What are some reasons for low voltage to an amp, i have an alpine mrd m500 amp and its constantly showing that it is running at 11.8-12volts when i believe it should be around 14.4 or something in that vacinity.....im just curious as to what common reasons for this are, considering im braindead in this department i need heeeeelp,.... recommended is 4guage wire and im using 5, could that be a problem?, i just need some general help, thanks people~.

 

first is the car running when u are checking this? cause if not the battery should rest around 12.2-12.6 area and this would explain what u are seeing especialy if the systeme is running when u r looking at the voltage. running the system will cause a voltage drop! let us know!

 

poor ground could also cause a show of low voltage. make sure your amps grounded well, as well as the battery. use the same guage wire to ground your battery that your using to power and ground amp.

 

make sure all your connections are tight and clean, a loose or poor connection will lower voltage

 

Almost all charging systems even at they best run around 13.2-13.8Volts and very little of the vehicles out will see 14.4Volts. Thats why one of the issues with the new CEA2006 power ratings are still a not such a accurate measurement. The CEA2006 rating however will compair power equally from amp to amp. So having said that if you have a CEA2006 Amp that is rating at 800Wrms at 14.4volts your real world power will sit somewhere in the 733-766wrms or so. Grounds are also a big issue to keep that voltage and the amps up. Make sure you use the same gauge wire for both pwr and gnd wires. Ground can be larger but never smaller then your power wire. Make sure the surface where your ground is connected is free of paint and dirt. And dont forget your big three upgrade. Your ground wire is only as good as the cable from the battery to the chassie.

 

bad connection.

My amp used to just stop working then come back on. turned out to just be a bad connedtion at the battery.