i just installed my amp not too long ago and i finally got it to work properly, but today when i came home from school, i checked my amp and it was pretty hot. this is my first amp, so im not sure if its getting TOO hot, and im not familiar with how much heat an average amp is supposed to be able to withstand. my question is:

how would i be able to keep my amp cool, or cooler than it is (Bazooka 500w w/ no built-on fan)

or, am i safe just keeping it as is?

 

if you are really worried you can always go to radio shack and pick up fans their...they are easy to hook up and you can set them up so they blow air across the heatsinks on the amp

 

where is the placement of the amp and what is your setup? maybe you are applying to much of a load on the amp or there is poor ventilation.

another thing, if you do get a fan, make sure you place it so that it sucks air going out of the amp, not into the amp.

 

Could you please explain your logic behind this?

I don't see how this would make a difference. As long as you have constant airflow over the heatsink on the amp you should be fine.

 

yeah I dont understand what you are talking about either? are you talking about installing it in the amp?
I was talking about fans blowing over the heatsink..all you really need to do is keep the heatsinks cool...that would help a lot
but like it said in the other post...some more info would help to determine what the issue is

 

well, as far as placement, i have my box facing towards my backseats, and i have a peice of wood (1 & 1/2 feet by 4 feet (give or take, im not good with measurements)) and i have it wedged under my box on the right side, so that about a foot or so is sticking out, then i have my amp bolted to that (i didnt wanna drill holes in my box or frame) there isnt anything at all in my trunk except my system, and im not sure about ventilation, cause its in my trunk, so i guess there's pretty much no air flow.

but as far as how much power im pushin through it, im not really sure. i had the settings almost full blast on my amp before, but it kept cutting off, so i turned my bass boost all the way down (i was told it drains a lot of power) and i turned my x-over and level at about medium high?

hope this helps


[Modified by i, 1:09 AM 3/18/2003]


[Modified by i, 7:22 PM 3/18/2003]

 

do they have special fans made just for amp cooling, or just a generic fan? and about how much do they cost? (im sorta broke right now)

 

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...D=118063&DID=7

Check that out, and the link for similar products, half way down the page.

 

the logic behind it is called effeciency.... you never want to blow air into something because where is that air going to go? ..the point is to take out hot air, and having air blown into something will only create dust build up and lack of convection.having the fan suck out air will increase heat transfer from the amp's components, to the heat sink, to the outside environment.

i'm also talking about placing the fan directly on top of the amp, if you guys were wondering.

think about computer towers. the fans should always be sucking hot air out, not blowing air in!!

 

Many installs do utilize push-pull setups. One fan acts as an intake on one end, while there is an exhaust fan on the opposite side creating a constant air flow.

 

I would think that placing a fan directly on top of the amp serves no purpose...most amps are not open on the top....or anywhere else...tops of amps or the sides have heat sinks which are used to distribute the heat...when those get too hot the amp can shut itself off...thats why people place amps at the sides and blow air across them ...the air flow will keep the heat sinks cooler

 

i had the same amp once pushing 2 15's . it would get kinda hot and eventually turn off, but i played bass test cds alot so that might be why, but just make sure some air can circulate and that amp shouuld be fine.

 

It is better to have the fans blow into the amp that suck air out. To keep dust out just put a fabric softer in front of the fan (also have the trunk smell good) or just use an old panty hose. Rember you can blow harder that you can suck. Or if you are in competion go with a water cooled setup similar to the one that overclockers use to cool their computers. here is a link to do it to a computer which would be similar to an amp. Or check out some computer fourms like anandtech, hardocp, etc.

http://www.a1-electronics.co.uk/Heat...20_Aug02.shtml


[Modified by Broman78, 1:16 AM 3/20/2003]

 

my amp runs really hot too, why cant i just fit and forget it? this sucks! im not gonna buy no damn fans, let it shut off when it gets hot, ill just kick it