Amplifier Fuse Keeps Blowing? Help

**Dom02Wj** · 01-20-2007, 09:48 PM

My buddy bought a Mazda 6 with a Audiobahn amp(2ch) and Alpine sub(12") recently. It doesnt work as it is stuck in Protection mode. The previous owner had the system working but didnt bother finding the problem. I went to go help my friend torubleshoot and discoverd the fuse by the battery was toast. That was replaced, but when we powered back up, the Amp fuse sparked and fried and went into protection mode in a matter of seconds. I got the voltmeter and check the powersupply going into the amp and that was fine, and while glancing at the connections I realizied that the RCAs were plugged into Negative Input and Negative Ouput. Would this cause the fuse to blow? I already blown the fuse, so I couldnt go back and try again. Anyone have any idea?? Once we buy the fuse, im goin to disocnnect the RCA's and sub, and see if the amp shorts again without anything connect. Any help is greatly appreciated? The guys at Best Buy and Circuit are worthless.

**Megalomaniac** · 01-21-2007, 12:21 AM

What size wire & fuse are/were you using?

**stanford1621** · 01-21-2007, 01:25 AM

disconnect the amp first, that way if there is a probelm it is protected, then check the power wires with your meter with the car running.

It sound like your powerwire is too small and it melted then shorted out somewhere.

**Jahntassa** · 01-21-2007, 03:16 AM

Actually it sounds like one of several things:

1. Your power wires into the amp are reversed
2. Something in the amp is shorted
3. Your sub is shorted
4. Your sub is incorrectly hooked up and is showing a lower load than the amp can handle.

Your idea to test is a good one. Unplug everything but power, put a new fuse in, see if it blows. If it does, most likely the amp is the problem.

Connect the sub. If the fuse blows, most likely the sub is the problem.

**Dom02Wj** · 01-21-2007, 08:35 AM

Its 8 guage wiring.

The Power wire to ground at the amp has 14.5volts
REmote lead to ground has 14.5volts

Someone else has told me it was the power wiring, but it makes no sense since the guy had the system working fine until he did something to throw it into protection mode. Its a small 2ch audiobahn, I am unsure on the watts, but I dont think its anything too large.

Its in a tight spot in the trunk without much slack, but i got to get back there and double check all this guys connections.

Thanks for your input

EDIT: The new fuse near the battery is a 60 and the amplifier fuse a 40

**RedGTiVR6** · 01-21-2007, 10:47 AM

you're shorting out somewhere. Check your grounds and make sure none of the wiring is pinched (speaker and power wiring mind you).

Someone else has told me it was the power wiring, but it makes no sense since the guy had the system working fine until he did something to throw it into protection mode.

I'm failing to see your reasoning here. It was working before and now it's not...that means something has changes. If you have no idea what the previous owner did, then you need to start from scratch.

1) check ALL of your connections. If they are soldered, check the solder joints. If they are crimped, check the crimp connections.
2) check your grounds. They should be 100% solid. None of this moving around stuff. You should have bare metal to bare metal for the ground. The paint should have been scraped away and the terminal (ring or spade) should be flush with the metal you're grounding to.
3) audiobahn amps have been known to cause these problems in the past. they are not very good amps. They don't have the built in protection that other higher quality amps do.