amp hard and it runs hotter than it should, it will pump distorted signal to your sub, then after more heating will shut down. Well a few more of those high volume distortion feeds to the sub and my sub ended up dead! me beloved Image Dynamics is nothing but a big piece of magnet right now thanks to overheating and not properly ventilating my amp. Bottom line... it was my fault. Save your amp and your sub, ventilate it as much as possible.

Sean

[optimusp517]

That's what I'm starting tot hink too cause I've checked all connections and it's fine. Should I even bother listening to my music righ tnow even though the sub isn't running...

[SeanS]

you might want to check your sub with a different amp and see if it will play continiously. I just have a feeling once it starts cutting off, the sub is half way shot. Try to plug a different sub into the current amp and see if it plays ok in cool condition for an extended period of time. Most likely your amp is fine as it's got a built in "protection" circuitry, your sub on the other hand just gets abused to death.

[SeanS]

Should I even bother listening to my music righ tnow even though the sub isn't running...

you can disconnect the sub amp and listen to music while you're looking for a solution for your sub.

[optimusp517]

Man I don't want to drop money to get a new sub again. What's a good 10'' sub that everyone would recommend? I picked up a JL 10'' w3

[SeanS]

Man I don't want to drop money to get a new sub again. What's a good 10'' sub that everyone would recommend? I picked up a JL 10'' w3

What's your budget?

[optimusp517]

depends, what's mid range now adays? What's popular out in the market. I'd like to know what's going on before I jump to conclusion, but I' dlike to know ahead of time what's a recommendation based on testimonials :)

[SeanS]

depends, what's mid range now adays? What's popular out in the market. I'd like to know what's going on before I jump to conclusion, but I' dlike to know ahead of time what's a recommendation based on testimonials :)

I think Luke (stereoinstaller1) would be the right person to ask this to.