Audio Amp blowing fuse...help.

[Plasma George]

Pyle, 4 channel brand new from Ebay. I bought it earlier this season, great power. On the water about 5 times with it.

Last time out I trailered through a thunderstorm and there was about 6 " of water in the middle compartment. The amp is under the dash area and I didn't think much of it. It may have gotten a little wet. (It did get wet another time on the water, blew the fuse. After it dried over the weekend all was good.)

Now 2 weeks later it's blowing every new 20amp fuse I put in it. Good 12.65 volts on the isolated battery and at the power termainals, even across the fuse holder contacts. I cleaned the battery terminals, still blowing fuses. Traced the positive and negative leads, still in great shape with no corrosion or cuts in the run. I did notice the positive terminal was heating up before the fuse blew.

Any ideas before I call Pyle and tell them their marine amp can't handle marine applications ?

 

[seabob4]

Re: Audio Amp blowing fuse...help.

If your amp is blowing the fuse as soon as you power up, there is a short to ground somewhere...probably inside the unit.

BTW, Pyle is, how shall we say, not the best stuff....

 

[NYBo]

Re: Audio Amp blowing fuse...help.

Good 12.65 volts ... even across the fuse holder contacts.

Sounds like a dead short to me. To check if it's in the wiring, remove the power leads from the amp and isolate them from each other. If you still get voltage at the fuse holder, the short is in the wiring.

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: Audio Amp blowing fuse...help.

Any ideas before I call Pyle and tell them their marine amp can't handle marine applications?

If the amp was under water or soaked, it's not a marine application -- it's a submarine application.

Marine electronics are designed to be water resistant, not waterproof.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Audio Amp blowing fuse...help.

Best advice I can give is to remove the speaker wires and test one channel at a time. If the issue is that a speaker is shorting or drawing too much current then you will likely blow the replacement amp as well.

Between the vibration on a boat, getting the amp wet, and the moisture that can condensate under the cover of a boat don't feel to bad that the amp may be bad. It happens.

 

[Plasma George]

Re: Audio Amp blowing fuse...help.

I'm going to assume it's the AMP. Also because the Ebayer is sending me a new one as per their 2 year warranty. I know about Pyle's products, I think the speakers are a great value, we'll see about the electronics in the AMPS...I have high end AV stuff at home, but can't bring myself to do that for the boat.
In it's defense, it did get soaked after a wave of salt water splashed into the bow when we were running in the ocean. The fuse blew, I saw it dripping wet so I didn't run it until it dried overnight, then it was fine. The last time I was boating we were towing through a serious downpour for about 15 minutes. Not sure why it gets so wet, it's high above the floor under the dash.

I DID notice the speaker wires and terminals were badly corroded after only 2 months and 5 boat trips. (the individual strands of copper were black) when I disconnected the AMP and stripped the wires. Are there marine grade wires that won't corrode ? I'd consider running all new wires if that's the case.

 

[seabob4]

Re: Audio Amp blowing fuse...help.

I'm going to assume it's the AMP. Also because the Ebayer is sending me a new one as per their 2 year warranty. I know about Pyle's products, I think the speakers are a great value, we'll see about the electronics in the AMPS...I have high end AV stuff at home, but can't bring myself to do that for the boat.
In it's defense, it did get soaked after a wave of salt water splashed into the bow when we were running in the ocean. The fuse blew, I saw it dripping wet so I didn't run it until it dried overnight, then it was fine. The last time I was boating we were towing through a serious downpour for about 15 minutes. Not sure why it gets so wet, it's high above the floor under the dash.

I DID notice the speaker wires and terminals were badly corroded after only 2 months and 5 boat trips. (the individual strands of copper were black) when I disconnected the AMP and stripped the wires. Are there marine grade wires that won't corrode ? I'd consider running all new wires if that's the case.

2 months, and the dreaded "black" is already there...

All wire will corrode, tinned or non-tinned, if moisture is allowed to seep into the ends that should be sealed with adhesive lined shrink sleeving...

If you have a good service loop, strip back until you see bright shiny copper, or bright shiny silver (tinned). then seal off the ends appropriately. Might want to think about either moving the amp, or making an enclosure for it...

 

[Plasma George]

Re: Audio Amp blowing fuse...help.

2 months, and the dreaded "black" is already there...

All wire will corrode, tinned or non-tinned, if moisture is allowed to seep into the ends that should be sealed with adhesive lined shrink sleeving...

If you have a good service loop, strip back until you see bright shiny copper, or bright shiny silver (tinned). then seal off the ends appropriately. Might want to think about either moving the amp, or making an enclosure for it...

Great, Already thinking about shielding the amp, but don't want to limit airflow either.
Can you expand on "adhesive lined shrink sleeving" ?

I'll strip back, just like you said, and will seal how you say.

 

[seabob4]

Re: Audio Amp blowing fuse...help.

Check this stuff out...http://www.buyheatshrink.com/heatshrinktubing/3to1adhesive.htm#B

 

[Plasma George]

Re: Audio Amp blowing fuse...help.

Sounds straightforward, what about the ring at the end of the lead ?
This is where I'm also seeing corrosion. I will redo all my connections.