Many people spend a significant amount of time in their cars; it’s where some take their meals, where they listen to music and podcasts.
About 10% of the population listens to an average of 3 hours of audio in their cars every week.
As a result, people are increasingly concerned about keeping the amps from overheating in the summer months.
In this article, we’ll be looking at what causes an amplifier to get hot and how you can cool it down if it starts heating up, and provides some solutions that will help you avoid severe damage to your car audio.
How To Keep Your Car Amp Cool
To keep your car amp cool, you need to make sure it gets adequate ventilation. If you’re going to install the amp yourself and have access to a drill, then drilling some holes in the bottom of your case is a good solution.
You can also add fans if you’d like. When it comes time to choose an amp for your car stereo system, don’t overlook the importance of picking one that has sufficient cooling capabilities.
What Is A Car Amp?
Car amps are specialized audio amplifiers used to increase the power of sound system components.
They are also called “power amplifiers” because they boost the power of sound coming from other parts in a car audio system.
A car amp is an amplifier specially designed to install into a car stereo system. It’s different from regular home amps in that it doesn’t have a power switch, and the speaker wires come readily installed.
You can install car amps in cars, boats, RVs, and trucks. Audio system professionals often refer to them as “bass amplifiers.
Sometimes car amps will also come with other cool features like extra RCA ports or bass boost functions.
These amps are perfect for those who want to upgrade their sound system without any hassle completely.
Is It Normal For An Amp To Get Hot?
The answer is yes. The temperature of your amplifier is a good indicator of its health. If it’s getting hot, that means it’s working hard.
If you let your amp get too hot, though, you risk damaging the circuitry or burning out vital components.
While a car amp’s average operating temperature can range up to 71 degrees(160F), it is not unusual for the inside of an amp to reach temperatures as high as 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
That said, even at 80 degrees, the amp will never actually catch fire unless you keep it running in that condition for long.
Why Does Your Car Amp Get Hot?
- Low-quality amps
- The amps are placed upside down or in a place with little ventilation, for instance, under the carpet.
- There is a loose connection between the amp and the speaker
- You used the wrong size of fuse in the amp
Why Is It Important To Keep Your Car Amps Cool?
Keeping your car amps cool is one of the most popular and important topics when you want to take care of your car amplifier and make sure it will last for a very long time. There are many reasons why you need to keep your car amps cool.
- One of the main reasons you need to keep your car amps cool is that an overheated car amp can be very dangerous for you and others who drive with you.
- An overheated car amp can cause an explosion, which means that you can get injured by shrapnel or fire, or even worse, someone else can get hurt or killed.
- When an amplifier gets too hot, it can cause damage to the amp’s internal components. The heat will damage the wires and burn the speakers if not cooled well.
Heat is the enemy when it comes to car amplifiers. Heat kills car amplifiers, and most people don’t know why.
But if you want your car amp to last, you need to make sure you’re taking proper care of it. It turns out that heat is the main problem with car amps.
The environment inside your car is pretty hot on its own, and amplifiers generate heat as they run. That leads to two problems: heat-related failure and uncomfortable operation.
If you have ever opened or closed the rear hatch of your car on a hot day, you’ve probably felt the intense heat radiating from your amp. This high heat can cause issues that eventually lead to a blown speaker (or more).
Car amps are entirely dependent on a power supply. This power supply is usually in the form of an alternator driven by a car battery.
If you have been using your car for a long, you might have noticed that your car’s sound system tends to get fuzzy at times. This may happen when you play music at 100% volume with the bass turned up.
At this point, you will begin to notice some crackles and pops coming from the speakers. This problem is caused by an overheated amp.
How Do You Keep Your Car Amps Cool?
Car amps can get very hot when powered on, and keeping them in the shade is a good idea. But it’s not always possible to keep your car amps in the shade. For instance, you might want to listen to music while you work outside on hot summer days.
The sun will undoubtedly heat your car’s interior, and if the amp is running at the same time, it could overheat. But there are ways to cool down a car amp without having to park it in the shade.
Ensure Proper Ventilation
An amplifier’s casing should never get uncomfortably hot to the touch, even when it’s been on for hours. If it does, something isn’t right, and you need to have it looked at by a qualified technician.
The first thing they will do is check the ventilation system of the amplifier; you may need to replace a fan or clean out some dust or obstructions.
You don’t want the temperature of a car amp to rise above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If it gets hotter than that, you risk damaging the amp and having to replace it.
So, what do you need to make sure that your amp doesn’t get too hot? First, you’ll need a way for air to circulate inside your car. You can do this by getting unique vents for your car or placing a fan near the amp.
Check The Wiring
After that, you should secure any loose wires. There are many reasons why your amplifier might be overheating, so you should always take a moment and do a quick inspection of the wiring.
Make Use Of A Cooling Fan
Cooling the car amplifier is necessary to keep your car from getting hot. If you are asking how do you keep your car amps cool, then a cooling fan is one of the best ways to do that.
If you have a car amp and want to install a cooling fan on your own, then it will require some wiring and some time and effort to get it done. You can also install it yourself if you know how to properly.
Most of the time, you’ll install car amplifiers in the trunk of cars. As a result, the temperature of the amplifier can increase significantly.
Getting the right fan for your car is essential, not only in summer but also in winter. It is a necessary component of your car’s cooling system that helps to keep the motor running at peak performance levels.
There are other car fans, and each type has its use and benefits.
Keep Free Open Area Around The Amp
It is vital to have an open area around the amp to cool down the car amp. The heat sink of the car amplifier should be able to release heat away from the amplifier.
Check The Installation Quality
Car amplifiers can go wrong if they aren’t installed correctly or protected from heat. Consequently, it’s essential to follow some basic installation guidelines.
Get A Better-Quality Amp
But most of the time, people install a low-quality amp in their cars because they cannot afford a high-quality one. Unless you can purchase a high-quality amp, you have to get a better-quality amp that is not too expensive.
When looking for an app for your car, you need to ensure low impedance, good heat dissipation, and good quality material.
Conclusion
As you can see, it’s easy to keep your car amp cool. Installing a fan can’t guarantee that your amplifier will never overheat, but it will significantly reduce the risk of it happening.
Just make sure that you follow the steps in this guide, and you should be able to prevent overheating issues with your car amp easily. Your car amp will run cooler for longer, and you will be able to enjoy the music without any interruptions.
