I'm doing an install on a 1993 toyota Camery, I just want to make sure I'm making the right choice before I spend the money on new wire.

I'm running 4guage power and 1 guage ground, everything is hooks up properly it's just a basic install. The power wire fuse keeps exploding, so I"m obviously drawing a lot of power for some reason. the amp is just a crappy Power acuistic, just powerfull enough to run the 2 10' RF subs that I'm installing.

I'm thinking the Power wire is grounding out somewhere but I can't see where. The power wire was used in the owners previous car so it's very possible that's it's broke and I just can't see where. So before I purchase new wire I just want to cover my basis first.

I've been using an 80a fuse BTW.

Thanks andrew

 

So as soon as you connect the fuse to your power wire, the fuse pops? Then I would rerun the power wire.

More info on the amp

 

yeah as soon as I touch it to the battery it blows.

I'll post info on the amp in a bit, waiting on the guy to get here so I can rerun the wires.

thanks andrew

 

This would be easier if you had a digital multimeter as you could use it to immediately diagnose the issue. But the power wire could definitely be the issue (does it pop when the amp isn't hooked up?)

 

if the power wire is not shorted to ground, your amps internal protection diode is probably blown,.. never the less sounds like your amp is screwed

 

Disconnect the amp and tape up the end of the power wire. Put a new fuse in. If it blows it is the wire, if it does not then it is the amp.

 

ok awesome thanks for the help guys, I'm going to get to work on it tonight when he brings the car back to me!

andrew

 

.. so your the installer not the owner... what bothers me here is your question is a newb question... I hope your customer realizes this as well, as he is no doubt a friend... or a girl your interested in

feel free to ask questions as it is best to be cautious. Most on here had to start somewhere and make their mistakes on their own gear so I dont know if working on someone else's stuff is better or worse. (certainly losing out on a piece of tail is inexcusable)

With power issues you have to look at the entire electrical circuit (it is a closed loop) so a problem anywhere will activate the safety device (in this case a fuse). The fault could be anywhere from the battery + terminal, through the wire to the fuse, the fuse block itself, the wire from the fuse to the amp, the amp, the - terminal of the amp, the wire from the amp to the ground point, from the ground point to the battery - terminal. Check each point for a quality connection (metal on metal with no frayed wires) feel free to tighten loose connections. In general I look for FREE fixes first then I look at the items that could cause the problem but cost money (new wiring, the amp, etc.). If you are serious about doing this then learn DC theory (plenty on line and even on links from this forum) and if you have the knowledge and a DMM (digital multimeter) you could diagnose this in 5-10 minutes

 

maybe the power wire is just simply run through the door jamb
j/k
go to canadian tire and spend $20 on a digital multi meter. then you will acomplish alot more having atleast the proper tools for diagnostics... all you need now is to learn to use it