spencer_homer

i just installed my L7 and kenwood amp, and its been killing my battery. I thought it was a bad ground connection becasue it only dies if it sits over night, so its not that big of a draw. when i unplug the amp, it doesnt die. Anyone know what it could be?

Rapmaster0

Do you wire the power on wire to the amp to be CONSTANT? Or is it wired to something like the cigarette lighter that only powers on when the key is in?

uncald4

iTrader: (3)

The amp is not hooked up right. Or your connection at the battery is very loose.

spencer_homer

its not my battery, becasue i unhooked the amp and it stopped dying. could it be a short in my amp?

daicacharco

CAPACITOR FTW <--------------

also check the wires .. what guage wire you running?

spencer_homer

4 guage. i feel like a moron, becasue ive been putting this off all week, today i finally went out there and checked it out, and it was a blown inline fuse on my power wire.

spencer_homer

well thats defiantely not the problem. my battery still dies when my amp is hooked up. Anyone know what could be wrong. My ground is good, my battery cables are tight, and all fuses are good.?

daicacharco

your suppose to wire the remote wire to the ciggarite thingy or something that turns on wehn you turn on your car.


i believe that you tapped the remote wire into a wrong line.


what i did wiht my TSX is that i tapped the ignition wire into one of the wires that is connected to the ignition.

spencer_homer

no its not my remote wire. i have that wired to an actualy remote wire on my deck.

misterdannyboy

check the voltage on your remote wire to make sure thers no power going when your car is off..

joerockt

Sure you didnt swap the power and remote wires on the amp?

spencer_homer

u mean like mix them up?

joerockt

Yea, did you check to make sure the power line isnt in the remote? If it is, that would leave the amp on 24/7...At least I think it would.

spencer_homer

no im sure that its in the right spot

joerockt

Well, its a good thing you double-checked

Castles_Saloon

spencer homer,
Do you have a digital multi meter (dmm) or ammeter?

If so, there's a few things to measure. The current draw, input voltage (battery) at the amplifier, and Remote ON voltage in the following states
1) the car is off
2)ACC is on, stereo off
3)ACC is on, Stereo ON

If you're blowing fuses then thats a big indicator that an excessive amount of current is being drawn.

The current draw can be measured by doing the following. Disconnect the battery to amplifier connection (positive side). Connect the battery side of the wire to the DMM's amps(current) + input (designated by red color) and connect another wire from the amplifier batt+ to the DMM's amp - input. Now the DMM should be connected in series with the battery line to the amplifier.
BATT (+)->DMM(amp +)->DMM(amp -)->AMPLIFIER (BATT+)

How to interprete?...
The remote ON voltage should be near 0V in states 1 & 2 and close 12v in state 3.
(look at your amp's spec to find out what the appropriate remote on and off voltages are)

If you see current when the car is off (0.1 Amps and higher), that could be bad sign. Verify the remote ON voltage is close to zero. If the remote ON is high (close to battery voltage ~12V), the your remote signal is improperly high. If the remote on is low (~0V), then your amp seems like the problem.

What current do you see when the amp is operating 'normally' (radio on, but zero volume? if this is high, then again this could be another sign that your amp is bad OR is just really power inefficient.

Good luck

spencer_homer

my dad seems to think that the amp has a short of some sort.

oh theres an voltometer on the amp, and when its on, with the volume down its gettin about 12.4 volts

Castles_Saloon

When the car is off, is the amp on. does the voltmeter read a number and if so, what value?

spencer_homer

no, when the car or deck is off, the amp isnt doing anything. its off

Castles_Saloon

the amp could still being pulling current from the battery when 'off'. if your battery is weak/old, then that might just be enough to kill it.

your sound system may be fine, but just need a new battery.

if you have a voltmeter, you could check the battery voltage when
1) car is off
2) car starting
3) car on

below 12V in state 1 is getting weak. If in state 2 its below 10V, then you may need a new batt. state 3 shows the alternator voltage is working properly. probably close to 14V. If this is low, then your alternator is not charging your batt properly.

spencer_homer

well my battery is new, and my car doesnt die when the amp is not hooked up. at first i thought it was a bad ground. but i re made that a couple times. so i dont know

joerockt

Sounds like you just need take it to a shop and get it done right.

dreem1er

iTrader: (2)

why don't you go check out the alternator and see if its not charging the battery enough when the car is on....if its not charging the battery completely then it could explain why the car is dying...as for the amp pulling the power...no amp should do that useless the amp is staying on once the car is off.....check all your wires and see if something is loose......other than that......

spencer_homer

it is done right. and its not my alternator becasue ive had the amp unplugged for 5 days and the car is running fine. my ground is good, everthing is hooked up right

smokendsm

iTrader: (1)

Seriously...it does sound like you tapped into the wrong wire. The chances of that are much higher than a faulty amp.