When my Bass hits hard on high volume my other amp for my mids and highs clips and shuts off leaving only bass. Then if I turn the volume down it turns back on and then i turn the volume up and it turns off again and so on and so on. Any suggestions...?


Here's what I got:

JL 1000/1 powering 12W7
JL 450/4 powering MB Quart QSD216 6.5 components & MB Quart REF 6x9 components
Eclipse AVN 5435 H/U

 

I'd check the voltage across the 450/4 terminals when the system is playing loud. Use a digital voltmeter.

I suspect that it's shutting off due to insufficient voltage.

 

kind of what i thought. just haven't made time to fix it. pretty much gotta make the time. going to install a couple of capacitors and c what happens.

 

What gauge power/ground wire are you using?

 

Yikes, you have alot of current draw on that system. Do you have any electrical upgrades (ie battery, alternator, the "big 3")? If not, I would start doing so. Definitely sounds like the jl is going into protection because there is a large voltage drop.

 

using 4gauge pretty sure. both

 

maybe huh. I've had numerous systems on numerous cars without ever having to upgrade the battery, alternator, or anything else. I've run 3 12's before and never had a problem...but maybe you're right.

 

I'm thinking capacitor myself on that deal. Just can't think of much else in that situation. Do your lights dim considerably when playing loudly? If so your really stressing your whole car without some extra help from a capacitor or some other mod to the electrical system.

 

lights dim very minimally... not significantly, thats why im puzzled also... its weird!

Alf, jsut get a cap and see what happens from there, that or a yellow top

 

Looking up the owners manual for the 450/4 it directly states if you're using multiple amplifiers to use at least 2 gauge or 1/0 gauge power wire. It also recommends you upgrade the "big 3" wires. Your system is trying to draw more current than the existing wiring allows, which is why the amps are shutting down. A capacitor or battery upgrade won't do any good IMO because that's not where the problem lies.

 

I wouldn't do a cap. That will more than likely make the situation worse. The cap is just going to put a further stress on an already stressed system. If you don't want to go straight for the alternator (would def. require a custom job), start small and work up. Increase your main power wire from the battery (0awg), do the "big 3", and personally I would step up to a better battery; it may help slightly.

 

Call me stupid, but what is "the big 3"??

And I do the same setup all the time (450/4 and 1000/1), and i NEVER use anything smaller than a 2awg kit. You need to also take a look under the hood at the factory ground. its very small! If you notice, it goes from the battery to the motor, to the body. i think at max its only 4awg so thats about all your running when your running even 0/1awg.

1. upgrade your battery to a deep cycle
2. run a bigger ground to your battery to the frame. dont forget to still ground your body to the motor
3. run nothing smaller than a 2awg

That should fix you up for good. let me know what happens

 

that has allways been my thoughts on caps! BLAAA! a cap is just one more thing to add to the strain on your alternator. add all you want and watch your alternator poop out sooner or later. not to mention your alternator charges your system at right around 14.6 volts at around 1k rpm. i would know with the 3 voltage meaters in mine.

 

I also read that I should use 2awg wire. I told that to my installer before the system was finished and he told me that it wouldn't matter. I am an electrician and it matters alot. More amperage = more current = fatter wire. The weird thing is that only the 450/4 shuts down. Not the amp drawing most of the current but the amp drawing the least. I'm puzzled. My installer is installing a couple of caps for free and if that doesn't work, I will increase the wire size...Thankx peoples....And Kia...The lights dim alot mang.....Believe me when i say this....

 

well just know that i had a guy come in last week and had too small of power on the 1000/1 and it completely fried the coating off the wire. that day we installed 0awg and a batcap. oh yea, he was running the exact same setup you have. lol. and just so you know, a batcap is not the same as a regular cap