amp heat
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
amp heat
I have a new eclipse EA4000 amp and after a few minutes of high volume it cuts off and the clipping light stays on and then it resets. I know this is a protection circut, but what causes it to get hot. does adjusting the amp gains have any effect on this? it is wired with 4 gauge wire
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 317
Likes: 74
From: St Pete Beach FL
could be several things, but 2 main ones that pop to mind are airflow around amp and the load on the amp---if it is expecting a 4 ohm load and you are giving it 2 (speakers in paralell on same channel or 2 ohm speakers), it will flow MUCH more current......generating heat. How is airflow around amp???
Gains could impact it, but unless they are really off I can't see that causing the problem
Gains could impact it, but unless they are really off I can't see that causing the problem
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,289
Likes: 16
From: Skippack PA
St Jude Donor '13
I have a new eclipse EA4000 amp and after a few minutes of high volume it cuts off and the clipping light stays on and then it resets. I know this is a protection circut, but what causes it to get hot. does adjusting the amp gains have any effect on this? it is wired with 4 gauge wire
Put on some music you know, something dynamic. Turn the gain all the way down and turn the volume on the head unit to about 3/4 of it's full volume. Then start turning the gain up on the amp until you hear the amp beginning to distort/strain, then back it off a hair.
That's a very rough way of getting it done but should give you something to determine if the problem is gain related or possibly a defective amp. Good luck!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,718
Likes: 20
From: Dyer IN
Cruise-In IX Veteran
if you have a voltmeter put it accross the power terminals at teh amp and see what kind of voltage you are getting especially after playing for a few minutes at high volume.
Not to long ago when I was an installer at circuit city we put an amp in a cobalt happend to be an eclipse sub amp after a few hard hits it would shut off sure enough the other installer didnt sand down the ground and just shot a screw in, so he could go smoke a cig.
Not to long ago when I was an installer at circuit city we put an amp in a cobalt happend to be an eclipse sub amp after a few hard hits it would shut off sure enough the other installer didnt sand down the ground and just shot a screw in, so he could go smoke a cig.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,295
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From: Issaquah WA
When you say you scraped the paint off...
The gain shouldn't make a difference if everything else is okay, so chances are it's an airflow problem (it would have to be pretty restricted based on your description), grounding (pretty common problem), or speaker load (either combined impedance too low or problem with a speaker's resistance fluctuating, causing load to drop).
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
I had that same amp and it did the same thing you're describing. I had the gains set exactly as mentioned here. The amp is shutting down because it's operating above it's maximum sound level. In other words, you need an amp with more power or you need to lower the volume.
I came to the conclusion that the Eclipse EA4000 is too weak for my systems needs. I returned the amp to Circuit City and bought a More Powerful Hifonics Zeus online for half the price!
I came to the conclusion that the Eclipse EA4000 is too weak for my systems needs. I returned the amp to Circuit City and bought a More Powerful Hifonics Zeus online for half the price!
Last edited by GKK; Apr 13, 2007 at 11:57 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
Could be that you are severly clipping the amp when you are cranking it up and it just goes into protect. All of the things mentioned could be the problem or a combination of them. I would check the ground like penta mentioned as well as do a reset of the gains/HU volume and go from there. Crank it up and watch the clip lights with the gain at MINIMUM and see what happens. If the amp clip light keeps flashing (when set like this) you are overdirving the amp and need more power. Remember that this is at 75% or so of HU volume (27 out of 35 etc)
If the gain is at minimum on a 1000w amp you still have 1000w to use.
Fej
If the gain is at minimum on a 1000w amp you still have 1000w to use.
Fej
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,578
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From: Bartlett Illinois
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
just went and tried with a cold amp. it had been off for hours. the gains did make a difference. the higher the gain the easier the clip light would come on. maybe I just do not have enough amp 
it is only 10 days old, I think circut city will take it back in store for 15 days. I am driving polk audio 5 1/4 components up front and a pair of polk 6x9's in the rear. I have my 10'' sub on a kicker mono amp. it does not seem to have a problem. my eclipse amp gets twice as hot as my kicker amp.
it is only 10 days old, I think circut city will take it back in store for 15 days. I am driving polk audio 5 1/4 components up front and a pair of polk 6x9's in the rear. I have my 10'' sub on a kicker mono amp. it does not seem to have a problem. my eclipse amp gets twice as hot as my kicker amp.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,718
Likes: 20
From: Dyer IN
Cruise-In IX Veteran
30 day return at circuit city. i would recommend buying something online hoenstly and saving money, i can show you some nice amps, alpine makes a solid 4 channel, as well as mtx, kicker, infnity 7541a is a killer amp.
when you go to return it they are gonna try and sell you a different amp or tell you u need a capacitor or bigger wires or some bs just ask for your money back... i used to sell/install at circuit city and i hated how i had to give customers the run around to keep there money in the store
when you go to return it they are gonna try and sell you a different amp or tell you u need a capacitor or bigger wires or some bs just ask for your money back... i used to sell/install at circuit city and i hated how i had to give customers the run around to keep there money in the store
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
30 day return at circuit city. i would recommend buying something online hoenstly and saving money, i can show you some nice amps, alpine makes a solid 4 channel, as well as mtx, kicker, infnity 7541a is a killer amp.
when you go to return it they are gonna try and sell you a different amp or tell you u need a capacitor or bigger wires or some bs just ask for your money back... i used to sell/install at circuit city and i hated how i had to give customers the run around to keep there money in the store
when you go to return it they are gonna try and sell you a different amp or tell you u need a capacitor or bigger wires or some bs just ask for your money back... i used to sell/install at circuit city and i hated how i had to give customers the run around to keep there money in the store
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,718
Likes: 20
From: Dyer IN
Cruise-In IX Veteran
If you can make that amp cut out you have problems with wiring. I installed it in quite a few cars, and 2 of my good friends run this amp in there car and are very happy with it.