JL AMP Troubles....

[Murf'n'surf]

I have a JL M6450 that will not turn on. There is 13V at the amp. The remote wire triggers 5V. Heres the wacky part, when the remote wire is activated the volts drop to 5.XX on the power feed.

Batteries passed a load test and the sub amp turns on just fine on same battery and same remote wire.

Bad amp? I had another identical amp and it does the same thing, thats why I am scratching my head! What are the chances 2 amps have the same issue?

@David Analog
@Earmark Marine --- got your website up and ready to order a new one if that is what I need

 

[Drift Away]

Is this the first time your hooking up that amp? Might have a short in the remote wire or something Internal inyour head unit

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Amp has been flawless since 2008. Sub amp triggers fine.

 

[subysti]

Thinking bad battery and amps drawing too much. Looks like just a surface charge on the battery.

 

[CraigAR]

Double check the input and output on the remote wire and also the ground wire on the amp that's not turning on and double check the amps fuses

 

[BBottoms]

If the power feed drops to 5 volts when the remote is activated you either have a bad battery or a severely compromised power or ground wire or bad connection at the battery or some other connection. Check the voltage at the battery posts when you activate the remote. If its 5v there then it’s a bad battery. If its 13v at the battery posts then you’ve got a bad power or ground wire/fuse/connection somewhere.

 

[Mainah]

I have a JL M6450 that will not turn on. There is 13V at the amp. The remote wire triggers 5V. Heres the wacky part, when the remote wire is activated the volts drop to 5.XX on the power feed.

Batteries passed a load test and the sub amp turns on just fine on same battery and same remote wire.

Bad amp? I had another identical amp and it does the same thing, thats why I am scratching my head! What are the chances 2 amps have the same issue?

@David Analog
@Earmark Marine --- got your website up and ready to order a new one if that is what I need

Given that the batteries pass a load test amd another amp os operating just fine ...

Start by turning the batteries off. Check all connections to the amp including the remote wire connections. Turn batteries back on and see if it works. If not (edit turn off batteries before you do this) disconnect and wire cap the remote wire to the amp. Use a small 16-18 awg wire to jump the +12v and remote teminals at the amp keeping the power wire in the +12v in its terminal too. Turn on the batteries and and see if it works. If it works by jumping the power to the remote terminal then the issue is with the remote from the head unit in some way.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

I removed the amp and used a power supply and the amp turns on. Hmmm.
I’ve used the remote wire from the sub amp and same issue.
I will try jumping the positive to the remote and see if that works — thats How I got it to turn on when testing with the power supply.
There’s no visible corrosion anywhere — it all looks top notch.

I do see a VSR with a red light on, not sure if that’s normal or even upstream of these amps. You would think the VSR would effect both amps if it were upstream.
Gawd I hate electrical gremlins!

 

[Bruce]

I suspect an issue with the ground. If it is unable to carry a load you would see that kind of drop when the amp powered on.

 

[veedubtek]

Voltage drop test. Youtube it. Learn it. Live it. Love it. Very simple and it doesn't lie.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

I’ll be upside down in the bilges on Saturday! My lower back can’t wait!!

 

[Jgorm]

I thought the turn on lead was 12v? No? Other amps I've had were 12v. You could jumper the per feed to the turn on for testing. Might be a bad deck with apoor 12v supply, or a bad ground causing excessive current.

 

[txav8r]

I’ll be upside down in the bilges on Saturday! My lower back can’t wait!!

OUCH!

You can call Earmark and ask for Odin Mattes but anyone there knows those amps inside out. He is in Plano, TX, (972) 612-6886
My guess is a ground or corrosion/loose connection, if the batteries are good.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

OUCH!

You can call Earmark and ask for Odin Mattes but anyone there knows those amps inside out. He is in Plano, TX, (972) 612-6886
My guess is a ground or corrosion/loose connection, if the batteries are good.

Thanks Mel!

There is some other wacky stuff happening on this boat (bow thruster) so it’s pointing towards a grounding issue. I hope.

 

[robert843]

Thanks Mel!

There is some other wacky stuff happening on this boat (bow thruster) so it’s pointing towards a grounding issue. I hope.

Your 2005 SX230 has bow thrusters where is the write up on that mod

 

[Murf'n'surf]

LOL -- this would be my 323 Intrepid

 

[adrianp89]

5v will not turn on an amplifier in most cases. Take a fresh wire, jump it from the 12v+ on the amp to the remote turn on - if it turns on, then either remote wire or output from HU... pretty easy to figure this one out.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

5v will not turn on an amplifier in most cases. Take a fresh wire, jump it from the 12v+ on the amp to the remote turn on - if it turns on, then either remote wire or output from HU... pretty easy to figure this one out.

I typed that out wrong -- It is getting 12v on the remote wire.

 

[adrianp89]

If you are getting 12v across the amp - and it is not turning on - then there is an issue with the amp.

But it turns on with power supply. I would double check your voltages in the boat.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

You see it??????


Yeah....me neither....took a long #^*#ing time to track it down.

Bad ground found and resolved. All good now.

Thanks for your help guys!