Author Topic: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat  (Read 9980 times)

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Offline LoW GLi

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Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« on: Mar 1, 2004, 10:08AM »
i dunno wat this heat wave is like for you guys down south, but up here near the qld border, it has been in the 40's alot, and with my amp running in the boot (1000W) it tends to generate alot of heat, and it dosnt help if the car has been out in the sun all day, and when my amp heats up it shuts itself off b4 it blows up, so i had to do sumthing... I pulled out my draw of gizmos and gadgets i dont use anymore, and got an old CPU cooling fan from my computer and stuck it on a lil metal bracket and mounted it so it blows air straight onto the amp. by doing this it cooled the amp DRAMATICALLY, if u cool one part of the steel, it reduces the temp of the whole surface...all computer fans run on 12v so u can run it off the amps power supply with no dramas....heres a pic

http://www.pbase.com/brind0g/lowpintara

my sub is in a box, and ive nicknamed it a free roaming box.... it likes to slide around in the boot, hehe...wats the easiest way to mount it, cause under the carpet in the boot its metal and my spare tyre...


Offline KNG P1N

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #1 on: Mar 1, 2004, 01:12PM »
i might try that myself. cuz i got 2 1000w. but generally i just put up with no music when it gets too hot.
as far as securing the box, just bolt it down, or do wat ive done, and wedge the bitch between the parcel shelf and the floor.lol
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Offline BEEFY_1600

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #2 on: Mar 1, 2004, 06:17PM »
It those boss amps they have really poor power circits and internal amps so they get hot really hot but as always you get what ya pay for .

Offline LoW GLi

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #3 on: Mar 1, 2004, 06:56PM »
either way it still does the job.....it only over heats in the summer thou, never have troubles in cooler weather.. 8)

Offline Urq!

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #4 on: Mar 1, 2004, 07:06PM »
one of my mates was trying to convice me that BOSE was a dody brand!  he was thinking of BOSS.

one of my amps (US audio, i got it for very cheep) seems to get rather hot copared to my other one so i might try a fan, ta LoW GLi.
« Last Edit: Mar 1, 2004, 07:08PM by Urq »

Offline [JET-20T]

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #5 on: Mar 1, 2004, 08:11PM »
lol at the fans.... if anybody has any cooling probs with amps and shit.. i think kyrios trx would be in the know.. seeing as though his computer fan is the size of a bloody jet turbine...

but if it does the job then sweet...
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Offline KNG P1N

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #6 on: Mar 9, 2004, 02:24PM »
my new setup has both amps under the front seats, when it get hot i put the aircon through the foot vents. works brilliant
And there's not much I can say
But we miss you every day
And I'm bitter 'cause it's unfair
We'll be drinkin' in the sun
Playing music having fun
Cause one day I'll see you there
R.I.P, M.M 1984 - 2005


Offline chr1S

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #7 on: Mar 9, 2004, 03:09PM »
lol at the fans.... if anybody has any cooling probs with amps and sh*t.. i think kyrios trx would be in the know.. seeing as though his computer fan is the size of a bloody jet turbine...


at least it's quiet when i want it 2 be :D and then it's like black hawk's taking off when i crank em :D
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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #8 on: Mar 11, 2004, 05:46PM »
actually my boss amp does the job quite well running 2x 12 inch subs. i figured the boot of my car would get very hot thats why my amp has a fan installed inside the amp. keep it very cool. nice vents coming out the top to let the heat out

Offline noss

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #9 on: Mar 11, 2004, 10:59PM »
failing his you could superglue a wrx vent to your amp

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Offline Barnett

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #10 on: Mar 12, 2004, 06:07PM »
mate no offence.....get a new amp.......my mate has had 2 of them blow up on him only to get re-paired and prolly blow up again :( but yeah........with my box i got a bit of alloy 90 degree angle and screwed it to the sub box at the front and then up to the metal behind the back seats then a few support bits of wood just to keep the box level and she dont go anywhere :D

when i get my puter back i will have to put photos up of all the shit i have done on my car in the last month.

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Offline LoW GLi

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #11 on: Mar 15, 2004, 08:12AM »
i havnt had any probs with my BOSS, ive had it for jsut over 12 months now.... no problems wat so ever....i know the older model BOSS amps had troubles, but i havnt come across anyone that has hte new chrome version thats has had any troubles.. :)

Offline KNG P1N

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #12 on: Mar 15, 2004, 09:13AM »
my boss amp works fine, over a year old.yet i say nemore
And there's not much I can say
But we miss you every day
And I'm bitter 'cause it's unfair
We'll be drinkin' in the sun
Playing music having fun
Cause one day I'll see you there
R.I.P, M.M 1984 - 2005


Offline wb131988

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #13 on: Feb 9, 2005, 10:36PM »
Does anyone know why my fan, connected to the positive and ground on my amp, turns on even when the ignition is off???

