Not sure how to test or figure out

89lowerednewproje · 08-31-2009, 11:47 PM

I have a pioneer amp and a MA sub. The amp is a 800 max and about 300 constant, and the MA sub is a 300 rms constant. Nothing too big, but I have had the setup for 4-5 years now. I had a bad battery the other day, and changed it out. In the process I disconnected my amp by taking the fuse that is inline on my power wire. I accidentally broke said fuse. It was a 80 amp fuse, and I bought a couple of 60 amp fuses at Autosone, as they were the biggest ones they had. I replace the fuse, and it works fine. I ran it for a few days, then one day I was playing a bass test thru it, and it cut out, so I turned it down so it would not be drawing too much. It wouldnt come back on. The amp has power, the fuse is good, and I replaced it with another one and all the conections are good.

I wouldnt think a smaller fuse would hurt it, just not let it draw as much power so it wouldnt hit as hard as loud. Where should I look, what should I check, whats left, and what are the odds that I blew my speaker up? I didnt do anything different than what I have done before except the fuse amperage difference.

juddspaintballs · 08-31-2009, 11:55 PM

i think you have a slight misconception of how the fuse works, but that doesn't really make a big difference right now. if the new fuse isn't blown and you're getting 12v+ through it, then the fuse on the power wire is likely not your problem.

you say the amp has power. stick a voltmeter probe on your power and ground wires and test for 12+ volts DC. then check the same on your remote and ground wire too. doesn't hurt to check it...

my next usual step would be to check head unit settings and amplifier settings. what are your amp's current settings set to? gain/level, frequency cutoffs, other filters, etc.? what model amp and head unit do you have and what model subwoofer do you have (do you know if it's single voice coil or dual voice coil?)?

there's lots of things to diagnose, but just from your short blurb without further information (yet), i'd guess it has something to do with your amp or head unit settings, the amplifier on it's way out, or the subwoofer on it's way out. lots of things to test based on what's going on and how you say everything is setup. reply with some more specifics and we'll try to help you better.

89lowerednewproje · 09-01-2009, 12:19 AM

Ok, I will have to get more info tomorrow. I know for now that I didnt change any of the settings. They are the same ones we put the amp when I installed it 4 years ago. Also its a dual voice coil sub cause we had to wire it to drop the ohms, and I didnt think to pull the speaker out to see if a wire dropped out, it could have worked its way out, and they are the only ones that I cant visually check.

Also if I am a little off on the way the fuse works, please to fill me in, as I thought that was right.

juddspaintballs · 09-01-2009, 07:33 AM

A smaller fuse isn't like a bouncer at a club. It doesn't allow only a certain amount of current through and then tell the next ampere trying to get in that she's gotta wait because there's already enough skanky hoes inside. It's more like a fire marshall. It lets a certain amount of current through and when the next ampere tries to get it, it shuts the whole place down so nobody is having a good time.

iroc2nv · 09-01-2009, 09:22 AM

I had the same problem with my RF amp, it was a bad fuse. Replaced it and it started playing. The fuse was bad, but only a little. It wasn't drawing the correct voltage.

geraldwp · 09-01-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by juddspaintballs

A smaller fuse isn't like a bouncer at a club. It doesn't allow only a certain amount of current through and then tell the next ampere trying to get in that she's gotta wait because there's already enough skanky hoes inside. It's more like a fire marshall. It lets a certain amount of current through and when the next ampere tries to get it, it shuts the whole place down so nobody is having a good time.

the fire marshall analogy is awesome. i love it man.

geraldwp · 09-01-2009, 11:04 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by iroc2nv

I had the same problem with my RF amp, it was a bad fuse. Replaced it and it started playing. The fuse was bad, but only a little. It wasn't drawing the correct voltage.

only "a little" bad?? a fuse is either good or blown.

juddspaintballs · 09-01-2009, 04:41 PM

actually...i had a fuse a while ago that wasn't blown and would let 12v through, but it was degraded enough that only a few amperes would get through and then it would stop working. almost like the fusible link inside was acting like a bi-metal thermostat, it would bend ever so slightly away from the connection after it saw a couple of amperes and then all power would be lost. very uncommon though...

