Sub install question

[drz400dude]

So I pulled the subs out of my truck, and installed them in my trunk. Basic setup. 2 kicker comp RT 10's, alpine mrv-m500 amp. When I turn the car on with the subs connected to the amp, the amp goes on and off, in about 1/2 second intervals. With no subs connected the amp stays on steady. What would cause this?

Thanks.

[Leonardo]

Check out your power wires. I always run a bigger ground wire. Those connections are everything. It may look like a good connection, but when the subs take power, it is not good enough. Scrape to bare metal, paint is more insulating than you think. I modified my spare tire hold down bolt for my ground. It is working great for me.

Also, Check your fuses on the amp, and power wire. A partial blown fuse will cause strange behaviors.

Good luck!

[gramicci101]

Comp RT 101 or 102? Are they wired series/series, series/parallel, or parallel/parallel?

If it's 2x CompRT101's wired in series/parallel (1 Ohm total load) or parallel/parallel (0.25 Ohm total load), you're presenting too low of an impedance for the 2 Ohm-stable amp to operate properly. Series/series presents a 4 Ohm load, which will work fine, it just isn't getting the most you can get out of the amp.

If it's 2x CompRT102's wired in parallel/parallel (1 Ohm total load), same thing. Wiring them in series/parallel would be an ideal match for the amp. Series/series will give you an 8 Ohm load, which will work , but isn't ideal.

[Leonardo]

I agree! ^

DVC subs, ahhh. Yeah your ohm load will cause the amp to think it has a direct short and shut down. Not all amps are stable at 1 or 2ohms. 8ohm is going to be not as loud, but is safe and should work.

[drz400dude]

My ground I attached under the carpet to one of the bolts that looks to be holding down the tail light fixture. It is not painted so it's already bare metal. Maybe I can find a better ground?

I also checked the fuses. The one off the battery is brand new (I broke the old one taking it out of my truck). And the fuses on the amp look good. I've never seen a partially blown fuse? I'll look closer.

I also just noticed as soon as the amp gets power the sub slowly "puffs out" and stays there. weird stuff going on.

[gramicci101]

Originally Posted by Leonardo

I agree! ^

DVC subs, ahhh. Yeah your ohm load will cause the amp to think it has a direct short and shut down. Not all amps are stable at 1ohm. 8ohm is going to be not as loud, but is safe and should work.

Even more fun: the 101 is dual 1 Ohm. I have a CompRT 81, but I also have a 0.5 Ohm stable amp that was designed to work with it.

[Leonardo]

Originally Posted by drz400dude

My ground I attached under the carpet to one of the bolts that looks to be holding down the tail light fixture. It is not painted so it's already bare metal. Maybe I can find a better ground?

I also checked the fuses. The one off the battery is brand new (I broke the old one taking it out of my truck). And the fuses on the amp look good. I've never seen a partially blown fuse? I'll look closer.

I also just noticed as soon as the amp gets power the sub slowly "puffs out" and stays there. weird stuff going on.

Gramicci101 had some great ideas that I missed. I would look into his suggestions.

Also, it is painted where you attached the bolt.

[Leonardo]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

Even more fun: the 101 is dual 1 Ohm. I have a CompRT 81, but I also have a 0.5 Ohm stable amp that was designed to work with it.

Nice! That sounds awesome I bet! Thanks, I did not know the specs on his subs.

[drz400dude]

So I moved my ground cable to the spare tire hold down bolt. I also disconnected one of the subs, so I'm just running directly to one sub from the amp. It's still doing the power cycling, and while it is on the speaker seems like it is crackling and making noise. The stereo isn't even on at this point.

I'm also not sure which sub it is, it came as a prefab that fit perfectly under my trucks back seat. This is what I have.

https://www.vminnovations.com/Produc...bi-hoCr9bw_wcB

[drz400dude]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

Comp RT 101 or 102? Are they wired series/series, series/parallel, or parallel/parallel?

If it's 2x CompRT101's wired in series/parallel (1 Ohm total load) or parallel/parallel (0.25 Ohm total load), you're presenting too low of an impedance for the 2 Ohm-stable amp to operate properly. Series/series presents a 4 Ohm load, which will work fine, it just isn't getting the most you can get out of the amp.

If it's 2x CompRT102's wired in parallel/parallel (1 Ohm total load), same thing. Wiring them in series/parallel would be an ideal match for the amp. Series/series will give you an 8 Ohm load, which will work , but isn't ideal.

The website says 4 Ohm each. So if I wire them in series it should be 2 Ohm total right? But even with only one hooked up it is still acting weird.

[drz400dude]

So I just tried it again, this time with the car running because I was scared I was going to drain my battery since I've been messing with this. This time the amp stayed on, but the speaker started smoking.