stereo cuts off at half volume or more?

[freddyata]

i got a 26ft chapparal boat and my stereo keeps cutting off when i turn the voume up just past half way...i have 3 12" subs 4 6x9s on the tower and 4 6 1/2 interior speakers...i have 2 marine batteries and 2 amps...im gonna check the ground wires first.. what gauge should the wire be if its ran about 10-12ft?..do i need a cap and should i throw in a volt meter to check the voltage when the bass hits?

 

[AZSenza]

Re: stereo cuts off at half volume or more?

My guess is you have created too low of resistance. Depending on how you have your speakers wired (Series or parallel). Your amps are most likely not 2 ohm stable (Most are only 4 or maybe 3) and as the volume goes up, the amount of power being drawn from them goes up to a point they cant handle the output anymore. (DONT ask how I know this but I do!)

 

[Thad]

Re: stereo cuts off at half volume or more?

Is the stereo itself powering down? Or are your amps?
It sounds more like your amps are going into safe mode from power starvation.
How are they ran? 3 subs and 8 speakers on only two amps? Are they 2 ch. or 4ch.? While were at it, what wattage is the stereo head?

The power supply to the amps should have no less than 10g. wire feeding the amps.Did you install it yourself, previous owner, or shop?
To correctly install such a large system, you should be feeding a large gold plated fuse/splitter block with 8ga. and then run a 10g. to the amps. The ga. of speaker wire you use is also very important. As well as the stereo itself. I do not use any of the stock wiring in a boat for a new stereo installation.

Your best bet is to check the entire system and probably start over. I think you have some serious installation issues. There are a lot more factors here than just what size wire should have been used. How are all of the speakers hooked up, where are they hooked, ground to ground, etc. and so forth. The wire is the simplest of the process.

 

[chrclo]

Re: stereo cuts off at half volume or more?

I had a similar issue with a boat I bought. Make sure your power and ground both go directly to the battery (fused of course), boat wiring is just sub standard for audio needs.
I agree with both posts, start from the begining, check the wiring config of the speakers, ect. I bet it can be fixed quickly and properly.

 

[freddyata]

Re: stereo cuts off at half volume or more?

sorry for not going in to detail...i got 4 gauge running the amps and all the dist blocks as well... the 6x9s are in parallel to a 2ch amp and the 4 6 1/2" are off the head unit.... ill have to double check on the subs....so basically everthing has to be the same ohms correct?...i had the problem with just the stock speakers and head unit too...i got a alpine unit but im replacing it this week cuz it got water damaged last trip out...

 

[slia67]

Re: stereo cuts off at half volume or more?

My first thought is either not enough power or poor ground.

Is the 4 gauge a single power feed coming frmo the batteries, then splitting off into the amps & head-unit? Or do you have more than one 4 gauge coming from your batteries?

Is your ground wire also the 4 gauge?

What kind of amps are you running? Peak and RMS power?

What kind of speakers are you running? Peak and RMS power? Ohms?

Did you do the install, or did someone else? How long ago?

 

[freddyata]

Re: stereo cuts off at half volume or more?

im running 4ga from the batteries to the dist blocks.
interior speakers are stock.. 6x9 are pioneer 3-ways peak 400w
subs jl12w3 and peak 1000w
im thinking its the wiring for sure possibly the ground..ill let you guys know tomorrow when i go fix it..thanks for all the help guys