NEEDAZ · 09-01-2009, 05:47 PM

^^^ Yup. I don't like the statement "only a little bad", but fuses can fail the way Juddspaintballs said, and they can melt but not open making them like a resistor. Start pulling a current through them and they can get a considerable voltage drop.

"The fuse was bad, but only a little. It wasn't drawing the correct voltage." The second part of that statement is, well, just, ummm, WAY off.

iroc2nv · 09-01-2009, 07:41 PM

Well, it was .....

89lowerednewproje · 09-02-2009, 10:30 PM

Well it just stopped working totally. I have replaced the fuse on the power wire itself already. I will check the two fuses on the amp themselves, I didnt pull them because the little visible link didnt look bad but it may be in a different spot. I will also take a volt meter and check the volts on the connections in the next couple of days.
More worried about the flat tire right now.

89lowerednewproje · 11-05-2009, 08:58 PM

Ok, I hate to dig out old threads, BUT I am just curious, what would be an easy way to test a sub to see if it is that. I have checked all fuses and all connections.

bigb19812000 · 11-05-2009, 09:20 PM

use your multi meter to test for continuity.On my multi meter it is the setting that looks like a sound wave

If it beeps than the speaker is good.

89lowerednewproje · 11-05-2009, 09:26 PM

Thanks so much.

