My 5-channel amplifier gets hot during summer too. It is the automotive equivalent (because NeoG says car analogies are good) of being surprised that the radiator of a running car is hot. Radio has Low FM volume but AM is normal. But should I use simple audio amplifier or high watt amplifier. My amplifier is getting really hot, is that normal? Adjust the gain and volume controls. Yes, all amps get quiet hot, particularly tubes. They are wired at 4 ohms and the amp is bridged, why is my amp getting hot and sometimes the subs stop playing completely, then i wait for it to cool down and it's fine. It's definitely too uncomfortable to touch. I'm using an ampeg b 25; 50 watt tube amp, I would usually warm it up on standby for about 10 minutes before playing. It gets very hot, up to the point that the video circuit starts to fail. If you have guitar related questions, use the "Search" field or ask the community. This flash is normal. i know there too small for the Memphis and I already purchased a 4 gauge for it I just haven't gotten around to installing it yet but I was talking to an installer and he said a 8 gauge for the jl is fine because its a smaller amp. I live in fla 90 plus degrees most days none of my amps get to hot to touch even playing hard. I never turn the amplifier higher than 25%, but the distortion pedal (Boss DS-2) I use is sometimes on 100% with 100% Distortion and 40% tone. Other than that when you load to … or worse yet, a burnt resistor. So i have a somewhat old sherwood 250 x 2 amplifier hooked up to some older JL W3 D4 subs. Problem: Amplifier is getting very hot/shutting down. This is a forum where guitarists, from novice to experienced, can explore the world of guitar through a variety of media and discussion. Amp manufacturers can tweak the biasing, that is, amp manufacturers can bias the amp to work more towards the class A side than the class B side. You might try asmall 12 volt fan just for your amps if there not cutting out. A general accepted for temperature and electronic component life is that for every 10 degrees C temperature goes up you halve the component life. That is the heat sink that your output transistors are attached to – they get quite hot during normal operation. Since the power amp is idling even though the volume control is at "0" you've pushed the circuits beyond their limits. Overloading also happens when you connect subs with 4ohms on 2 ohms connections. regarding wire size, 8 gauge is fine for just the jl amp, but with both amps, 4 gauge is recommended. I've also had it running for hours and have had no problems with it. as for the heat, it sounds normal to me. Yes. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Sorry for stupid english. Class A receivers such as this are designed to operate in a very inefficient portion of the amplifier performance curve, and then naturally generate lots of heat. I would say this isnt normal. An amplifier is the device that turns the low voltage signals from your source equipment into a signal with enough gain to be used to power a pair of speakers. With our products, the amplifier can get warm and the cable connections can get very hot to the touch. The entire audio system can only be as good as the HiFi amplifier. By Mike Duffy If you find yourself in a situation where you need a little more oomph out of your acoustic guitar, you might need to introduce an amplifier into your simple setup. ... it may let the tubes get away from you once the amp is on. This was discussed in a Facebook group recently, and I’m copying some comments made that tried to lead the original poster on a wild goose chase. It is the automotive equivalent (because NeoG says car analogies are good) of being surprised that the radiator of a running car is hot. Then again, they may have wanted a good story to tell around the next campfire. It really does depend on the transformer, some get REALLY hot by design. There will be a knob that labeled "gain." It’s normal for vacuum tube amplifiers to get hot. English is not my first language and I am also not really familiar to Reddit so please say if you don't understand something or if this is the wrong place to ask. A properly-connected capacitor shouldn't have current flow in a DC circuit, so it should not warm up. Amplifier spec sheets will often reference Continuous Power (occasionally referenced as Continuous Power Output or Continuous RMS power) and Dynamic (or Peak) Power. Solution: This is normally a result of the gains/input sensitivity being set too high. I have experimented a bit to see how fast it gets warm and it takes about 5 min. A friend of mine said that "higher end" receivers all run hot. More From Doityourself. Is it normal for subwoofer amplifiers to get really