Offline LoW GLi

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #14 on: Feb 10, 2005, 08:13AM »
its cause its connected to constant power, wat u need to do is run it from the accessories power on the back of the head unit, this way when the head unit is off, so is the fan, problem solved........ alot of stuffing around thou! but well worth it in the end

Offline wb131988

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #15 on: Feb 11, 2005, 11:56PM »
Couldnt I just put a switch in the way ive done it and turn the switch on when i want? I'm sure thats easier to do. Thanks for the help.  :D

Offline *~*PriNCeSS*~*

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #16 on: Feb 13, 2005, 05:41PM »
sounds like a good idea thanks dude


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Offline Marty

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #17 on: Feb 13, 2005, 10:23PM »
yeh i got the exact same amp and have had no problems with the temp or the unit itself
but then again i dont play a lot of doof doof,
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Offline LoW GLi

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #18 on: Feb 14, 2005, 10:47PM »
the reason why i got the fan for mine is not cause of me cranking the amp, jsut the summer heat got to the amp, and made it like a fucking boiler room in my boot, so playing any simple music for like 1 song would make it shut off

Offline wb131988

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #19 on: Feb 21, 2005, 05:37AM »
I just put a switch in between the two fans which is alot easier, so that they can be manually turned on wen the amps have been on for a while.  :P

Offline LoW GLi

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #20 on: Feb 22, 2005, 08:16AM »
nice job, should get sum pics up

Offline wb131988

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #21 on: Feb 23, 2005, 03:53AM »
Will do soon loW GLI. Just need to find my damn digital camera  >:( Should be uploaded onto here anytime this week so keep your eyes open  8)

Offline aylesy

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #22 on: Apr 4, 2005, 07:18AM »
There is nothing wrong with BOSS amps, they are arguably poor build quality, as many seem to have problems.
Problems that arise from people thinking they are 1000w, so the amps get overworked and the poor power supply fails.
They are better then just using headunit.
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Offline Sticky

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #23 on: Apr 4, 2005, 09:54PM »
exactly aylesy, people cant seem to get their heads around the fact that its 1000W PEAK, which usually is divided by a 1/4 to get the rough estimate of rms of the amp, but BOSS amps are totally different, its more like 1/6 the peak, if not more, also the fact that BOSS amps run hotter than most at a normal load

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #24 on: Jun 1, 2005, 12:42AM »
its cause its connected to constant power, wat u need to do is run it from the accessories power on the back of the head unit, this way when the head unit is off, so is the fan, problem solved........ alot of stuffing around thou! but well worth it in the end

Why not run it off the remote wire for the amp? It only has power when the amp is on.
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Offline omad

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #25 on: Jun 2, 2005, 07:45PM »
Heh, pretty funny stuff :P

Seriously, though... some amps like my crossfire one that I'm selling recommends using fans if the amp is not well ventilated etc. Though the best place for them usually is blowing ACROSS the amp, not directly onto it. You also usually get better cooling mounting your amp vertically, not horizontally as in the picture.

Food for thought, anyway :)
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Offline Milford

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #26 on: Jun 2, 2005, 07:58PM »
or you could put up a front mount amp

Offline LoW GLi

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #27 on: Jun 2, 2005, 09:19PM »
it wouldnt make much difference where u put the fan, as long as its blowing air onto the metal of the amp, it will cool just as much... as i aid b4, when u cool one part of most metals, excl aluminium and a few others, its reduces the temp of the whoel surface averaged out...

Offline trxmad

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #28 on: Jun 3, 2005, 01:57AM »
i think the idea is getting good air flow across the vents/metal..

Offline omad

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #29 on: Jun 3, 2005, 01:58PM »
it wouldnt make much difference where u put the fan, as long as its blowing air onto the metal of the amp, it will cool just as much... as i aid b4, when u cool one part of most metals, excl aluminium and a few others, its reduces the temp of the whoel surface averaged out...

Most amplifiers have aluminium or similare alloy heatsinks.

i think the idea is getting good air flow across the vents/metal..

Exactly right. If the fan is mounted to the side of the amp, it's able to blow air over the whole surface (or close enough to) of the amp.
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Offline LoW GLi

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #30 on: Jun 3, 2005, 03:44PM »
i dont think amps are made of aluminium, as they retain heat really well... not a good idea for an amp....

Offline omad

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #31 on: Jun 3, 2005, 03:47PM »
i dont think amps are made of aluminium, as they retain heat really well... not a good idea for an amp....

