Altec Lansing 5.1 Amp Messed Up, Need Help!

nFiniteTuning · 03-16-2005, 05:04 PM

Well...I was wiring the amp back into its 12v source on my pc since I moved the pc back into my room temporarily, and I belive I crossed the 12v wires on accident, nothin is wrong with the pc, but the amp threw out some smoke for the split second it was connected wrong.

With the volume from 0-75, the two front channels work just fine, the rear channels are low on sound and have a buzzing sound going through them while sounds go through them, Center channel I dunno since I haven't played a DVD since this happend.

If I turn up the volume from 75-80, left front channel turns off completely.

80-82 the right left channel turns off completely

82-100 nothing else happens except the volume rises in the two rear channels, they are still sounding like crap and have that buzzing sound while stuff is being played on them.

Anyone know what happend when those wires got crossed? What can I replace to fix this? I dont exactly have enough money right now to build up my amps and speakers.

lmao, I dont think I should be workin on electronics while I'm sick. My cell phone wont turn on any more and wont accept a charge, and I blow up my 5.1 Amp! It was running soo damn great in the car, Amazing throwing in a DVD, and actualy experiencing DTS like what you get to hear in the movie theaters, awwwwww, it was a dream! Especialy with DVD Music, I got alot of DVD's from diff bands that is digitaly remastered into 5.1 suround, so its cool hearing sounds where they are supposed to be....the band playing infront of you, and a huge crowd around you whisteling n alla that. It was fun, now I'm sad!

csnowman00 · 03-17-2005, 09:59 AM

im sorry to tell ya, but it sounds like you fryed a mosfet transistor or two, these are basically the things that do the amplifying. if you have a meter that can test transistors, check them out and see what ones need to be replaced...it shouldnt be that hard to do....after you get better that is

nFiniteTuning · 03-17-2005, 12:25 PM

Well there's a crap load of stuff on this board, even a riser board. What do I need to look for?

I really wish this wouldn't have happend, because I'm in no position to upgrade or even buy a replacement Suround System. I loved this setup cause unlike everyone I know (home or anything) my car had DTS! It was amazing to throw in a DVD and you hear stuff behind you. Especialy on The Chronicles Of Riddick, that movie rocks for suround.

CavityCr33p · 03-17-2005, 12:42 PM

Another person using computer amp in a car, Can you give me some specs on how you hooked it as in power and if you used the altec speakers, or car speakers?

csnowman00 · 03-17-2005, 09:48 PM

transistors...there black with a metal tab on the back of them, its usually screwed into the case or a heatsink...there about the size of a chicklet with at least 3 pins coming out of the bottom

GR8FLPT · 03-17-2005, 11:34 PM

you saw smoke. So that means something is burned (obvisously)... what I mean is if you open it up & look at it with a bright light. You might see what burned & might be able to replace it.
When electronics break, the best (easiest) repairs are the ones when the smoke comes out. It leaves tell tale signs so a one can go back to repair whatever fried.

sorry yo hear about it but it might not be that bad.

nFiniteTuning · 03-19-2005, 12:31 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by CavityCr33p

Another person using computer amp in a car, Can you give me some specs on how you hooked it as in power and if you used the altec speakers, or car speakers?

lol, I think I'm the first person that did it. I put a big post up a few months back. And I'll answer your question.

I didn't use the Altec speakers. The amp (which was located inside the sub box and has all the connections on it) just had RCA outputs, so I wired that to my Infinity Components front and back, and its also hooked up to my sub. Which POUNDS HARD! And its supposed to be like a cheap lil 50w system or somethin, its loud, clear and hard! I am using the Altec center channel, since its tiny and easy to hide flush in the dash.

As for power. If you open up the sub box to look at the amp, you'll see there is a BIG power block.....its an inverter, in120V / out12V. Too much power makes the speakers hum, but thats meaning like 15+v. 14 is the max your car will EVER put out while running. So I pulled the entire amp out, and made itself, its own little black box, its tiny....about the size of a jewlery box. I cut the red and black wires goin from the inverter to the amp, and hooked up my own connector so I can wire it to my car battery. Works just great!

BTW, when I said my 250w 8" bandpass pioneer sub bumps HARD...I'm talking about with the sub turned down on the amp itself, all the way it hits hard, let alone turned up......I can't turn it up most of the time because I get too much attention from cops.

Now onto the problem....Well the speakers turning on and off with diff volume settings is gone. fronts are working fine in a way, but when I turn up the volume really loud, alot of bass goes through the two front channels. The rear channels are still very dim, but there is less buzz. As well as less hum from the sub. So maybe whatever it was, cooled down. I think the smoke came from the inverter, since I hooked it back up to that temporarily in my room so I can watch a movie....hehe I have it setup so I just pull the lil DTS Amp box, and plug it up in my room real quick and I got suround sound.

nFiniteTuning · 03-19-2005, 12:34 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by csnowman00

transistors...there black with a metal tab on the back of them, its usually screwed into the case or a heatsink...there about the size of a chicklet with at least 3 pins coming out of the bottom

there's alot of those on a huge heat sink.

nFiniteTuning · 03-19-2005, 07:08 PM

Err, NM. There's 2 BIG ones on a huge heat sink. And there's another small one with 3 wires in, thats not screwed into any heat sink.

what do I need to check for? I'm gonna check the power goin into the amp, cause the smoke, I remember seing come from the inverter, so maybe Its not gettin enough power...the power light on the controller is kinda dim.