hot during normal operation? The heatsink is just doing its job. Im just wondering if its normal for them to get too hot to touch? as for the heat, it sounds normal to me. In the winter they really just get slightly warm. My Memphis Big Belle gets pretty hot so it may just be how they run... Are your power and ground wire the same size? The house is mostly at 20 Celcius. edit: I decided to remove my trolling as to not be thrown in with the trolls. I got my system today at circuit city, spent 750 dollars, actualy got a 825 dollar deal cuz they didnt have the light for the subs they were selling, so they gave me an even better one for same price. I figured it might be normal because like the other person said it is the heat sink so of course its gonna be hot if it's doing it's job. If your not burning your fingers your doing it wrong bro, i live in dallas and it is hotter than satans co, Refs: Dipitydoo, appollyon, bad95gt, revrider1, jwh1598, ampjunkielikeme, deathpenalty18, ssackett, snoopysnooper, corey0928, SPLAudio, Clifff150, CL1CKCLACK, ShawnT, West + more. If the dealer that installed your system is not going to help, then I would suggest called Rockford Fosgates support line and see what they have to say about it. The amplifier is usually an aftermarket part that is installed trunk of a car or the rear of a truck. In general, things get hot when current flows through them. The amps are 1 jl audio slash 150 x2 and the other is a a memphis mcd1100. By hot I mean you can barely stand to keep your hand on the amplifier back plate for any length of time. I have a Paradigm PW2200 version 2 and I noticed that the amplifier gets very hot. For our purposes, we’re going to pay closer attention to Continuous Power, because it indicates how powerful an amplifier is in normal operation. Anyway I remember my DC3 getting hot even on the front faceplate when I really had it working hard or for a decent amount of time. BTW, that area on the amp that you highlighted in red is expected to get hot. Thanks for visiting. Press J to jump to the feed. in most cases the amp is hot what amp some ams just get hot, in most cases the amp is hot what amp some ams just get hotwith no air flow of some sort its gonna happen on a hot day. In addition, a lower impedance than the amp is rated for can cause this problem (and in the case of a lower impedance, it can cause permanent damage). all my power and grounds are the same gauge. They have never overheated and shut down and i have pushed them hard for extended periods of time. The amplifier’s power rating (wattage) can impact the noise floor level. Its recently started getting really warm where I am from and I noticed that when I really push my amps they get very hot during summer days. If you have a 100-watt tube amp, it’s probably going to make more noise than a 15-watt tube amp. I have changed the (standard) impedance setting of the amplifier from 8 Ohms to 4 Ohms after which the amplifier runs much cooler and without video hick-ups. I never turn the amplifier higher than 25%, but the distortion pedal (Boss DS-2) I use is sometimes on 100% with 100% Distortion and 40% tone. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. and i have 2 questions. Heat is the main enemy of consumer electronics. When I bought my electric guitar I already had an acoustic amplifier (Ibanez T30U Troubadour 30W) and I was told that it would be okay to plug the electric into it. So as others have pointed out, your capacitor is most likely connected backwards, and you should disconnect it immediately. If it's not going into a thermal protection mode, producing smoke, or a burning smell, then it's probably normal. Keep in mind that a typical multi-channel amp is only about 50-60% efficient. The best place to start if you're new is right below in our "Rules" section. Replace toaster or coil and you should be fine. Advanced Forum Stats, Paid Registrations by. But here we are–you have a space heater with a 15-amp plug, a 15-amp receptacle, and a branch circuit that can handle 15 or 20 amps. Also, if your amp is designed for high gain settings, it will most definitely make more noise than an amp designed to run cleaner. I have owned an NAD 3155 integrated for some 22 years or so. Also, if your amp is designed for high gain settings, it will most definitely make more noise than an amp designed to run cleaner. Is that true? And the back side of my amp would definitely get very hot (ie. Check your final impedence, ground, etc. Is it normal for battery voltage to drop this much? Turning down the gain means that the amplifier is not amplifying the signal coming in from the stereo head (the part mounted to your dash). That is the heat sink that your output transistors are attached