Im about to blow my fuse! (Sub Install problems) (REPLACEMENT WORKS!) - Saxperience

Oroblram · 27th July 2008, 20:49

Today I got me a "EVO ACTIVE: 12' with Twin Turbo Ports"

Wired it up as shown here.

Every time I connect the live wire to the sub the 25A fuse in the sub/amp box blows.

Any other reason you can think of why the fuse would blow?

Can a bad grounding cause this?

Please help as I don't want to have to return the sub/amp unless I have ruled everything out.

Thanks in advance!

-- EDIT --
Ok, the fuse only blows when I connect one of the RCA leads to the "IN" on the back of the amp.
I have wrapped the RCA plugs at the back of the head unit with insulation tape hoping it was a short, but still no luck.
My headunit is a JVC KD-G421

Coonper · 27th July 2008, 21:16

So its the fuse in the amp that blows, not the fuse in the power cable?

As you said, it could be a bad earth, but i'd have thought that is unlikely! Sound more like something is shorting out!

Make sure the power lead hasnt got a strand or 2 out of place and shorting out on either body work, or on the earth lead.

Also, double check you've wired it all up correctly i.e. pos to pos, and neg to neg! Sounds simple, but worth a check.

Make sure the polarity of the speaker cables are correct, but i think you said it was active, so no need to worry about that.

If nothing else works, take it back to the place you bought it from, get a refund and buy something better!

Oroblram · 27th July 2008, 22:16

Just got some more fuses from Tesco, going to check my wires again.

Oroblram · 27th July 2008, 22:28

Ok, all the wiring checks out pos to pos, neg to neg.
Its starting to throw it down outside so I will have another go at it after work tomorrow.
If I didn't sand the ground spot down to metal correctly for the ground (Unlikely, but my only hope.) would that cause the fuse to blow?

Just my luck, the first sub I try fitting is broken

Coonper · 27th July 2008, 22:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oroblram

Ok, all the wiring checks out pos to pos, neg to neg.
Its starting to throw it down outside so I will have another go at it after work tomorrow.
If I didn't sand the ground spot down to metal correctly for the ground (Unlikely, but my only hope.) would that cause the fuse to blow?

Just my luck, the first sub I try fitting is broken

A bad earth shouldnt really cause it to blow, although its best to rule it out!

Where have you got it earthed to at the minute? It needs to be to a solid bolt, which attatches directly to bare metal in the car's chassis. Try this first!

Oroblram · 27th July 2008, 22:32

As per this guide, under the back seat.

But I tried it with the metal piece between the bolt and the wire, and without the metal piece.
What is that metal bit for anyway?

Oroblram · 27th July 2008, 22:43

Is there a better point to ground to from the boot?

super_cds · 27th July 2008, 23:08

make sure the gain and bass bost is set to min on the back of the sub box!

Oroblram · 27th July 2008, 23:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by super_cds

make sure the gain and bass bost is set to min on the back of the sub box!

That was the first thing I did when I took it out the box.

I have been reading that having a bad grounding can cause the amp to draw more current to try and compensate. This in turn could blow the fuse.

Is this true?

Goldsax · 28th July 2008, 03:11

another place to put the ground/earth is the nut you take off to remove the rear lights, take that nut off, sand the paint off around the 'screw' bit, slide the earth on, and bolt back up, worked for me when i wired my frieds sub and amp up

Oroblram · 28th July 2008, 06:35

Right, bright and early, back to it.

Fuses... Check.
Sandpaper... Check.
Socketset... Check.

Wish me luck

Oroblram · 28th July 2008, 07:45

Ok, the fuse only blows when I connect one of the RCA leads to the "IN" on the back of the amp.
I have wrapped the RCA plugs at the back of the head unit with insulation tape hoping it was a short, but still no luck.
My headunit is a JVC KD-G421

Coonper · 28th July 2008, 07:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oroblram

Ok, the fuse only blows when I connect one of the RCA leads to the "IN" on the back of the amp.
I have wrapped the RCA plugs at the back of the head unit with insulation tape hoping it was a short, but still no luck.
My headunit is a JVC KD-G421

And you're sure you have got them the right way?

Take it back ftw!

Have you not got a friends amp you could try, just to make sure its not you're wiring?

Oroblram · 28th July 2008, 07:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coonper

And you're sure you have got them the right way?

Take it back ftw!

Have you not got a friends amp you could try, just to make sure its not you're wiring?

Do you mean red (right) to red (right) and black (left) to black (left) from the HU to the amp via the phono plugs?

If black is left and red is right, I dont know.

Would this blow the fuse?

Coonper · 28th July 2008, 08:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oroblram

Do you mean red (right) to red (right) and black (left) to black (left) from the HU to the amp via the phono plugs?

If black is left and red is right, I dont know.

Would this blow the fuse?

Well i only thought of that cus you said that when you connect the rca's the fuse blows.

But like you say, it shouldnt blow it tbh.

Its gotta go back.

Oroblram · 28th July 2008, 08:01

Ok, off to work, will look at replacing it tonight after one last try.

Coonper · 28th July 2008, 08:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oroblram

Ok, off to work, will look at replacing it tonight after one last try.

Dont replace it, get you're money back, then you could have some serious bass!

Oroblram · 28th July 2008, 09:11

What would you recommend?

I have 2x 6x9s at 110rms in the self that I would like to be able to wire up to an amp also.
I know you hate 6x9's but its all I got.

2x 60rms in the front doors and standard speakers in the rears.

So with a budget of £260 what amp/sub would I look at getting?

Coonper · 28th July 2008, 09:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oroblram

What would you recommend?

I have 2x 6x9s at 110rms in the self that I would like to be able to wire up to an amp also.
I know you hate 6x9's but its all I got.

2x 60rms in the front doors and standard speakers in the rears.

So with a budget of £260 what amp/sub would I look at getting?

Right then...

You have obviously done you're research into 6x9's and why they dont work with subs, but its up to you if you keep them or not. If you do keep them, then i would recommend you get them amped up and filter out any bass from them as the subs can cope with this. Also, if you're front speakers are 60rms then they too will need amping. So i would advise you to buy a 4 channel amp to power the front speakers and 6x9's, then i recommend you disconnect the rear speakers, as you will not need these, especially if you have got 6x9's! They will drag down the whole system being as they are standard and not amped!

So with the £260 you will need a 4 channel amp, a sub and a monoblock amp for the sub?

What do you want from the sub? Pure loudness (SPL), quality or a mixture of the 2?

And do you want just one sub or 2?

And do you already have a wiring kit? If so, what gauge is it?

Oroblram · 28th July 2008, 13:41

Thanks for all the help so far Coonper!

loudness is king

One sub and some boot space would be nice

I have the wiring kit that came with my active sub wired up atm, will get the specs when I get home.

Gratz on 4k posts btw