So a couple months ago I had my new system installed with a Z enclosure box with the amp rack. For the past 2-3 weeks when I get off work, between 2-4 I get in my car and the red light will be on for my amp for my sub and my sub won't work until I wait for the light to turn green which usually takes a solid 5 minutes with the A/C going at full blast. Both my amps are exactly the same siting side by side on the amp rack. Both are Elemental Designs NINe.2x. I was actually thinking of tinting my windows but my back window along with the two small back side windows are already factory tinted pretty damn dark. Is newer tint going to be that much better over factory tint? Any other suggestions?

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Sean

 

Is the amp really hot? Could be shorting out somewhere along your wires.

 

Ya, it sits probably a foot from my rear window. It's hot just from siting out in view of the sun not from running. Just trying to figure out if theres a cheap way to fix this.

 

I'm thinking you have a short somewhere. I have my pdx inside the driver side rear cubby hole enclosed with no fans..in texas 100+ degrees daily and i jam that thing 24/7 without it overheating.

 

your amp is going into protection mode. could either be a loose ground or voltage drop ..newer amps have a light to let you know if its clipping which could be happening also

 

This. All three scenarios he listed are more likely culprits than overheating

 

Do they work fine in the morning? Do you notice any cut-out while driving, like maybe over rough roads?

I agree it's in protect mode when the light is on, however......

If it was clipping it would do it whenever the amp turned on, not just in the afternoon of hot days. It would be a very odd thing for an amp to immediately go into protect for clipping (if clipping protect circuitry is in the amp) with volume turned down very low. OP, do you keep your volume low upon startup after work, or is it cranked?

If it was a loose ground, it would also show signs in the mornings and/or over rough roads. If a ground was loose and had intermittent contact, more than likely it wouldn't cause a protection switch in the amp, it would cause the power to turn on/off/on as the ground made and broke contact.

I actually do feel it could be the thermal protection switch of the amp. Contact eD and ask them what the internal temp limit is for their amps. Then buy a cheap thermometer (like the ones you can use in the oven) and put it on your amp rack to see how hot it's getting.

 

Agree. Doesn’t sound right. Amplifiers with a power protection circuit will shut down temporally. Clipping will cause a shutdown.

Shutdown due to ambient temperatures? Doubt it.

 

It might not hurt to log on to eDesigns website and try talking to them... they are usually pretty good with diagnosing problems (that has been my experience anyway).

 

I have no problems in the morning or once the car cools down. The amps do get fairly warm on a regular basis after being on for awhile but the only time they shut off is for the first 5-10 minutes after turning them on when its really hot out. I would say anything in the high 80's or higher (outside temp) and they won't work right away. (assuming I'm parked outside during the day. I contacted eD and got this response:

Unfortunately with your amplifiers location, and in the style of vehicle with the rear window placement, this can be an issue. While you have window tint, this still allows sunlight and heat to directly contact the amplifiers.

"The only reason the amplifier are going into thermal protection right at start up, is due to the heat sink temperature being in the red, as soon as the amplifiers start up. Its not that the amp electronics are creating the heat, but the environment is heating up the amplifiers. I would suggest a collapsible windshield cover but use it in the rear window to prevent the heat from getting into the amplifiers locations. Its actually good the amplifiers are doing this, as if they turned on, and ran, the heat would reach unsafe levels, not only for the electronics, but the plastic close to the amplifiers."

 

Ive got a 250w amp powering my front components that I installed last fall in the glove box behind the passenger seat. Now that the summer is here, and temps reach 100+, it frequently cuts out, and sometimes wont even turn on at all with the car until i blast the AC for 30 minutes with the windows up (and im more of a windows down no matter what kind of guy). Since im going to add another 600w amp in a rack in the same location soon, im going to try and drill a hole in the glovebox and place a large 250mm fan to get some airflow and see if that solves the problem. Ill post updates in a few weeks.

 

I've never heard of such a thing . I have only used 3 brands of amplifiers over the past 30 years (MTX , Xtant and Alpine), never has any of them ever shut down due to heat or failed to start up because of ambient temps , even in 100 + degrees .

 

What gauge power and ground wire are you using? How long are the wires? What brand are the wires? I'd try other options before going with the fans. The fan noise will drive you crazy.

 

Im currently using 8 gauge to power my 250W fosgate amp behind the passenger seat for my front components. Maybe a 6ft run for power, and as short as possible run for ground, like a foot. It still cuts out during heat.

Since it cuts out in 5 minutes when its 120F outside, 10 minutes when its 110, and 15 minutes when its 100, my brian tells me its temp related.

 

My amp does the same thing, simple way around it is to leave your windows open about an inch every time you leave the car in a hot area. Ever since I started doing that it stopped getting so damn hot and going into protective mode

 

well just in case it is the heat...Do like I did when I had my maxima..Forgot what brand it was but there was a built in fan on my amp and it cooled itself

I will say though, I have a Zenclose box myself without the amp rack. Mines does just fine in the Texas heat. It helps that when I roll down my window, where I drilled my amp, it gets nothing but air