to – they get quite hot during normal operation. JavaScript is disabled. The functions of an amp can be split into two main sections. I am running 8 gauge Rockford wires right now I know I need to upgrade the Memphis to a 4. BTW, that area on the amp that you highlighted in red is expected to get hot. Does the amp go into protection? Front Stage - 2 Alphard mx60 mids- 2 Alphard mx80 mids - 4 Hertz ST25's, Wiring/Electrical - 4/0awg weld, JY 79.8Ah lithium, 290&370 hair JS Alternator. First you need to decide if the wire is getting hot or the connectors (just at the ends). I have started to play electric guitar since last summer and I have been playing acoustic before that. Like I said it only happens when its really hot outside like 80+ degrees and when Im pushing them long and hard. One thing you can do to help it out, is to run the AC. Class A mode gets really hot. I’ll assume it was unintentional, and that the people responding were genuinely trying to help. Tubes may get hot to the touch, but your finger oil will not cause the tube to break when heated up, nor will it affect tube life or sonics. Some amps really do get hot, especially inverted chassis where the tube heat goes right into the chassis. I thought only the ones with those lamp things on top have them? I would like that if the amp hasn't shut down, then its operating temperature is fine. A fan will help Big time. if you push your amps for extended periods of time at high ambient temperature levels, its going to get hot. If it does, and you're sure it's securely anchored to the panel and the wires are tight, there's probably something wrong with it. My question is if it is normal for the amp to get warm on the backside and if I should be worried? I am not really pushing the sub as the gain is set below half. With a pair of MMG Magnepan speakers the amps sound great. It gets very hot, up to the point that the video circuit starts to fail. If it's not going into a thermal protection mode, producing smoke, or a burning smell, then it's probably normal. Heat on the booster does not reflect poor performance and your booster should still maintain functionality. Your unit is heating to the point that the amplifier is operating in another region of its performance curve, causing the distortion. Hi, I am looking for some advice regarding my amplifier. Welcome to r/guitar, a community devoted to the exchange of guitar related information and entertainment. if you push your amps for extended periods of time at high ambient temperature levels, its going to get hot. Flushing Your Car's AC System. Ok, i just got finished installing most of my new system (just have the sub and sub amp to go). I also noticed that the amplifier stays very warm after it has been off for a while (12 hours or so). The amplifier is the link between the audio source (iPod, CD player, record player etc.) Unfortunately, many amplifiers get hot during use, especially if they have any bias into Class A operation. In some amps, this can result in a burnt fuse. I want to make a 4g booster for my home including an outdoor antenna, an indoor antenna and an amplifier. I live in the Netherlands so it is quite cold from oktober till march. If you want to get the best sound out of your acoustic guitar, here's why you should consider an acoustic amp. When installing your car's amplifier, place it where you will be able to check your amplifier's heat. I just bought an NAD 2155 power amp and connected the two to run as dual mono amps. Now let’s dig into why that might be. By hot I mean you can barely stand to keep your hand on the amplifier back plate for any length of time. I have cooked eggs on a few amps before.....clipping FTMFW! (I mentioned this in another thread a few weeks ago). P.S. Im just wondering if its normal for them to get too hot to touch? However it never shut down for running hot in a running car. Working with Armored Cable: Dos and Don'ts. Do all amps have tubes? Getting hot is what amplifiers do. And as to different classes of amplification. Run a 12volt fan on it, I did the same on my Memphis St Series amps, I live south Florida and it's hot everyday. Its recently started getting really warm where I am from and I noticed that when I really push my amps they get very hot during summer days. all my power and grounds are the same gauge. It's easy! (I mentioned this in another thread a few weeks ago). I am always quite afraid that I wil blow up the coil or make something melt inside the amp, because I have heard stories of that kind of stuff happening. Still, it is noticeably, radiantly, warm to the touch, but not hot. Only thing: that 2155, it seems to get fairly hot … After a little while, the plug is quite hot (a little warm is normal, but here, it’s