S13 Carputer/Amplifier Audio Problems

[hakosuka86]

Installed dell PC in s13 everything works fine.Except for amplifier.

Added a 2 farad capacitorAMP still losing power

would this be a amp/power issue?? sound card???I have heard there is an external 5.1 USB sound cardswould this help or should i set up a second battery??Advice will be appreciated.

[Jager]

what gauge wiring are you running and does your car headlight or other lights dim when the amp kicks in? the pc shouldnt be overloading the car but it and the amp might be, is it a laptop or a modified psu desktop setup?

[hakosuka86]

yes sir. its a modified PSU desktop setup.

wire gauge is 8

The car has no stereo system, the line IN cable on the AMP I hooked it up to the Positive plug on the AMP to make it turn on.I have an ON/OFF button on that wire to switch on/off could that be an issue??

basically amp powers on but once the computer finishes booting up, the AMP goes into safe mode (green light goes red)AMP its 1000WT insignia

[Jager]

run thicker wiring I use 8 gauge on 200w amps,

due to its cost, try running a short run of 2 gauge or 0 gauge to the amp and see if it powers up as a test. but thicker the cable the better for a 1000w amp.

[the converted]

wire gauge would have no effect on the amp going into protection mode. If it does it as the computer finishes booting try unplugging the input to it and see if it stays on. Also try unplugging the speakers from it and see what happens. I'm leaning toward a bad amp or speakers.

[hakosuka86]

Ok I tried that. The amplifier stays on but as soon as i plug the inputs the light turns red. I uplugged the speakers and still doing the same thing. I figured it was a power issue at first but the capacitor is not even doing anything so im guessing there's no need for the extra power. Ill try to use the amp from my other car see if it does the same thing. I'll keep you guys posted.

[twistedsymphony]

I had an amp do exactly that a few years ago and it turned out to be a bad ground.

I took a wire brush on a drill and cleaned up the area where my ground was attached (even though it looked clean, bolted it back down and never had another problem.

I discovered it was a bad ground by simply using a multimeter.. the power was fine for making the amp sit idle but as soon as it tried to do something it would just fall on it's face from insufficient power due to the bad ground.

[the converted]

Good point, didn't think of that.

[hakosuka86]

thanx so much guys it ended up being a BAD AMP (from Best buy Refurnished item)well Fry's its having a sale on items rite now.