I suppose it would be a rediculous idea to use them for computer heatsinks as well  ::)
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Offline LoW GLi

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #32 on: Jun 3, 2005, 11:15PM »
I suppose it would be a rediculous idea to use them for computer heatsinks as well  ::)

and i spose thats why on the good heatsinks, the part that touches the core is made of copper.... and in sum cases, the whole thing....  ;)

Offline Jono

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #33 on: Jun 5, 2005, 09:50PM »
Most amplifiers have aluminium or similare alloy heatsinks.
Exactly right.
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Offline Virus

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #34 on: Jun 5, 2005, 11:59PM »
and i spose thats why on the good heatsinks, the part that touches the core is made of copper.... and in sum cases, the whole thing....  ;)


Yeah so i guess thats why this http://www.pccasegear.com/prod1703.htm heatsink isnt made of Alu  ::)

\end sarcasm

Aluminium is a very good conductor of heat(not as good as copper), which is why companies like Intel and AMD mainly use Alu in their stock heatsink.
If it wasnt very good then they may as well make it out of Steel.

Offline chr1S

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #35 on: Jun 6, 2005, 10:55PM »
Why the fuck would you say heatsinks on amp's etc arnt made of alu, most electronic components use alumnium heatsinks to help them remain cool, open up your power supply and have a look whats over it mate.. Do your research before talking.. Yes they have brought out copper heatsinks but u must remember copper is expensive.

edit : dont open ur PSU unless you know what ur doing.
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Offline LoW GLi

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #36 on: Jun 6, 2005, 11:20PM »
your right, why the fuck would i say that, cause i didnt, have a closer look at what i said.. i said the amp CASE... not heat sink inside... u should read before you talk....

Offline omad

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #37 on: Jun 7, 2005, 01:59AM »
The amps 'casing' as you call it, is usually it's heatsink. As that's the way it dissapates heat away from the internal components.

I never meant this to start a sh!t fight or flame war, just pointing out some things that I've noticed/learned/read.

I wasn't taking a dig at you putting a fan on your amp, LowGli.. I was just stating that it's generally better practice to mount a fan so it blows over the amp's heatsink, not just directly on one section of it.

Though, dude... you really do need to do at least a little reading & research before trying to prove a point that you're not even sure of. Yes, some parts of an amp's 'casing' are made of different metals, but as I said just before, the bulk of a car audio amp's exposed 'casing' is it's heatsink(s).

Take one apart and have a look for yourself :)  (providing you're confidant and your warranty period has passed ;))
« Last Edit: Jun 7, 2005, 02:00AM by omad »
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Offline LoW GLi

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #38 on: Jun 7, 2005, 09:12AM »
well i was talking about my case in particular, if u have a look at this link
http://www.pbase.com/brind0g/image/26503908
ull see that there are alu fins on the side, under the case (where the little cut outs are) and i found that the rest of the casing is sum sort of alloy compound...
so blowing air across the fins on my amp would almost be pointless as you would get no air to it.... edit** its also a 120mm with a high cfm, cant remember exactly, so it performs a bit better than a shitty 80mm out of a psu..

with computer heatsinks, psu's and most other heatsinks, the fan is usually directly attached to the heatsink, or very damn close... so that i why i mounted the fan that way, and beleive this way ir more practical in my case... of course it would vary depending on the design from amp to amp...

i didnt mean to cause a shit fight either, i shouldofi been a bit clearer about what i was talking about...

/end flame war
« Last Edit: Jun 7, 2005, 09:14AM by LoW GLi »

Offline omad

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #39 on: Jun 7, 2005, 11:05AM »
Just a note: the reason that fans are mounted directly onto computer heatsinks is because the fan covers the total arear of the cooling fins. If you had a 200-300mm fan the application over the top would be a different debate :P

Though, I do have to say... that's a pretty shit setup for your amp I just noticed, particularly if the stock fan isn't cooling it enough... there are shrouds over everything! you can physically see about 1/50th of the heatsink! I guess even if the ends of the HS were exposed, they'd probably be exhausting the air being output be the stock fan....

That really seems like a pretty stupid design... Well done boss! :P

PS - I did look at that link before just didn't take as much notice ;)
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Offline pintara_boy

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Re: Keeping ur amp cool in the heat
« Reply #40 on: Aug 17, 2005, 11:21PM »
if you find that Ur amplifier is really hot common sense would be to turn the sub off or down if u have adjustable sub controll. what i do when my amp gets hot is pull down both rear seats and open the to front windows , so then you draw cold air in to the boot therefore hopefull dropind the temperature coming from the amp.

Amp cooling fans are available at CAR TOYS Adelaide and most automotive retailers around the place they just power up off the amp 12 DC.