Amp going into protection mode?

[Klownicle]

I have a Kenwood 9102D amplifer running at 850w 2ohms and two 12' Kenwood KFC-W3011 svc 4 ohm 400w subs. Im running a 4 guage wire, and 4 guage ground. The ground is nice and solid, and pure bare metal. The amplifer has 4 terminals even thoe it is a mono block amp. I have the speakers wireing like + + - - with the yellow being were the wires connected. The sub box is wired 1 terminal on the box, and each + to each speaker, and each - to each speaker. The subs are 1 voice coil each.

I bought a 2 farad tsunami capacitor to help stabalize my power recently.

My lights are still dimming when the subs hit hard. The system works fine at low audio levels but when they start hitting. The subs start to heat up (smell) and then shortly after the amp turns off.

I've read in the amp manuel word for word, "Protection mode, will happen when A: overheat B: amp malfunctions and sends a DC signal to the output speakers."

I had my battery and alt tested, I was told the following.

My battery was bad, and my alt works but isn't like "wow, look at me" working.

I got a new battery, a 925 cranking amps duralast gold with 8yr warrenty.

The cap when the subs are hitting dips down to 11 voltage.

I had the amp tested, and the amp functions fine, but the audio shop said that it shorted out there head unit (personally I think they screwed up), I was there watching them didn't look like they knew what they were doing.

The amp appears to work perfectly fine at low volume, and doesn't appear to be overheating. And to note, the cap WAS professionally installed.

Hope someone can help.

My Cap voltage even dims when I put my windows down. lol.

[PlayStation3]

just to tell you lights dimming when such things like bass hitting and putting down are normal and it means that everything is working the way it is suppose to. and yes if the cap is wired right then it is being used for more then just your amp.

now i am going to take a wild guess that seems to fit the bill. from what i read on how you have the subs wired it is showing a 8 ohm's on the amp which might be the reason it is going into protection mode. and where do you have the amp mounted?

[Klownicle]

How should I wire the subs,

Again there two svc 12's.

The amp is screwed to the back of my back passenger seat, I used spacers to have half an inch of room underneath to let it breath.

[PlayStation3]

wire each sub to a set of +,- then it should create a 2 ohm load.

[bjboertje]

an 8 ohm load would not send the amp into protection. my guess is the gain is set too high.

[Klownicle]

Gain is at 1/3 of full, and bass boost is on 10 of 24 or so.

The sub box only has 1 terminal on it, and ive tried wireing them directlty to the amp with each sub using its own + and - terminal. And the issue still happens. Ive tried all the wireing options I can think of.

I think it has to do with steady voltage, becuase my voltage runs around 10-11volts when the subs are hitting.

[bjboertje]

turn the bass boost off.

what is the preout voltage of your head unit?
what is the amperage of your alt?
what method did you use to set your gain?

[Klownicle]

Bass Boost is Now Off.
Preamp Out is 2.2v.
I set the volume at 85% and tuned the subs from there.
The amp on the alt I belive is 90amp, can't confim by looking at the alt.

My suv is a 99' honda passport ex 2wd.

The models 99 or higher had a 90 amp, and anything lower seemed to have a 60amp. I can see the alt it looks decently in size.

I've added a battery neg to chassis, engine to chassis 4guage wires. To help stablize the voltage a little. They made no difference. The voltage still drops to 10-11v and I would assume lower the higher I turn the volume.

As I said I had the altchecked out, and they said it was still functioning, but barely above limits.

Next time I get the money im going to possibly buy a bosch 90amp alt for my suv. I can't seem to find any 3rd party alts that provide a higher amps.

I've been emailing some high output alt manufactures to see, becuase they say to eail them if your vehicle isn't listed or for a quote etc.

Thanks for the responses. Ill continue to provide you with information when requested.

[bjboertje]

85% seems high. did you set them with tones or music? most head units will clip aroung 65-75% volume. i don't think that is your problem though. my guess is the alt is going bad and the voltage drop is causing the amp to overheat.
you should also do the alt+ to bat+ with 4 guage.

[PaulD]

try Iraggi or excessive amperage they sell up to 300A alts for domestic cars and up to 200A alts for import cars

[Klownicle]

I listen to it at around 50% of the volume.

I need to get a fuse for the bat to alt wire. I don't know what size, since I have a 90amp alt. I would think 100amp fuse.

Tommarrow im going to go to advance auto parts, and ask them if I can test one of there yellow top batterys. And see what it does in my system.