08-31-2009, 11:47 PM	#1
89lowerednewproje Registered User Age: 22 Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 610 Location: Dothan, AL User is: OffLine	Not sure how to test or figure out I have a pioneer amp and a MA sub. The amp is a 800 max and about 300 constant, and the MA sub is a 300 rms constant. Nothing too big, but I have had the setup for 4-5 years now. I had a bad battery the other day, and changed it out. In the process I disconnected my amp by taking the fuse that is inline on my power wire. I accidentally broke said fuse. It was a 80 amp fuse, and I bought a couple of 60 amp fuses at Autosone, as they were the biggest ones they had. I replace the fuse, and it works fine. I ran it for a few days, then one day I was playing a bass test thru it, and it cut out, so I turned it down so it would not be drawing too much. It wouldnt come back on. The amp has power, the fuse is good, and I replaced it with another one and all the conections are good. I wouldnt think a smaller fuse would hurt it, just not let it draw as much power so it wouldnt hit as hard as loud. Where should I look, what should I check, whats left, and what are the odds that I blew my speaker up? I didnt do anything different than what I have done before except the fuse amperage difference.
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-31-2009, 11:55 PM	#2
juddspaintballs I pee standing Age: 24 Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,286 Location: Union Bridge, MD User is: OffLine	Re: Not sure how to test or figure out i think you have a slight misconception of how the fuse works, but that doesn't really make a big difference right now. if the new fuse isn't blown and you're getting 12v+ through it, then the fuse on the power wire is likely not your problem. you say the amp has power. stick a voltmeter probe on your power and ground wires and test for 12+ volts DC. then check the same on your remote and ground wire too. doesn't hurt to check it... my next usual step would be to check head unit settings and amplifier settings. what are your amp's current settings set to? gain/level, frequency cutoffs, other filters, etc.? what model amp and head unit do you have and what model subwoofer do you have (do you know if it's single voice coil or dual voice coil?)? there's lots of things to diagnose, but just from your short blurb without further information (yet), i'd guess it has something to do with your amp or head unit settings, the amplifier on it's way out, or the subwoofer on it's way out. lots of things to test based on what's going on and how you say everything is setup. reply with some more specifics and we'll try to help you better.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-01-2009, 12:19 AM	#3
89lowerednewproje Registered User Age: 22 Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 610 Location: Dothan, AL User is: OffLine	Re: Not sure how to test or figure out Ok, I will have to get more info tomorrow. I know for now that I didnt change any of the settings. They are the same ones we put the amp when I installed it 4 years ago. Also its a dual voice coil sub cause we had to wire it to drop the ohms, and I didnt think to pull the speaker out to see if a wire dropped out, it could have worked its way out, and they are the only ones that I cant visually check. Also if I am a little off on the way the fuse works, please to fill me in, as I thought that was right. Last edited by 89lowerednewproje : 09-01-2009 at 12:21 AM.
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09-01-2009, 07:33 AM	#4
juddspaintballs I pee standing Age: 24 Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,286 Location: Union Bridge, MD User is: OffLine	Re: Not sure how to test or figure out A smaller fuse isn't like a bouncer at a club. It doesn't allow only a certain amount of current through and then tell the next ampere trying to get in that she's gotta wait because there's already enough skanky hoes inside. It's more like a fire marshall. It lets a certain amount of current through and when the next ampere tries to get it, it shuts the whole place down so nobody is having a good time.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-01-2009, 09:22 AM	#5
iroc2nv Registered User Age: 46 Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 662 Location: Decatur , Al. User is: OffLine	Re: Not sure how to test or figure out I had the same problem with my RF amp, it was a bad fuse. Replaced it and it started playing. The fuse was bad, but only a little. It wasn't drawing the correct voltage.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-01-2009, 11:03 AM	#6
geraldwp Jones'n for a Jones Age: 20 Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 336 Location: Oklahoma User is: OffLine	Re: Not sure how to test or figure out Quote: Originally Posted by juddspaintballs A smaller fuse isn't like a bouncer at a club. It doesn't allow only a certain amount of current through and then tell the next ampere trying to get in that she's gotta wait because there's already enough skanky hoes inside. It's more like a fire marshall. It lets a certain amount of current through and when the next ampere tries to get it, it shuts the whole place down so nobody is having a good time. the fire marshall analogy is awesome. i love it man.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-01-2009, 11:04 AM	#7
geraldwp Jones'n for a Jones Age: 20 Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 336 Location: Oklahoma User is: OffLine	Re: Not sure how to test or figure out Quote: Originally Posted by iroc2nv I had the same problem with my RF amp, it was a bad fuse. Replaced it and it started playing. The fuse was bad, but only a little. It wasn't drawing the correct voltage. only "a little" bad?? a fuse is either good or blown.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-01-2009, 04:41 PM	#8
juddspaintballs I pee standing Age: 24 Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,286 Location: Union Bridge, MD User is: OffLine	Re: Not sure how to test or figure out actually...i had a fuse a while ago that wasn't blown and would let 12v through, but it was degraded enough that only a few amperes would get through and then it would stop working. almost like the fusible link inside was acting like a bi-metal thermostat, it would bend ever so slightly away from the connection after it saw a couple of amperes and then all power would be lost. very uncommon though...
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-01-2009, 05:47 PM	#9
NEEDAZ Registered User Age: 32 Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 325 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Not sure how to test or figure out ^^^ Yup. I don't like the statement "only a little bad", but fuses can fail the way Juddspaintballs said, and they can melt but not open making them like a resistor. Start pulling a current through them and they can get a considerable voltage drop. "The fuse was bad, but only a little. It wasn't drawing the correct voltage." The second part of that statement is, well, just, ummm, WAY off.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-01-2009, 07:41 PM	#10
iroc2nv Registered User Age: 46 Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 662 Location: Decatur , Al. User is: OffLine	Re: Not sure how to test or figure out Well, it was .....
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09-02-2009, 10:30 PM	#11
89lowerednewproje Registered User Age: 22 Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 610 Location: Dothan, AL User is: OffLine	Re: Not sure how to test or figure out Well it just stopped working totally. I have replaced the fuse on the power wire itself already. I will check the two fuses on the amp themselves, I didnt pull them because the little visible link didnt look bad but it may be in a different spot. I will also take a volt meter and check the volts on the connections in the next couple of days. More worried about the flat tire right now.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-05-2009, 08:58 PM	#12
89lowerednewproje Registered User Age: 22 Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 610 Location: Dothan, AL User is: OffLine	Re: Not sure how to test or figure out Ok, I hate to dig out old threads, BUT I am just curious, what would be an easy way to test a sub to see if it is that. I have checked all fuses and all connections.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-05-2009, 09:20 PM	#13
bigb19812000 Registered User Age: 28 Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 115 Location: Zephyrhills User is: OffLine	Re: Not sure how to test or figure out use your multi meter to test for continuity.On my multi meter it is the setting that looks like a sound wave If it beeps than the speaker is good.
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11-05-2009, 09:26 PM	#14
89lowerednewproje Registered User Age: 22 Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 610 Location: Dothan, AL User is: OffLine	Re: Not sure how to test or figure out Thanks so much.
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