Expert: Ernesto R - 6/2/2010

Question
QUESTION: My amp has been running fine for months. suddenly blew 5 fuses in one day. here is what changed: i run _4_ subs wired parallel.

one of the subs blew (normal for me) I continued with the other 3 subs for 2 weeks until i could replace the one. i put it in and it worked fine

for a day. then without warning fuses started blowing. none of my wiring has changed and all connections are exactly as they were before

replacing the sub. could i have damaged the amp during the 2weeks i was missing a sub? this is my equipment:


4 sony xplode svc 1200w subs
1 powerbass asa 1000.D 2000x1ch
really thick speaker wire
0 gauge power/ground wires


I have two other amps and subs on a separate circuit that are still running and not blowing any fuses. i am thinking that with the 4 subs i was

running at a certain ohm load but when the sub blew it changed the load to whatever 3 subs will be. During this time i did notice that with 4

subs it sounded quite incredible so if one blows it should only be about 25% less boom with the other 3 still hitting but that is not the case,

it actually sounded rather pathetic as if there was only 1 sub doing all the work. I cant figure out why i lost about 75% of my bass with only 1

sub gone. The amp powers up and 4 subs produce bass but as soon as i crank it up the fuse blows imediately, totaly skipping the overload stage

where the little red light supposed to come on.

Did i do some damage by having the load uneven somehow or is it just time for a new amp, i have had it for about 2 yrs. it has generaly been

pushing the same speakers the same way since i got it specificaly for that purpose.

By the way i have already checked all the connections and the whole nine yards with grounds and wires and there are 3 batteries and two

alternators driving my beast so it's not a lack of power here.

Any info would help since i now have 1 brand new sub and 3 used which means at any time another should be ready to blow which will put me right

back here again.


Thank you.

ANSWER: 4 dvc woofers will be wire at 2 ohms or 1 ohm   
is the amplifier 1 ohm stable ?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes, 1 ohm stable. Also 4 svc not dvc.
If fets go will it take my sub with it? I was talking to a guy at a shop and half of what he was saying must have been Chinese because he lost me.

Answer
4 single voice coils will give you almost the same options
wire only one speaker to the amplifier and test it for 5 minutes
if ok
wire 2 speakers to the amplifier  2 ohms and test it for 5 minutes,
and after that try the other 2 woofers

let me know what happends

pull all the speakers out of the box and test them one by one they
need to read from 3 ohms to 9 ohms

also pusch the center on every speaker and see if there is any noise from the coil
good luck