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Amplifier wires are a sparkin'!!!!!!!!

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    Amplifier wires are a sparkin'!!!!!!!!

    So I upgraded my stereo power wires the other day. I currently run two amps and have them both running straight to the battery with a fuse.

    I decided to run them with a real distribution block style system and that allowed me to shorten the wires a lot because I had a 20 foot power wire that only went 8 feet. Instead of just shortening the wire, I decided to do it like the pros, with both a ground and power distribution blocks. I also was going to need to upgrade the wire on one amp from 8 guage to 4 guage and this allowed me to get the extra 4 guage wire from the one amp and use it for the second amp without buying more 4 guage. ( so instead I buy some 1/0 wire and distribution blocks and more fuses...saved me lots of dough there )

    Anyway, I put the Perko switch off and cut the power wires from the amps. I stripped the cover off about 5/8" or so like the Knukonceptz guys recommended and went to work on getting other parts set up. I bumped the wires together and they started popping and snapping where they came together! The wires just went from the amps to the floor and somehow still had charge enough in them to start arcing. Needless to say, it scared the crapola out of me thinking I had probably just fried both amps. Fortunately, all works great with the new setup, so no harm done.

    Again, the amps were off. The Perko switch was off. The wires were cut and the ends that arced went from the amps to the floor of the boat. There is no way that any power was currently being fed to them. I can only surmise that there is some reserve power that is stored in the amplifiers.

    How did this happen?
    Be excellent to one another.

    #2
    Just a few questions to help diagnose the cause:

    Have you ever been abducted by aliens?
    Are you aware of any alien ancestors?
    Does your wife use any anti-static cling products on your laundry?
    Is your boat a transformer?
    Was there any lightning in the area during that time?

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by Moki View Post
      Just a few questions to help diagnose the cause:

      Have you ever been abducted by aliens?
      Are you aware of any alien ancestors?
      Does your wife use any anti-static cling products on your laundry?
      Is your boat a transformer?
      Was there any lightning in the area during that time?
      Oh, that was cold.

      To answer your question, tall. In what order did you disconnect your amps and are you sure there wasn't some bleed over from your H/U on a different circuit altogether? Before rewiring the power for your amps, I'd disconnect anything connected to them so you minimize the risk for static discharge or any other type of electrical discharge.

      Also, did you have any ground loop isolators installed?
      Cursed by a fortune cookie: "Your principles mean more to you than any money or success."

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by Moki View Post
        Just a few questions to help diagnose the cause:

        Have you ever been abducted by aliens?
        Are you aware of any alien ancestors?
        Does your wife use any anti-static cling products on your laundry?
        Is your boat a transformer?
        Was there any lightning in the area during that time?
        Forgot one....

        Was SPBFan anywhere close to your boat?

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by da.bell View Post
          Was SPBFan anywhere close to your boat?
          I heard he had a static personality
          Cursed by a fortune cookie: "Your principles mean more to you than any money or success."

          Comment


            #6
            and an ex KGB agent...specializing in stereo sabotage

            Comment


              #7
              There are power supply capacitors in the front-end of most amps. They hold charge like a battery, but also dissipate charge rapidly. They are there to filter noise that would otherwise come into the amp on the power wires, and to help soften voltage variations, not unlike the acceesory power wiring capacitors you see for sale.

              Your assumption about reserve in the amp is correct. YOu just discharged the power supply caps, that is all. It should not have, (hopefully) done anything to the amps.

              Make sure you also have the wiring disconnected AT THE BATTERY while you are working on it. You can weld with a 12-volt battery. You can also start fires.
              Last edited by philwsailz; 09-04-2008, 06:50 PM.
              It's not an optical illusion.
              It just looks like one.....

              Comment


                #8
                Who's got the Gram Crackers and Chocolate J/K


                I'm sure is was just a Capacitor that discharged when the POS and Neg wire, left on the amp, touched. but kinda relevant: Airbag systems use CAP's to store enough energy to deploy the bags in case the battery is destroyed on impact, when servicing the system, it is recommended to touch the POS cable to the NEG cable after removing them both from the battery.
                Attached Files
                Mikes Liquid Audio: Knowledge Experience Customer Service you can trust-KICKER WetSounds ACME props FlyHigh Custom Ballast Clarion LiquidLumens LEDs Roswell Wave Deflector And More

                Comment


                  #9
                  Ever gotten across a flyback transformer lead on the back of a CRT?

                  nasty shock.....

                  electrifying...
                  It's not an optical illusion.
                  It just looks like one.....

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by philwsailz View Post
                    Ever gotten across a flyback transformer lead on the back of a CRT?

                    nasty shock.....

                    electrifying...
                    Nope, but when I was teaching Automotive repair, we used to wire up an old HEI distributor to a chair and see who could sit the longest while someone spun the shaft by hand........we called it "ride'n the lightning"
                    Mikes Liquid Audio: Knowledge Experience Customer Service you can trust-KICKER WetSounds ACME props FlyHigh Custom Ballast Clarion LiquidLumens LEDs Roswell Wave Deflector And More

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by chpthril View Post
                      Nope, but when I was teaching Automotive repair, we used to wire up an old HEI distributor to a chair and see who could sit the longest while someone spun the shaft by hand........we called it "ride'n the lightning"
                      that ought to put a little spark in your step...
                      It's not an optical illusion.
                      It just looks like one.....

                      Comment


                        #12
                        You guys have too much free time on your hands

                        Cursed by a fortune cookie: "Your principles mean more to you than any money or success."

                        Comment

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