The entire reason why you got an amplifier for your car is so that you can enjoy better quality sound systems! But if most of the time your common question is why does my Amp keep blowing fuses? when you start your car, or just does it all of a sudden — there could have been a couple of things that have gone awry.
The main reason for your Amp Blowing Fuses could be the power wire that is at fault or the Amplifier itself. You know the fault is in the power wire when the insulation has worn out, but the amplifier is usually at fault when the fuse does not blow out when the amplifier is not hooked up.
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Why Does it Happen?
Fuses blowing out can generally happen when it was not installed correctly, and there is resulting internal damage inside the amplifier. It could also be that you used the wrong fuse size for the amplifier.
If you’re lucky however, the amplifier might be fine and you might need to only replace the power wire. With the power wire, there could be three main issues: the power wire grounding, faulty ground, or too much resistance.
Diagnosing the Problem
Here’s how you can go about diagnosing and fixing the problem with your amplifier blowing fuses. Your first step is to identify the source of the problem. This means understanding whether your power wire is at fault or the amplifier. Here’s how to figure it out!
This might sound painfully obvious: but there is nothing you can do if you don’t first figure out which fuse has blown. You will have to inspect all of the fuses to see which is the one that is blown. Then you will have to find out what the amperage rating is of the blown fuse and source a new one.
Important to Note: When you’re diagnosing the problem, there are many times that you will have to replace the blown fuse with a new fuse. While it might make sense to get another fuse with the same amperage rating as the previous one, it is actually safer for you and the amplifier if you use a fuse with a lower amperage rating.
The reason for this is that you have to consider that the amp has been supplying excess amperage to the fuse in the first place: which is why it blew up. If you put another fuse with the same rating, it can cause a malfunctioning car amplifier to draw even more of the amperage.
Needless to say, this would cause even more damage to your amplifier! That’s why you are better off with a fuse that has lower amperage!
Power Wire Issues
- You should first disconnect the amplifier from the power wire.
- Then, grab some electrical tape and carefully insulate the amplifier’s end of the wiring. You are insulating it from the grounding which is against the body of your car.
- Now, get another fuse. (Make sure it is the same kind of fuse, and the right size according to your amplifier, but a lower amperage) Take the other fuse and place it into your power wire.
- If the new fuse that you placed blows as well, the problem is with your power wire.
- If it doesn’t the issue might be with the amplifier, so skip to that section in that article.
Alright, now we have diagnosed the first phase of the problem. We have understood that the issue lies with the power wire. However, what exactly is wrong with the power wire? There are three possible explanations for why your power wire is acting up: the power wire grounding, faulty ground or damaged wire, or too much resistance.
Top 4 Reasons for Why Does My Amp Keep Blowing Fuses.
1. Power Wire Grounding
This is one of the most common problems with a power wire. It may be grounding out. This may seem like a big annoyance but it is actually a blessing — since it protects your precious amplifier from getting damaged.
In this case, you will also generally see visible damage on your power wire. Look for the point where the power wire runs from the engine compartment into the interior of your car. Sometimes, during installation, the drilled hole is made without using a grommet. This means that it has sharp edges, and can break into the insulation of your power wire. You’ll notice visible damage with the bare wire sticking out.
Solution: Patch up the visible damage with some electrical tape or heat shrink tubing. If this doesn’t work, you might have to purchase a new power wire.
2. Faulty Ground or Damaged Ground Wire
This might happen when your ground wire is not properly connected or not fully connected. When the ground wire is not fully attached and is moving about a lot, it can cause the fuse to blow. Furthermore, the ground wire could be fully attached but damaged in some places. Look out for the spot where it is attached to the chassis. You might see fraying, or tears or indents. These are all signs of damage.
Solution: In cases of kinks and tears, it might be best to replace your ground wire.
3. Too much Resistance
This is one of the issues that arise when your power wire is too small in diameter. It causes too much resistance, which in turn creates a lot of heat. This heat will definitely damage the amplifier: and many amplifiers have some kind of self-defence where it pops the fuse before allowing the heat to damage itself.
Solution: Getting a power wire that is larger in diameter will solve the issue of too much resistance. It should be at least 10 gauge in size.
4. Your amplifier might be damaged
Regrettably, the issue can also be with the amplifier itself. Here’s what could’ve gone wrong.
You will always see that the correct fuse size is listed in the amplifier. If you have used the wrong fuse size, it can cause internal damage.
Solution: You will have to take your amplifier to a repair store or to a mechanic for this one, as internal damage usually means internal parts need to be replaced.
Conclusion
So there you have it: multiple ways in which you diagnose and solve the problem of your amp blowing fuses. For additional help in diagnosing your malfunctioning amplifier, click here. If you’re facing this issue, try out the solutions that we recommended to see for yourself if you’re able to solve it!