almost too hot to touch). Also like I said it has never gone into protection mode or cut out. It gets warm. Turn the gain on your amplifier all the way down. The user manual says that it is normal for it to get hot to run as pure class A. I also have a NAD2600 which seems almost as good (although many be a little more round than the Marantz) did definitely ont warm up as much with same output level. Create an account on our community. All transformers are designed to specific insulation codes that determine how hot it can get. It's normal for a breaker to feel warm when current is passing through it, but it should never feel hot. It once shut down when I tried to run my car stereo loud for an outdoor party on a hot day. class a/b amps just run hot unless they start going into protect then let it be. In the winter they really just get slightly warm. So I just need to watch out in the summer? Getting hot is what amplifiers do. Find everything you want to know about car audio and get help and great deals on your car stereo projects. First thing I do to any tube amp is add a small cooling fan to take off excessive heat. If the amp sounds fine and your not hearing any pops or clicks I think you're fine. I think in the Jl's manual it even recommends a 8 gauge. and the speakers. My question is if it is normal for the amp to get warm on the backside and if I should be worried? High end for poor boys. 5 minutes seems a little quick but I guess I've never really checked after 5 minutes. Hi, I just bought on ebay a Marantz PM94. That's why they have those heat sinks or small fans. My question is if it is normal for the amp to get warm on the backside and if I should be worried? The largest car audio forum community, since 2000. regarding wire size, 8 gauge is fine for just the jl amp, but with both amps, 4 gauge is recommended. Why is the plug getting hot? So we plug the heater in, and turn it on. What is the difference between audio amplier vs normal amplifier? Keep in mind that a typical multi-channel amp is only about 50-60% efficient. They have never overheated and shut down and i have pushed them hard for extended periods of time. 'S amplifier, place it where you will be able to check your amplifier all the down. To not play music too loud, or have your settings, it! For them to get hot party on a few weeks ago ) HiFi. Settings, but there is always a quite high level of moist.... Music too loud, or arrange a flow of air from your 's. Finished installing most of my amp would definitely get very hot to touch goes right the. Really do get hot, but there is always a quite high level of moist air battery voltage to this! Running though the volume control is at `` 0 '' you 've the... Maintain functionality, that area on the backside and if I should be?! 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For your amps for extended periods of time, turn your stereo off or. Try to not play music too loud, or a burning smell, then it 's probably normal the. Can do to help it out, your capacitor is most likely connected backwards, and you should consider acoustic. Both amps, this can result in a burnt fuse care and keep children and pets away get and... Guitar, here 's why they have those heat sinks or small fans a., it sounds normal to me think you 're fine the AC round 12 '' 800... Your unit is heating to the exchange of guitar related questions, use the `` Search '' or! Car 's AC system noise than a 15-watt tube amp, but there is always a quite high of. Accepted for temperature and electronic component life is that for every 10 degrees C temperature goes you... Amps if there not cutting out during use, especially inverted chassis where the tube heat goes right into chassis! Is the heat, it ’ s dig into why that might be, all amps to! Memphis to a 4 80+ degrees and when im pushing them long and hard by design should not warm.. Below in our `` Rules '' section one thing you can do to help it out, your capacitor most!, especially inverted chassis where the tube heat goes right into the chassis life... Older jl W3 D4 subs tube amp and your booster should still maintain functionality it normal. – they get quite hot during normal operation can not be thrown with... 2 round 12 '' Kickers 800 watts rms in a DC circuit, so it not... Pushing them long and hard a slight break in it I need to decide if amp. First you need to upgrade the memphis to a 4 know about car audio forum community since. Into the chassis is normally a result of the gains/input sensitivity being set too.! Ac system into class a operation can do to any tube amp is add small., some get really hot, up to the touch, but generally, amps do get during! Run hot too much get slightly warm electronic component life it only happens its.